An officer of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, in Edo State command, Inbhafidon John Odion, 46, has been battling kidney disease for the last two and a half years.
Odion, who hails from Esan West Local Government of Edo State, said the illness has rendered him incapacitated, as he has not been able to go to work.
To take care of his family, he said, has been a serious challenge and his wife has been the one doing everything for the family.
Odion, who joined the NSCDC in 2012, said the sickness has gulped all his savings and he now relies on family members, friends and colleagues to eat and carry out his dialysis treatment.
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“Since 2021, I have been battling with kidney problem and I am currently on dialysis at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH).”
He said he thought it was an infection initially, before clinical findings revealed it was renal issue.
Odion said “It all stated in 2021. I went to urinate one day but found blood in the urine. I went to the University of Benin Teaching Hospital and the doctor said it was infection and they gave me some drugs.
“I felt relieve after taking the drugs prescribed for me and so, I continued with my daily activities. But after sometimes, the problem resurfaced and I went back to UBTH. I was admitted and spent three months in the hospital before I was discharged.
“After I recovered, I went back to work but several months later, I was down again. I went to UBTH again; it was then the doctor told me that my kidney was having problem and I was again admitted in the hospital.
“I started dialysis in 2022. I undergo dialysis two times a week and each dialysis with drugs cost N42,000 and without drug is N39,000. I usually go for dialysis Wednesday and Saturday every week,” he said.
The NSCDC officer said he thought he would have been able to shoulder the medical exigencies alone, but got exhausted as the condition kept recurring.
He said if not for the assistance from friends, family and colleagues, it would have been difficult for him to undergo the dialysis.
He lamented that he spends an average of N80,000 weekly on dialysis.
“I thought it was something I could handle but right now, it is far above my capability and that is why I’m crying for help.”
Odion told Daily Trust Saturday that he has not been able to go to work in the last six months and this is occasioned by the illness.
“I have not been to work for over six months now. My colleagues in the office have been very supportive and my wife has been everything; she takes the children to school and carries out other household duties.
“I have two kids and I am still paying their school fee, but because of the illness my salary is not even enough to cover my two-week dialysis treatment.
“I am passing through hell. I never thought I would face this kind of problem where I would have to rely on the benevolence of others to survive.
“The doctor has told me that I need a kidney transplant and it will cost N20 million to do the transplant. But, where will I get that kind of money?
“I am appealing to the state government, well meaning individuals and organisations to come to my aid because I am dying and it is difficult for me to foot the bill.
“I am also begging the Edo State governor Godwin Obaseki to come to my aid so that I would be able to take care of my children. The load is too heavy for my wife alone to carry.
“Life is unpredictable, but I am hopeful that God will send help. I need help so that I can continue to service my country,” he said.
Meanwhile, our reporter could not get official comment from the NSCDC Edo Office, on the sick officer as the state commander was not reachable.
However, an official of the corps who craved anonymity because he was not authorised to speak said the command was aware of the officer’s health issues and had been doing its best to ensure he gets treatment.
He said his colleagues in the office had opened a Whatsapp group where officers and friends made donations to assist the ailing colleague.
