Islamic Centre Wants Support For Underprivileged In Nigeria

The International Centre for Islamic Culture and Education (ICICE), Abuja, on Sunday, called on the Federal Government, corporate organisations and humanitarian groups to provide adequate support through humanitarian services to the less-privileged in the society.

Dr Kabir Kabo Usman, the Director-General of the centre, made the appeal during a free medical outreach, distribution of food items and clothing’s to disabled persons at Karamajiji village, along Airport Road in FCT.

Kabir Usman said the only way the Nigerian society would move forward was to help the poor, adding that no society or nation has it all, but the ability to assist others, especially the underprivileged, speaks volume for the society.

He said that the centre had carried out a survey and discovered that the community has been neglected, therefore required as much medical support as possible.

Represented by Dr Garba Sani, a director in the centre, the DG of ICICE said communicable ailments were associated with the dust of dry season and that preventive measures are necessary to prevent the spread.

The DG, who disclosed that the sum of N700, 000 was spent on the medical intervention, called for the support of other individuals, corporate organisations and the government in offering humanitarian services to the less-privileged in the society.

“This community is largely neglected and ignored especially by humanitarian groups and the government and we discovered that they really need our support.

“We are carrying out tests and give treatment to members of this community (mostly populated by the physically challenged), on Malaria, Typhoid, Diabetes, Eye diseases, Hypertension etc through our qualified doctors and pharmacists who are volunteers.

“All our medical outreach are free and we are targeting over 700 disabled persons to benefit from the exercise,” he said.

Also speaking, the Head, Medical Team, ICICE, Dr Amina Kumalia, said the elderly persons were treated for malaria, typhoid and peptic ulcer, while their children were also treated for diarrhoea.

Dr Kumalia attributed the prevalence of communicable diseases to lack of hygiene and poor treatment, adding that once the children with upper respiratory tract infection are not properly treated, they will infect others.

She called on residents in the area to keep their environment clean to prevent the spread of communicable disease in the community.

However, she called on Nigerians and relevant organisations to assist underprivileged persons for the development of the country.

Speaking on behalf of other beneficiaries, Malam Sani Ibrahim, said a majority of disabled persons in the area could not afford medical bills for their wives and children.

He thanked the centre for the medical assistance, saying this had renewed their hope for a better life and healthy living in Karamajiji community.