One of the children of a nurse and chairperson of the Forum of Local Government Nurses and Midwives in the Ovia South-West Local Government of Area of Edo State, Tina Egwenomeh has reacted on the painful death of the mother.

Tina Egwenomeh was crushed to death by a truck on the road to Igobazua on November 13, 2023, while on immunisation duty.

Her son, Oshiotse Egwenomeh, in an interview he granted to Punch newspaper described the incident as horrible.

“I don’t know how much I can tell you right now. I was home on that day when the doctor in charge of Ovia South-West called and asked me to meet him at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital. I didn’t think anything was wrong even when I got to the hospital. But before then, I got a call from one of my sisters who live abroad. She said her friend told her that our mother was involved in an accident. I told her that I had been trying to reach her (our mother) through her phone but I was not getting through. She then instructed me that I should let her know what was happening if I got any information.

By then, the doctor had called me to meet him at the UBTH and I just thought that she sent him to me as she had done in the past. My cousin, who lives with us, said he saw people looking at my mum’s picture on their phone and crying on Ring Road in the Oredo Local Government Area. He said it looked like my mother was gone. So, I went to see her body.

“Everyone has been in shock and we have not started plans for her burial yet. They have told us to let them know the burial arrangements so that they can know how they will support us. But they have been coming around to pay condolence visits and calling on the phone too.

“Apart from that message, we have not heard anything from them in terms of supporting us. The Commissioner for Health, Dr Samuel Alli, was here and spoke to my dad. I think they should provide better vehicles and experienced drivers to convey officials to their places of official assignments to avoid this kind of tragedy.

“Everyone has been saying that I am the man of the house, but I am also deeply affected by this and I try to do the little I can. However, we have family members from my father and mother’s sides paying us daily visits, while an aunt, who came from Auchi, is currently staying with us.

There are no arrangements for that now. I know my father and mother’s families will have to meet before a burial plan is announced.

He described his mother as a wonderful person. “She was a cheerful giver, very caring, loving, and nice. She is someone who touched people’s lives in different ways and you didn’t need to tell her your problems before she put herself forward to render assistance. There is no word I can use to describe her, but I guess she was the best mother I could have had.

“While growing up, she was the one who mainly took care of the house because my dad was always on the move due to his job. So, my mother was the one who was always with us though my father always made sure we were okay. Even before she died, she secured the small jobs I did and even gave me money when I didn’t have any. She took care of the family and never waited for my dad before doing so. One more thing I remember her for is that my siblings and I were never admitted to the hospital. She took care of our medical needs and ensured we stayed healthy.