70-year-old journalist battles deformity

A veteran journalist, 70-year-old Mr. Sam Arikpo, is battling a health challenge which has deformed him and made him unable to walk.

Mr. Arikpo has been advised by medical experts to do a total hip replacement to avert confinement to wheelchair for life.

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Doctors diagnosed Arikpo with “bilateral osteoarthritis of the hips with associated subluxation of the right hip.”

While N8m is needed to foot the surgery bill, Arikpo told journalists in Calabar that he lacked the means.

He said, “The health problem came some years ago as a result of two accidents which I had while playing squash. It has been tough; even to wake up from the bed and ease myself is difficult.”