A 44 year old indigene of Adadama community in Abi Local Government Area of Cross River State, Mr. Daniel Imo, has appealed to the Federal and Cross River State Governments, corporate organisations, philanthropists and well meaning Nigerians to come to his aid after spending 23 years bedridden following a spinal cord injury.
Imo, who spoke in an interview with The Guardian, said his life changed forever on October 10, 2003, when he was involved in a workplace accident while working as a delivery van driver for a pharmaceutical company in Onitsha, Anambra State.
He explained that after completing his secondary education in 2000, he travelled to Onitsha in search of employment opportunities. He initially worked as a machine operator in a plastics company before using his savings to attend driving school.
After obtaining his driving qualification, he worked as a commercial driver before securing employment with the pharmaceutical company as a delivery van driver.
According to him, the accident occurred while he was delivering pharmaceutical products to customers in Fegge, close to the River Niger Bridge. He said a stray cow suddenly charged at him, knocking him to the ground and causing serious injuries.
He was initially taken to a nearby clinic for treatment but was later referred to the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu, where medical examinations revealed that he had suffered a cervical spinal cord injury.
Imo said doctors requested an initial payment of N75,000 for surgery, but his family was unable to raise the required amount.
He further alleged that money released by his employer to support his treatment was diverted by a company manager. According to him, the alleged diversion was eventually discovered after his relatives confronted the company management over its failure to provide adequate support during his extended hospital stay.
He said he has not had any contact with the company since leaving the hospital and is uncertain whether the company is still operating.
Following his discharge, Imo was taken to his hometown, where he remained bedridden. In 2014, however, communal violence between Adadama in Cross River State and a neighbouring community in Ebonyi State forced his family to flee.
He said his relatives were unable to evacuate him because of his condition and the difficulty of transporting him through the bush while escaping the violence.
According to him, his family locked him inside the house before fleeing the community. He was later rescued after a distress message he posted on Facebook attracted the attention of a Nigerian resident in the United Kingdom, who helped arrange his evacuation.
Recounting the challenges he has faced over the years, Imo said he has lost sensation from the neck downward and relies completely on caregivers for feeding, repositioning on the bed and other basic daily activities.
He said the lack of consistent physiotherapy over the years has caused severe stiffness in most of his joints, while repeated infections and chronic bedsores have further complicated his condition.
Imo disclosed that several attempts were made to raise money for specialised treatment, including the possibility of undergoing surgery abroad, but the efforts were unsuccessful.
"At this stage, I am no longer thinking about treatment because my condition has become medically complicated. What I need now is support for feeding, medications and other daily needs," he said.
His mother, Mrs. Justina Imo, also expressed deep concern over her son's condition, saying the situation has caused her immense physical, emotional and psychological distress.
She said she has not seen Daniel since 2014 when the communal crisis forced the family to flee for their safety, leaving him behind because his condition made it impossible to evacuate him.
Mrs. Imo said the prolonged separation from her son and the deterioration of his condition have taken a serious toll on her health. She disclosed that she developed high blood pressure as a result of years of worry and emotional trauma.
Describing her son's situation as devastating, she appealed to the Federal Government, Cross River State Government, corporate bodies, philanthropists and compassionate Nigerians to support him with feeding, medication, medical attention and rehabilitation.
"My son has spent 23 years on the sickbed. His future was cut short by this unfortunate incident. I appeal to the government and kind hearted Nigerians to come to his aid. Even if he cannot fully recover, he deserves a better quality of life and the support to live with dignity," she pleaded.
Individuals and organisations willing to support Daniel Imo can make donations through:
Account Name: Daniel ImoBank: United Bank for Africa (UBA)Account Number: 2072008766
For enquiries: 07031655209
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