Muhammed Haruna is a blind from Dangi in Kanam Local Government of Plateau State who became blind as a result of sickness started in 2007.
In this interview, he told our correspondents Bulus Izang more about how he lost his sight and what he started doing eventually.
TQM. What is the type of your disability and what happed that lead to your disability?
Ans. I am a blind man, I became blind as a result of sickness which started around 2007. I went to Mangu leprosy and rehabilitation center, from there, I got a referral letter to Mecca special eye clinic in kano, Kano State. I spend about a year with them. But when they discovered that my case was not eye related but that of thyroid disease, I was referred to Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital in 2008. After six months in treatment with them, my eyes got enlarged trying to come out of the shocked, this course crack in my eye pupil (black sport in my eye) and it was later confirmed that I have become blind.
TQM. What is your position when this befall you, were you a student, a farmer, what is your position?
Ans. I was a class teacher with Kanam local Authority.
TQM. Are you still with the local Authority or you have been disengaged?
Ans. I am still working with the local government.
TQM. Have you been faced with discrimination because of the disability?
Ans. No, I have not had any discrimination, in fact, my family members and friends have been very supportive.
TQM. Are you married?
Ans. Yes, I married to a wife and three children.
TQM. Are the children schooling?
Ans. Yes they are, the first child is in Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Bauchi. Studying civil engineering, and the other ones are in primary school.
TQM. Who pays for their education?
Ans. I pay for their education.
TQM. Is your wife working?
Ans. Yes.
TQM. Apart from your engagement with the local government, do you have any other work doing?
Ans. I used to engage in the trade of food storage and animal fattening, as well as keeping a provision store. But the pressure of life and that providing for family feeding and payment of children’s School fees, etc. the business has come to a stop.
TQM. have you received any assistance from either the government or private individuals in the community, to expand your business?
Ans. from the government, I am yet to receive any support, but private persons like, the deputy speaker Plateau State House of Assembly. Honorable Saleh Yetmong have supported me financially when I was schooling at COCIN school for the Blind Gindiri, in Mamgu local government of plateau state. and also our House of representative member, Hon. Yusuf Adamu Gagdi. Had a pally with all members of the people with disability community in the local government, where he supported us with money and food items.
TQM. lastly, what would be your outcry for support from the public?
Ans. My call to the public is to help me with capital, so that I can restart my business of animals fattening and the provision store.
TQM. Thank you for sharing your time and story.
Ans. thank you.
