Garba Musa Aminu is a person with leprosy. He is the Sarkin Kutare (Chief or leader of persons with leprosy) popularly known as IDEA) in Plateau state. He is married to two wives and a father of twenty children, they were twenty-eight, but eight died.
In this interview, he shared with our correspondent, Bulus Bala Izang, how he has been coping with his huge family and the discrimination he is facing as a person with leprosy.
TQM: At what point in life were you infected by the leprosy disease?
It all started when l was a child in primary school. I was taken to a hospital here Jos when the illness became sever. l was later taken to COCIN Leprosy Hospital in Mangu local government of Plateau state, now the hospital is known as COCIN Hospital and Rehabilitation Center.
I was successfully treated there and l was given the certificate of full treatment, certifying that l have been cured of Leprosy. But because l went late for treatment, one of my leg was amputated, l now walks with the aid of an artificial leg.
TQM: What is the status /condition of your wives?
None of my wives, children and grandchildren is infected with Leprosy. I am the only in my household with that condition. And because, l has been cured, l cannot infect anyone.
TQM: Tell us a little how you meet your wife?
My wife’s parents are people with leprosy, and we were family friends, that is how l meet and marry my first wife.
TQM: Are your children in school? If they are, who pays for their school fees?
Yes, they are in school, I even have a son who finished from federal polytechnic Bauchi. I have been the one that have been paying for their school fees out of my little income.
TQM: What work are you doing?
I am a trader, l sell provision and firewood, but now because of lack money, l don’t sell the firewood again.
TQM: Have you seek for assistance from the government or private organization to increase your business?
I tried to look for loan from the government but l did not get. However, the government have been giving us food support from time to time. Lately, the local government of Jos North have given us food palliative.
Much of the support we get are coming from individuals and religious organization. They give us medical and food. For example, JNI in every Sallah used to give us cow to share.
TQM: What about discrimination, are you facing any from the society?
Yes, we do face discrimination like name calling, not wanting to associate or come close to us or even refusal by commercial motorists to take us. People even feel uncomfortable sitting next to me in commercial transport.
TQM: What do you do when such things happen?
We just leave everything in God’s hands, because we want to be in peace with everyone. We simply let things go.
TQM: Why don’t you utilize Institutions that government have put in place to protect you right? Such as Plateau State Disabilities Rights Commission Or you do not know about them?
Some of us know about such organization but what is the use taken up issues, may be even to court, we mostly don’t see the need for that.
TQM: What is the estimated number of your membership in Plateau state?
We have about 700 members, our membership is reducing, because Leprosy is no more, cure for the disease is available even with infection these days a person can be total cured in six months through early medication. Those of us that you see, are old people, no young person among us.
We thank God for the Missionaries that brought the leprosy cure to us.
TQM: What will be your call to the government and individual organization, towards your people?
My call to the government is to give our members medical subsidy in hospitals and to assist us in giving our children scholarship and to give them employment, some of our children are graduates of Universities and Polytechnics, but yet unemployed.
TQM. Thank you sir for your time.
