Gas Explosion Survivors Father Laments Systemic Neglect and Soaring Medical Costs

A devastating gas explosion at a filling station in Edibe-Edibe, Calabar South Local Government Area, on March 20 has left a seven-year-old girl, Happiness Ekere, fighting for her life, while her father, Mr. Anietie Ekere, pleads for urgent assistance amid what he describes as abandonment and overwhelming financial strain. The incident, which also claimed the life of his 15-year-old son Solomon Ekere, has left the family struggling to cover mounting medical costs at the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital (UCTH), where Happiness remains hospitalized with severe burns. Despite the tragedy, Mr. Ekere says neither the filling station management nor its owner has contacted the family for support or compensation.

Happiness has undergone multiple medical procedures, including a recent surgery, and doctors have warned that another major operation may cost over N1 million. The family, already reeling from the loss of their son, now faces the daily burden of purchasing essential drugs and medical supplies outside the hospital, as many are unavailable on-site. Mr. Ekere, a casual labourer with irregular income, spends close to N10,000 daily on medication alone, excluding transportation and food expenses. “I am only trying my best to keep my daughter alive,” he said, his voice heavy with despair.

Volunteers from the Brotherhood of the Cross and Star, a support group assisting the family, have so far contributed close to N1 million toward medical treatments, tests, and wound care. However, they revealed that some injections cost as much as N13,000, and routine wound dressing can reach N15,000. While the Cross River State Government has provided some support for surgical procedures, the bulk of daily treatment costs remain the responsibility of the family and volunteers. The situation has been further complicated by reports that NEMA distributed food palliatives meant for explosion victims to people not affected by the incident, raising concerns about the allocation of relief materials.

Mr. Ekere has now made a heartfelt appeal to the state government, philanthropists, and humanitarian organizations to step in and save his daughter’s life. “All I want is for my child to live,” he pleaded. “I cannot bear losing another child.” The emotional plea underscores the urgent need for coordinated support and accountability in disaster response. As the family continues to battle both physical and financial hardships, the case highlights the critical importance of swift, transparent, and targeted intervention in times of crisis.