The Chairman of the Spinal Cord Injury Association of Nigeria, Sokoto State chapter, Abdulazeez Ibrahim, said they have lost many members because of the high cost of treatment.
In a chat with the press in an event to commemorate this year’s ” Spinal Cord Injury Day”, he lamented at the rate at which their members were dying because they couldn’t afford medical treatments.
He said that spinal cord operation is now one million naira but before the operation, one would have to spend Seventy Five thousand naira (N75,000) on Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI).
“And we pay N2000 to N3000 on each physiotherapy.“This is very disturbing because some of these people cannot afford three square meals.“Some have to dispose of their land to pay for the MRI test, but cannot pay for the operation.
“We are appealing to the government to subsidize spinal cord injury treatment in order to save our lives,” he said.
He also regretted how their members were losing their spouses because of their problems.
“I have a member who was divorced by her husband and some whose wives have left them because of their problems,” he added.
He commended President Muhammadu Buhari for the establishment of the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities and urged state governments to domesticate the act in their respective states.
He appreciated the International Republic Institute(IRI) and Leprosy mission for their immense help in organizing series of event in order to domesticate and implement disability act in the state. Just last week, a public hearing for the domestication of disability act in the state was held.
He commended in no small measure the State Commissioner of social welfare, Haijah, Prof. Aisha Madawaki for donating 5 tricycle to their members and also promised to give her support when needed.
The event was sponsored by Tambuwal youth ambassadors TYA.
