Photo: Woman Burnt By Husband Recovers; Gets Financial Assistance

The woman who was severely
burnt with a hot pressing iron by
her husband early this year, Mrs
Mercy Nnadi, has been fully
rehabilitated by three non-
governmental organisations.
The three NGOs came together
to set up an appeal fund, to help
Mercy after the incident. They
drew the attention of the Lagos
State Government to the case,
and the government, through
the Ministry of Women Affairs
and Poverty Alleviation,
immediately swung into action.
The campaign resulted in the
ministry helping to offset Mercy’s
medical bills substantially. The
ministry paid the sum of
N830,000; took Mercy away from
the private hospital she was at
Okota; and got her admitted into
Lagos State University Teaching
Hospital, Ikeja.
After she was discharged, Mercy
was taken to the state
government-owned shelter for
abused women and young girls.
The groups also raised money
for Mercy, which they used to get
her a furnished one-room
apartment. Besides, they also
gave her a cheque of N150, 000
to enable her to start a small-
scale business.
Mercy, who was grateful for the
kind gesture, thanked God for
restoring her health. She said
although she had lost her only
child, her ordeal was for a
reason and she would use her
experience to touch the lives of
abused women.
“I never believed I would be alive
and well. I’m still very sad over
the death of my son but I believe
God has a purpose for me. If I
ever see a woman being abused,
I will counsel her,” she said.

The NGOs that helped Mercy her
Project Alert on Violence Against
Women, Centre for
Organisational Development and
Zahara Women;