HELPING HANDS
•Smiles as Rotary Club donates artificial limbs for amputees
By TESSY OKOYE
Wednesday, April 9, 2008

• An amputee being fitted • PHOTO: Sun News Publishing

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Ibrahim Alako, was born with a disability that almost broke his parent’s apart. His disability also built a wedge between him and a normal childhood.

At birth, what he had for left hand was a dangling jelly like stump that grew inches above the elbow. As he grew up, playing with his peers became a problem, as he was bullied and stigmatized.
"But the partial disability didn’t change anything about him, rather, it made him to rediscover himself”, said Abolore, Ibrahim’s mother.

The mother disclosed that with time, the boy developed a strong independent trait that stood him out among his mates.
"At school, he is every teacher’s favourite. Neighbours love him because he is respectful and willing to carry out chores that naturally challenge his state. What he lacked physically, he made up for in intelligence", quipped his mother.
That little challenge made it easy for Ibrahim’s young mind to accept his destiny and integrate into the society.

For 29-years-old David Edet, such condition was a bitter pill to swallow when fate suddenly threw that type of misfortune his way three years ago. Full of life with tall dream to become great in life, Edet worked tirelessly in a plastic manufacturing company owned by Asians. His dream was, however, cut shot one hot afternoon in June, 2007, when a fellow worker mistakenly switched on a heavy duty machine he was trying to fix.

"I felt sharp pains as the machine ground my hand and passed out. When I later regained consciousness in the hospital and saw my severed hand, I wished and prayed for death. All I could think about was a life of mystery, stigmatization, and the shame of not being able to fend for myself again. For a long time, I lived in self denial", he confessed.

In a voice quacking with emotion, Edet disclosed to Daily Sun that life became hell, as friends and relations found it difficult relating with him, while some would just stare at him with pity etched on their face.

"The experience was like coming from another planet entirely. Sometimes you just catch people staring at you with silent unspoken pity and disdain. You could actually read it on their faces. The pains of not functioning effectively, as before, and the thought of being looked at as an invalid could be really depressing", he confessesed.

True life experiences, like these, are just a few out of the many sad tales of amputees living among us, who by no fault of theirs are subjected to inhuman treatment and untold hardship. However, hope is on the way. Aluko and Edet were, however, among the lucky 55 amputees that were recently fitted with prosthetic hands by the Rotary Club of Gbagada in Lagos and Ogun State respectively. The exercise was aimed at giving a new lease of life to the amputees and afford them the opportunity to fit comfortably into the society.

The 55 lucky beneficiaries, made up of 35 from Lagos and 20 in Ogun State, emerged after a screening exercise carried out in the two states to flag off the 2007-2008 project, tagged "Give-A-Hand”.
The fitting of the artificial limbs for Lagos beneficiaries, which was done by a trained Kenyan amputee, Francis Nzioka Mutiso, took place at Gbagada General Hospital, after which the train moved to Ogun State to conclude the exercise.

As early as 9a.m, hours before the time for training and subsequent fixing of the prosthesis in Lagos, large numbers of expectant amputees, with various stumps were already seated at the venue. Many could not hide their anxiety and curiosity as they milled around, bombarding the Rotary members with questions about the artificial hands.

Speaking on why the club decided to embark on the ‘Give a Hand’ project, the President, Rotary Club of Gbagada, Rotn. Muyiwa Matuluko, noted that it is part of the club’s promise to uplift the lives of less privileged by rendering selfless service.

According to him, "Rotary Club of Gbagada project for the year is geared towards changing the lives of amputees, who lost the use of their natural limb. The artificial hands were sourced and freighted from the United States with donations from the club and well meaning individuals. It was also made possible under an initiative established by a couple, Ernie and Marj Meadows, who set out to create a legacy for their daughter, who died in a car accident."

He disclosed that the society is filled with victims of various forms of accidents and disaster who have been abandoned to their fate. Some of such people, he noted, have taken to the streets as beggars, while those, who can’t beg because they are invalid, suffer endlessly.

"Nigerian communities are overflowing with victims of vehicular and industrial accidents who are left to fend for themselves in their vulnerable state. They suffer untold hardship while trying to survive. Fitting them with functional artificial limbs would open a new vista in their life", he stated.

He noted that the exercise would have been impossible without full collaboration of the two states government who provided logistics support and venue for the exercises. He, however, appealed to the beneficiaries to make good use of the artificial limbs as so much went into making them available.
The trained Kenyan amputee, who took time to fix and train the beneficiaries on various ways to use the prosthesis, also shared his experience as a partially challenged person, urging them to make good use of the opportunity by becoming useful to themselves and the society.

"I have been using the prosthesis for the past three years, and have since put the experience of how I lost my limb behind me. I implore you to do the same, because with these hands, you can operate the computer, eat, write, brush and do other chores independently. Though it is given to you free, bear in mind that it is somebody’s sweat. Also, train others with the little you have learnt through this forum. Don’t hesitate to contact the Rotary Club of Gbagada for repair and maintenance because it is also free", he appealed.

Dr. Peter Oriaifo, medical officer in charge of Gbagada General Hospital, spoke on the misplaced priorities of Nigerian elite and wealthy individuals. He said he is heartbroken that at a time like this, the less privileged don’t have adequate support.

"Ordinarily, these people are still within productive age and should be useful to the society if they had limbs. We have millionaires in this country who can make impact in the lives of the less privileged. It would cost them nothing to purchase limbs and donate to charity. They feel better throwing lavish parties, where wealth is displayed with impunity to the detriment of the poor. Nigerian society would be better if the rich can use their resources to make an impact on the lives of the impoverished. I would encourage the club not to relent in its drive to put smiles on the faces of the poor in Nigeria", he added.
The medical director, who could not help showering encomium on Rotary Club, urged it to keep up with the good work, as it has an unprecedented pace which can only be rewarded by God.

"This hospital has benefited so much from the humanitarian nature of Rotary Club of Gbagada. They renovated the hospital dialysis department, built a pediatric department and also donated incubators. Nothing comes to me as a surprise from that club. They have always been involved in projects that touch lives in Nigeria. I implore others to take after their giant strides," he advised.

With the amputees beaming with smiles and showing off their newly acquired hands, the District Governor, RT. Somo Omoniyi, congratulated them and advised them to see it as a prized part of their body.

Amazed at the turnout and sad that many who turned out did not benefit, as they were either not screened initially or not qualified, he assured that those involved would soon have reasons to laugh, as plans are in the pipeline to make more prosthesis available in the country.