A’Ibom, Kogi indigents battle spinal cord, brain tumor cry for help

From Fred Ezeh, AbujaBrain and Spine Foundation Africa, has launched a fundraising campaign for two indigent Nigerians, Abasifreke Effiong and Joy Idakwo Okalla, from Akwa Ibom and Kogi States, respectively, who are down with advanced stages of spinal cord and brain tumor injuries, respectively.The Foundation said they had to take up the cases considering its severity particularly the fact that they are require urgent surgery, and time is running fast on them to get the necessary medical attention required so they could stand the chances of survival. googletag.

cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1718806029429-0'); }); Chika Okwuolisa, the Executive Director of the Foundation told journalists in Abuja, that she had to facilitate the coming of the patients to Abuja, after she ascertained the severity of their cases, and the need for urgent surgeries on the patients.



She said: “We have placed them on treatment at a hospital in Abuja, but we are running out of finances to facilitate the treatment of these indigent Nigerians, hence we are seeking help from the Federal and State Governments, as well as individuals and corporate organisations to restore the hopes of these indigent Nigerians.“We have so many patients waiting and hoping that the care they need will come as quickly as possible. Unfortunately, things, especially finances, are not turning as expected because of declining funds available for this service.

We have about 16 other patients who we are catering for in different ways and locations across the country from the little resources available to us. $(document).ready(function(){(adsbygoogle = window.

adsbygoogle || []).push({})}); “At Brain and Spine Foundation Africa, we have served and will continue to serve as a voice to so many of these patients affected with one form of neurological challenge or the other. Evidently, these cases are increasing rapidly in Nigeria, and no one is exempted.

Unfortunately, the cost of treating these challenges are rising significantly, running into millions of Naira which many of the patients could not afford neither do we as Foundation, have the financial strength to carry all the loads without the support of the government and people.“As a result, many of the patients have resorted to fate. Many have also lost their lives to these challenges because they could not afford the cost of treating the ailment, and our health insurance system is not much effective, neither does it cover such ailments.

However, we will continue to try as much as possible to attend to these cases with the little resources available, but it’s becoming overwhelming to us. So, we need help urgently to save the lives and health of these people: 1016187792, Zenith Bank, Brain and Spine Foundation, or 5071024605(USD).“It takes tens of millions of Naira to provide surgery and other medical care for these kind of challenges.

The estimated cost of surgery and treatment by a Nigerian neurosurgeon for Joy Idakwo Okalla who has brain stem tumor is N26 million, while the estimated cost of surgery for Abasifreke Effiong is N38 million. Abasifreke is already paralysed, hence she will be required to go through several tests, surgeries and rehabilitation.”Speaking on the matter, Abasifreke said the health challenge started some years ago when, suddenly, she started noticing some changes in her hands and legs.

“I thought it was just a minor thing. I went to the pharmacy, got some medication. But after that, I went to a hospital where they prescribed drugs for me.

When I took the drugs, the reaction of the drug was too much that I had to stop. By then, people had made me believe that it was a spiritual case.“I later returned to the hospital for MRI scan of the brain and spine, cervical region and the lumbar region, and it was discovered that I had a tumor in my spine.

The doctor said I had to do a surgery which he told me then was around N20 million, but we did not have the money.‘I had to stay at home, and just receive the herbal treatment, and occasionally some other medications to just managed it, because we don’t have the money for the surgery. That was how it got to this stage that we could not manage it again.

So, I had to seek for help from the Brain and Spine Foundation Africa. The situation is really critical, and I’m just living by God’s Grace. $(document).

ready(function(){(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({})}); “Please, I am begging Nigerians and the government, the President, the Governors, to help me financially, to fund this bill so that my surgery can be carried out successfully, and rehabilitation too, because it’s too much burden for me to carry.

“Please, Nigerians, help save my life. At 31 years old, I am too young to go through this hell. I have so many ambitions for the community, for Africa, for Nigeria, and for the world as a whole.

Please, I can’t just go down like this. Please help me, Nigerians, the governors, the president, please come to my rescue.”The post A’Ibom, Kogi indigents battle spinal cord, brain tumor cry for help appeared first on The Sun Nigeria.

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