Parents of a six-year-old nursery three pupil, Master Isah Mohammed, have appealed to the Kaduna State Government and public-spirited Nigerians for financial aid to save the life of their child who, for five years, has been suffering from cancer and needs N10 million for surgery in India.

Speaking recently to journalists at their Kaga Kaga Close residence, near Kabala Abattoir, Kaduna South Local Government Area, mother of the child, Habiba Idris, recalled: “When he was six months old we discovered a kind of boil near his eye and the eye started turning red, and we took him to hospital for treatment.”

She said the family spent four years going to hospital for treatment after which “the hospital referred them to Ilorin Teaching Hospital, where the left eye was operated on and removed.”

She explained: "It was when the eye was removed that we discovered that the boil continued to grow, and we still continued going to the hospital for treatment. The doctors told us that we have to pay money on monthly bases before they removed artificial eyes for another eye surgery, which would last for the period of six months. We don’t have that kind of money. The total amount for the cancer surgery in India is N10 million.”

She said they were also referred to Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Zaria, where they told us that it is same work and same N10 million will be needed for the surgery in India.

“We have no alternative. Since we don’t have such amount, we resorted to local medication for the treatment. It was during this period that one Hassan Alhasan, who is a resident in our community, linked us up with the Rivers State-based Medical NGO called, Cedio Rural Outreach Ministry, on condition that we follow him to Rivers, which we obliged.”

Madame Habiba continued: “We went to Rivers and after they examined our child they said they had never come across this type of chronic cancer. They gave us a letter of assistance addressed to Kaduna State governor for his intervention. We have submitted a letter to the governor's office last Friday; though we don’t know if the governor has received the letter. We are passionately appealing to the governor to, please, intervene and save the life of our child.”

She said Isah, a nursery three pupil, has stopped going to school for over one year now, “when the cancer became worse, and he hardly sleeps at night: he will just embark on prayers till dawn.”

Also speaking, father of the ailing child, one Mohammed Tanimu, said: “I am a poor man and live in a rented house.” He gave the following telephone numbers – 07030090902, 08036360127 and 08066496305 - for anybody who wants to contribute to the life-saving campaign.

Tanimu added: “I m an electrician by profession and I’m appealing to Kaduna State Government to intervene in saving the life of our child: we don't have the N10 million needed for his treatment.”

In a letter dated 29 April, 2016 and titled, ‘Re-Isah Mohammed - A Case of Retino Blastoma (Cancer of the Eye and Facial Region) – was addressed to the state governor. And, it was acknowledged received, at the Office of the Governor on 6th May 2016. It was signed by the President/Programme Coordinator of Cedio Rural Outreach Ministry, HRH Evang (Mrs) Ifeanyichukwu R Eze-Okpatani and its Medical Director, Dr Peter.

The letter read: “I hereby present Master Isah Mohammed, a six-year-old male of Kaduna State origin who underwent (R) eye-surgery in Polytechnic Hospital, Ilorin 20 months ago, on the operation of the (R) eye, which was already blind before the surgery. The right part of the child’s face had started peeling and resulted in uncontrollable growth with ‘lobulated’ tissues, that is, cancerous, utmost discomfort and threat to life.”

“It was then on a mononary course of the above organisation. We came across this child that he was prayed for and placed on some medication to reduce the odour, pains and discomfort he was experiencing.”

The letter concluded: “Your Excellency, as this is a pathetic case, it became necessary to inform you of this child’s plight, thereby bringing H.E’s goodwill to bear, as your intervention will make the whole difference in the final outcome of his care, as arrangement should be made with

appropriate medical centre where he will be properly attended to.”

•Photo shows cancer-stricken Master Isah Mohammed, who urgently needs N10m for surgery in India.

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