By Halimah Olamide
The Euthanasia Prevention Initiative (EPI) is set to hold its annual week campaign on euthanasia.
The Euthanasia Prevention Initiative is a non-governmental organization aimed at providing a healthy atmosphere coupled with the desire to afford vulnerable members of society to see more hope in life rather than death.
Euthanasia, also called mercy killing is an act or practice of painlessly putting to death persons suffering from painful and incurable diseases or incapacitating physical disorders or allowing them to die by withholding treatment or withdrawing artificial life-support measures
The organization will be hosting a 3-day program which is part of her yearly tradition in preventing euthanasia, assisted death, and suicide and caring for the terminally ill member of society, those faced with one form of life-ending sickness or the other to see hope in living rather than death, which is in furtherance of the aims and objectives of the organization.
The 3-day program which is themed, “Preservation of Life and Stakeholders’ Perceptions on Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide in Nigeria” is slated to hold from the 1st to the 3rd of August 2023.
The first part of the program is slated to kickstart on the 1st of August with an Awareness and Preliminary Debate where participants set out to spread awareness to the public on Euthanasia.
The main event will feature a public lecture and debate which will hold on the 2nd of August at the University of Ilorin Faculty of Law Moot Court by 10am.
Meanwhile, the third day of the campaign is set to feature visitations to schools and the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital (UITH) whereby relief materials will be given out and words of encouragement will be shared with patients.
The Initiative is founded by Professor BASHIRU ADENIYI Omipidan, Professor of Euthanasia Law and Medical Ethics. The patrons of the initiative are Mallam Yusuf Olaolu Ali SAN, Prof Wahab Egewole SAN, The Vice Chancellor University of Ilorin, and Prof Abdulraheem Modupe First female Professor of Law in Ilorin Emirate. The current Coordinator is Amb. Dauda Aburrazaq Gidado.
According to Wikipedia, as of 2023, euthanasia is legal in Belgium, Canada, Colombia, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Portugal (awaiting regulation), Spain, and all six states of Australia (New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria and Western Australia)
Therefore, members of the Euthanasia Prevention Initiative thereby urge the general public to join them in advocating against the practice of euthanasia and emphasizing the importance of palliative care, hospice services, and other forms of end-of-life support as alternatives that can effectively address pain management and provide comfort to terminally ill individuals.