Chairman Arewa Spinal Cord Society (ASCoS), Alhaji Abdul-aziz Ibrahim, has called on the federal government to expedite action in finding a lasting solution to victims of spinal cord in the northern part of the country.
Speaking to news men at the inaugural steering committee meeting of ASCoS held at Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Sunday, Ibrahim said victims of the disease were being made to groan under difficult circumstance , having no government agency to come to their aid. He added that from what they understood, they were abandoned to their fate.
He said the magnitude of the spinal cord disease, could only be explained by those feeling the pinch and that it is a complex ailment that entailed huge financial commitment for victims to get succour affirming that it is most disheartening to note that majority of the spinal cord patients lacked the financial muscle to even purchase the wheel chair to use.
He said: ‘Our people are suffering seriously. It has proven absolutely impossible for them to even get the wheel chair to use. We need the urgent intervention of the federal government, for our survival to be guaranteed. Spinal cord ailment is very precarious. that is why it deserved proper attention and adequate care. As a matter of fact , we need a befitting rehabilitation centre in the north to serve as a referral outfit for those struck by the ailment to be rehabilitated. We don’t have this centre in the north, that is why we are calling for its establishment,” he stated.
Speaking in the same vein, the chairman Board of Trustees, Coalition of Northern Youths Groups, Alhaji Ashiru Sherrif, stressed the need for the establishment of a spinal cord patients rehabilitation centre which according to him would cost around N20-25 million. He posited that he was ready to join the crusade of seeking support for those ravaged by the ailment.
He stated that with commitment from the federal government and wealthy individuals in the society, fighting the disease would never be far-fetched. He stressed that forming the group to chart a safe course for its members would create more avenues for them to get in touch with their target audience.
