Mazi Uzodinma, a very traditional family man and a man of few words but decisive actions loves his family unreservedly. “Why waste words” was his motto. Now he wonders whether that motto does not need amendment…
He and his beautiful wife, Lolo Adaku, have three sons. Adaku he says is a woman like no other. Mazi Uzodinma is very active in his community church. He is also very passionate about bringing up his children in the right path so that they would not become miscreants in future. He believes a man's greatest achievement is having successful offspring. He also believes strongly in the Holy Scriptures and you could hear him quote from his favorite passages to support every action.
His children were familiar with the verses “then I shall punish their offenses with the rod, their guilt with the whip” and “If he does wrong, I shall punish him with a rod…”
One day, he returned from his shop and found his house in disarray. He recalled telling Obinna, his oldest son, to tidy the compound when he was leaving for work in the morning. He called Obinna and while quoting one of the “rod” verses, gave the boy a thorough beating.
The incidence which happened seven days ago did not end well.
Mazi sighed as he made a meal to take to Obinna and Lolo in the hospital where Obinna had been on admission for the past four days. The doctors said he had “hyphema”, blood in the eye. Mazi had mistakenly hit him on the eye with his cane.
Thank God he was getting better. Obinna had told him the previous day that he could now see better with the injured eye.
He was grateful. He resolved to rethink his strategy of discipline. He wanted his children to grow up in the right, but not with scars.
Eye injuries are becoming an important cause of blindness in children
Most of these injuries occur during punishment or while at play
These injuries are preventable
#Bevisionsmart
Dr Mary Ugalahi
Dec 2019
