A member of the Jehovah's Witness faith has publicly reached out to a popular Nigerian social media personality, Aunty Esther, who is battling cancer, offering a pathway for her to receive comprehensive support from the religious organization. This comes after a wave of public withdrawal of financial support for her treatment due to her refusal of a blood transfusion based on her religious beliefs.
The Backlash and the Open Letter
The situation unfolded when Aunty Esther, an X influencer, revealed she had rejected a blood transfusion as part of her cancer treatment, a decision rooted in the teachings of the Jehovah's Witness faith. Following this revelation, many Nigerians who had previously contributed to her medical fund withdrew their support, leading to a public debate about faith, medicine, and community assistance.
In reaction to this, a Jehovah's Witness member identified on X as @naijashimadunnn penned an open letter to Aunty Esther on Friday, December 6, 2025. He expressed dismay at seeing her resort to public fundraising, stating it had led to insults and a misconception that Jehovah's Witnesses abandon their members in need.
Step-by-Step Guide to Congregational Support
The core of the letter was a detailed guide on how Aunty Esther could access help from within the Jehovah's Witness community. The member instructed her to send him a private message containing her congregation name, city, and the contact of any elder or ministerial servant she knows.
He promised to immediately connect her with the Hospital Liaison Committee (HLC) brothers in her area. According to the letter, these specially trained members are appointed to:
- Communicate directly with her doctors and hospitals.
- Arrange for bloodless medical treatments with cooperative physicians.
- Handle all medical paperwork and cover costs through the Patient Visitation Group and branch arrangements.
- Coordinate full practical and financial support from the local congregation and international resources if needed.
The member emphasized that the support would be discreet, scriptural, and generous, eliminating the need for public crowdfunding or media exposure.
Mixed Reactions from Netizens
The public letter quickly sparked a range of reactions from Nigerian netizens. While some users welcomed the offer of support, others questioned the method of delivery.
User @Steveupdate critiqued the public nature of the letter, suggesting that if the intent was truly discreet and helpful, the member should have contacted Aunty Esther via private direct message instead of posting openly on the platform.
Another user, @nuokoye, stated they had bookmarked the tweet, intending to show it to any Jehovah's Witness patient they encounter who requires financial assistance for health-related issues in the future.
The episode highlights the complex intersection of faith, modern healthcare, and community support systems in Nigeria. It has put a spotlight on the internal support mechanisms of the Jehovah's Witness organization while reigniting discussions on individual medical choices in the face of life-threatening illnesses like cancer.
