Issa, victim of eye hunt, leaves hospital next week
From Abiodun Fagbemi,
Ilorin
THE 14-year-old boy Jamiu Issa, whose eyes were plucked by herdsman apparently for ritual purposes, will be discharged next week from the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital in Kwara State.
Issa, a native of Ilupeju, Igbaja in Ifelodun council of Kwara State, met his ordeal some four weeks ago while working in his father's farm.
The consultant ophthalmologist in charge of Issa's case, Dr. Ademola Popoola, told The Guardian that substantial help had come Issa's way to facilitate his medical treatment.
Popoola singled out Mrs. Toyin to the medial expenses incurred by Issa.
Popoola stated that a medical team from the UITH, which had been involved in the rehabilitation of the patient led by the Chief Medical Advisory Committee (CMAC) chairman, Dr. Olugbenga Mokuolu, would accompany the boy home after his discharge.
Other members of the team are Dr. Popoola, a nurse, a social worker a revenue expert and a teacher at the school for the handicapped in Ilorin.
Already, the Kwara State School for the Handicapped, Ilorin has offered him an admission for studies and rehabilitation.
According to the ophthalmologist, "what we want to do is to transfer him to the school management, but not to leave him. We are prepared to help him when there is any need for that.
"I will equally want the state government, which has done tremendously well for him, to offer him a scholarship. The boy is very bright and we foresee a brighter future for him. The Governor's wife should be specially commended," the doctor added.
The school has also given a prospectus for Issa's rehabilitation and likely vocational training.
These include: Perlans Brailler, portable type-writer, radio cassette player, mobility cane, (foldable type), one Abacus, one malburg and one Stylus, 12 reams of Braille papers, 12 reams of typing sheets and one Braille wrist watch or talking wrist watch.
The vocational material include: Six bundles of canes (pankers), six dozens of cardboards, nylon ropes, a pen-knife, a sheet of half-inch thick plywood (for trays and baskets bases) one punching machine, one small painting brush, one iron file to sharpen knives, a pair of scissors (tailor's size), one craft-needle (with a big eye to allow nylon rope), a gallon of evostic gum and furmica and pieces of wood.
Issa's admission letter, dated August 10, reads in parts: "As a result of your performance in the interview you attended, you have been offered admission into Kwara State school for the handicapped, Blind Unit."
The letter was endorsed by the principal, Mrs. C.O Gbodeyan. It also indicated the resumption date for the school as Monday September 20, this year.
Although Popoola expressed her fears for Issa's safety, believing that the suspected assassins could want him dead to destroy whatever evidence that still remained against them, the acting Police Commissioner, Mr. Solomon Olusegun said the police would contain the situation.
