We Love Eku Community

About me

EKU, IS A TOWN IN ETHIOPE EAST LOCAL GOVT AREA DELTA STATE. THE NAME IS A CORRUPTION OF THE NAME EKO. INCIDENTALLY THIS WAS THE NAME OF THE FOUNDER. THERE IS DIVISION OF OPINION REGARDING THE ORIGIN OF AGBON.
UKONURHORO WAS A FATHER OF AGBON. UKONURHORO MIGRATED WITH AGBON HIS SON FROM BENIN. TO IRRI IN ISOKO AFTER THE DEATH OF UKONURHORO AGBON CONTINUED TO LIVE IN IRRI WHERE HE GAVE BIRTH TO HIS CHILDREN HE MIGRATED TO DIFFERENT PLACES BEFORE THE SETTLE DOWN IN ISIOKOLO TILL THE DAY HE DIED.
DURING THE DEPARTURE FROM IRRI EKU LEFT THE OTHERS TO SETTLE IN UGHELLI AND THE PLACE WAS NAMED AFTER HIM AS IGHWREKO MEANING EKO 'S VILLAGE. EKU AND HIS CHILDREN STAYED IN UGHELLI THEY FINALLY MOVE FROM UGHELLI TO JOIN THEIR FATHER AND BROTHERS IN ISIOKOLO. EKU AND HIS BROTHERS LIVE HAPPILY TOGETHER IN THEIR VARIOUS QUARTERS WHILE THEIR FATHER AGBON WAS STILL ALIVE. BEFORE THE MOVEMENT OF EKU FROM AGBON THEIR FATHER WHO HAD BEEN A UNIFYING FACTOR HAD DIED..
AFTER THE DEATH OF AGBON MISUNDERSTANDING NOW COMES BETWEEN EKU AND HIS BROTHERS FOR SECURITY PROPOSE EKU AND HIS MOTHER DECIDED TO RELOCATE IN THAT PROCESS HIS BROTHERS WAS AFTER HIM AND HIS MOTHER










General Information

Eku is a village in the Delta State of Nigeria. Near Eku, hidden in the rain forests, a small hospital complex was established to treat Tuberculosis and Leprosy patients. It is one of the centres from where the Nigerian government and the World Health Organization (WHO), with the aid of the German Leprosy Relief Association (GLRA), struggle hard to reduce the number of TB and Leprosy cases in the country.
Both diseases are caused by related bacteria and are therefore covered in combined healthcare programs and medical centres. Early discovery of new patients, prompt treatment and aftercare are the best weapons in the fight to bring further spread of the diseases to a halt. This site has been created to give more publicity to, and ask for your help for, the problems related to these disease with the emphasis on the Leprosy referral center in Eku.
Late discovery of TB is often fatal while late treatment of Leprosy will result in lasting disability. Early diagnosis and prevention of transmission of the diseases are the most important factors in fighting both diseases, but it is also the most difficult aspect of the problem. The cure of TB is a purely clinical activity and this is where the WHO offers the best possible assistance to the Nigerian Government. Nigeria has been split into sectors which are served by the various international Foundations like GRLA, the Dutch Leprosy Foundation and the Belgian Damiaan Foundation. However, despite all the best efforts of these organisations, the number of TB cases is still on the rise.
Leprosy is, because of the devastating effects on the body, a very visible disease and is therefore in many countries, as it is in Nigeria, surrounded with many taboos often resulting in denial of early symptoms. TB is also the subject of similar taboos and is often called the "witches cough". This problem is magnified by the lack of sufficient information in all layers of society.
Many Nigerians of various religions, are convinced that Leprosy is a supernatural punishment and sufferers are often expelled from their communities. This also prevents the rehabilitation of the cured patients.
Leprosy foundations provide free medicines against TB and Leprosy.
A short history of Eku

The former Bendel State of Nigeria was divided in 1991 into Delta State and Edo State. Before then, the Leprasorium in Ossiomo covered all of Bendel State and still is the TB and Leprosy centre for Edo State. Between 1985 and 1990, the Ossiomo Leprosarium was managed by the very capable and ideologically driven Chief Medical Officer Dr. Tobi O. Majaroh. He was then promoted to become the pioneer director of the National Tuberculosis and Leprosy Training Center in Zaira, Kaduna State.
The young Delta State now had to set up its own TB and Leprosy Control Program. In May 1992 Dr. Majoroh returned to the region as Chief Consultant Leprologist as well as CMO in the Eku Leprosarium, one of the 29 Leprosy clinics in Delta State. Under his care the Eku Leprosy Settlement (founded in 1952) was expanded to become the present Delta State TBL Referral Centre. In the implementation of the of their TBL Control infrastructure, the Delta State Government was assisted by the German Leprosy Relief Association (GLRA). While the State Government provides the "hardware" (buildings and staff), the "software" (training, program structure, transport, consultation and medicines) is provided by the GLRA under the auspices of the World Health Organization (WHO).
In July 1996, after the promotion of Dr. Majaroh to the position of DHS of the Hospital Board in Asaba, capital of Delta State, Dr S.J.U. Monu became CMO. In November 2005 dr. M. Ebinum took over as CMO in Eku. At the end of 2006 Dr Ebinum was succeeded by Dr Henry Gbenobe who took on his new task with great enthusiasm.


Eku now is now treating some 270 Leprosy patients and has about 3000 registered patients who have been cured of which some 80% retain some form of disability.
Because of their disabilities and/or permanent damage to their immune systems, these patients are a great burden to the available resources of the Delta State TBL Control Program.
With an estimated 7000 TB patients in Delta Sate and an alarming 2,000 new cases each year, the TBL program may suffocate in its own success.
















DELTA TAKES OVER EKU BAPTIST HOSPITAL

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DELTA STATE GOVERNOR, DR. EMMANUEL UDUAGHAN (RIGHT) INSPECTING SOME MEDICAL EQUIPMENT AT THE EKU BAPTIST HOSPITAL AS DR. VICTOR ERHURHU WATCHES, WHEN THE SPECIALIST HOSPITAL WAS FORMALLY HANDED OVER TO THE STATE GOVERNMENT.
• ALSO SCHOOL OF NURSING
• STAFF NOW TO ENJOY PENSION BENEFITS
• UDUAGHAN WRITES OFF MEDICAL BILLS OF NURSING MOTHERS, PREGNANT WOMEN
The Delta State Government has taken over the management of the Baptist Hospital Eku and immediately pensioned all staff that were previously laid off after serving for 20 years.
Speaking at the takeover ceremony the state governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan announced that the Hospital Management Board will absorb all staff of the hospital and also as part of the bargain, the school of nursing in the hospital automatically becomes a state school of nursing.
Announcing free maternal health care to people of the community and environ, Governor Uduaghan said that all student nurses in the hospital’s school of nursing would henceforth enjoy all the benefits students of the state schools of nursing enjoy.
The governor who promised to transform the hospital and make it a show piece appealed to both old and new staff of the hospital to promote and sustain the working culture developed over the years.
Dr. Uduaghan also directed that all staff presently in the hospital should not be transferred but should remain in the hospital. “This hospital has a unique working culture and this is why all the equipments are still functioning. Keep the staff together, do not post any of them out of the hospital,” he advised. Describing the journey of the take over which started in 1999 as long and tortuous, he said many people opposed the move and made what was supposed to be a simple exercise, difficult.
The governor commended the Eku community for its contributions towards the takeover exercise especially for not asking for compensation.
Expressing appreciation to the Baptist missionaries who established the hospital in 1950, he said since the hospital was built on the altar of God, it would continue to loom large and enjoy God’s providence.
He also paid tribute to the late Chief Edewor and said the takeover of the hospital was one of the cherished wish of the late chief.
He used the occasion to appeal to the clergy to be firm and fair and not to pollute their God given position with politics.
Dr. Uduaghan said men of God should not waver and dent their image with bias. “l want to say that men of God should not play politics. It is not good for the clergy to out of fear do injustice to humanity. They should stand firm, be bold and please God not man,” he said.
Eku Baptist hospital was established as a dispensary in 1945 and transformed into a full hospital in 1950.
A spokes person for Eku community Mrs. Betty Edewor commended the state government for taking the giant stride and lifting a heavy burden off the shoulder of the community.
Mrs. Edewor said the community had long expected the exercise and thanked God that it has happened in their life time.

She appealed to the state governor to look into the case of the staff who served for over 20 years and suddenly laid off without any pension or gratuity paid to them.
Meanwhile, Governor Uduaghan has written off the medical bills of two nursing mothers and three pregnant women who could not pay their medical bills at the Eku Baptist Hospital.
The bills running to about #500.000 could not be paid by the patients and were therefore not allowed to leave the hospital premises many days after they have been discharged.
It all started when the governor was inspecting the Maternity Ward of the hospital and asked the women one after the other what their conditions were and when they would be discharged.
Two of the nursing mothers in answer to his questions said they had been discharged but could not go home because they had no money to settle the hospital bills.
The story of one of them was so pathetic not only because she could not pay the bills but because she lost the child and was in mourning.
The governor then directed the hospital authority to allow the patient go and promised to pay the bills.
The following interaction ensued between the governor and the patient:
Gov: Madam you don born?
Patient (Mrs. Emoefe Ufoma): Yes my governor
Gov: Where your pickin?
Patient: E don die
Gov: Sorry, Madam. The hospital don discharge you?
Patient: Yes
Gov: Wetin come happen, when you neva go house?
Patient : Oga na operation l take born and dem charge me N70, 000, l no get money, my husband don commot since go look for moni.
Gov: Doctor please write off the bill of this woman, the state government will settle it.
The governor promised that the state government would pay the medical bill of Mrs. Uwererima Eferire who also delivered through cesarean section amounting to N79.000.

The medical bills of other three pregnant women were also written off by the state government and one of the pregnant women Mrs. Patience Ojo who was waiting to be operated on praised the governor and cried out of joy.
The governor was conducted round the maternity ward and theatre room by a senior doctor in the hospital, Dr. Victor Erhurhu.





















DELTA TO REVIVE EKU BAPTIST HOSPITAL, SAYS UDUAGHAN

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GOVERNOR EMMANUEL UDUAGHAN (LEFT) WITH CHIEF JAMES EDEWOR, DURING THE VISIT AT EDEWOR'S RESIDENCE IN EKU.
Delta State Government has promised to restore the famous Eku Baptist Hospital, Eku to its former glory as it strategies efforts to improve health care delivery in the State.

Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan who was in Eku (Tuesday) and met
with Chief James Edewor and other leaders of the community announced to the people that the State Government has decided to come to the assistance of the hospital to improve the standard of health care delivery in the State.

According to him, “I want to say that with my knowledge of Eku Baptist Hospital and as a medical doctor I want to promise that the government will intervene in Eku Hospital.”
The Governor said in the next few days a team would be set up to visit the community, adding that “when the team comes they will meet with you. Whatever you want government to do in the hospital we will look at it.”

He recalled that at a time the hospital was the best in the area and was sought after by everyone.

Giving reason why government could not intervene earlier, the Dr. Uduaghan attributed it to internal bickering by the community which politicized the issue.

Dr. Uduaghan described Chief James Edewor as a leader who the youths would learn a lot from.

Chief James Edewor in his response expressed happiness at the news that the Eku Baptist Hospital would get a new lease of life. Chief Edewor said: “He (the governor) has promised and I pray that it will yield positive result. I want to assure you of unity in Eku.”
Chief Edewor prayed for a successful tenure for Governor Uduaghan and described him as a true leader with the ability of taking Delta State to a new height of glory.

Chief Edewor who is the Obarisi of Urhoboland and the Oloku of Eku commended Governor Uduaghan for the projects so far executed.






Dr. GoodFriday N. Aghawenu
President
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Baptist Theological Seminary, Eku is deeply committed, under the leadership of the Holy Spirit, to produce a well rounded personality with all the spiritual, academic, social and cultural facets of life. In other words, the training of spiritually, academically and culturally matured personnel that will provide leadership for Churches, Schools and areas of denominational life at local, national and international levels at large is the first priority.We believe it is the will of God that Baptist Theological Seminary(BTS) is established in Niger-Delta area of Nigeria in particular as a tower of truth and knowledge to offer high-quality theological education and professional training for God-called men and women, irrespective of ethnic, linguistic, social, educational and economic differences, in a way to facilitate the fulfillment of the Great Commission of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

Our programmes prepare pastors, teachers, evangelists and others for effective discipleship in obedience to 2 Tim 2:15 and Eph 4:11-16. God seeks men and women trained in His Word who will proclaim it accurately and in spiritual power. This Seminary prepares such Christian men and women for responsible, dedicated and committed service to God and humanity.

Our campus is located in the town of Eku, Delta state, the big heart of Nigeria. Very close to the famous Eku Baptist Hospital.




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the we love eku community is a town.
the town Eku is located in ethiope east local government area of delta state

My work

is to develop the eku community