A female graduate identified as Grace Okimhe has expressed grave worries over repeated denials she faced in any attempt to seek employment in offices as a result of a rare neurological condition which manifest on her skin (NEUROFIBROMATOSIS).
NEUROFIBROMATOSIS is a condition that causes tumours to form in the brain, spinal cord and nerves. It is usually non-cancerous. There are three types of this condition. Type 1 usually appears in childhood, while Types 2 and 3 appear in early adulthood. According to statistics, there are over 100,000 cases in Nigeria.
The first class graduate of MICROBIOLOGY who now works daily in her mother’s shop shared one of her bitter experiences when she visited a consulting firm at Kinsley Emu Lekki, Lagos state and how a security man walked her out of the venue of the interview due to her condition with WITHIN NIGERIA and how this rare condition has made her feel unwanted in the same society that produced her.
While speaking with WITHIN NIGERIA, she disclosed that she was in her best behaviour at the venue of the interview yet a security man walked up to her and asked her to give him the CV and leave the interview venue.
“I was surprised because I did not quarrel with anyone. I told him that I am also here for the interview like others and would like to speak to the person that told him to walk me out but he declined. I told the security guy that I know why you ask me to leave and I left the venue after handling my CV to him, she revealed.
Grace who felt humiliated and embarrassed by such act could not control her tears as she walks away from the venue of the interview. She told WITHIN NIGERIA reporter that she feels frustrated whenever people show strange attitudes to her and she may consider giving up as this rejection is getting on her nerves.
While reacting to this matter, a medical specialist identified as Kelechi Ikpe revealed that this rare genetic condition (NEUROFIBROMATOSIS) is only manageable but not curable.
“Conditions such as pains, removal of bulky tumours, bones disorder can be managed and affected ears can be operated through surgery done. People with NEUROFIBROMATOSIS have good quality of life. It is only a genetic disease and does not affect intelligence of people who are diagnosed with it. It is not contagious therefore should not be stigmatised, the medical specialist disclosed.
According to Tony Dania; a lawyer and human right activist, he said that the situation raises concerns and disability bill should be passed and carefully implemented so that disabled people would not separated from the society and every citizen would stand a chance of equal rights.
“There should be a deliberate policy or agency in charge of disabled people and people suffering from rare conditions. This agency should be well equipped to be able to look out for the welfare of the disabled ones, he said.
He admonished government to start picking talents among the disabled ones as they pick talents among the able ones.
The mother of the first-class graduates expressed her worries and concerns about the inability of her daughter to get jobs and discrimination she faces. She hopes that there would be miracle and probably get job since that is why they sent her to school.
However, the first-class graduate relies so much in God, her faith in him remains unshaken inspite all challenges and also believes that there is nothing prayer can not change inspite the tales of “no cure” medical specialists have told her.
“I do not sleep at night. I just wish that God answers my prayer since there is nothing he can not do. When you go to doctors, they tend to make you feel that if there is no medical solution to your case that is all but when I tend to read my bible, it tells me that there is nothing God can not do, she said.
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