Enwono-Abasi Elisha
The story of Gospel Ime Henry might still be new to many while many must have heard about him and the eye disease which brings a stigma of rejection and ridicule to the victim and his family.
Locating his parents and teachers in Edebom II, Nsit Ibom Local Government Area was the least to the shame and burden Gospel Ime Henry, a pupil of Primary 5 in St Andrew Primary School bears everyday of his life for more than 9 years.
The name of the sickness could not be ascertained as it could be described as unusual growth in the eye region, causing swelling of the eye-ball and the eye-lid. The disproportionate size of the eye-ball outgrows the eye-lid, keeping it constantly open, dripping water continually.
According to the father, Mr. Ime Henry Umoh, his son becomes a scorn in the public as other children reject socialising with him.
"Even when I sought for medical attention for Gospel, many people did not sit close to him in the bus, they outrightly shifted away because of the size of Gospel's eyes.
"Even in church many people don't sit close to him. If by mistake one sits close to my son, the sight of his eyes makes them pull away immediately.
"On the road, the gazes from people makes us uncomfortable with the feeling of rejection and shame which discourages us moving out with him in the day time," the father lamented.
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| Gospel (middle) flanked by his parents |
According to the victim, Gospel Ime Henry, "Children despise me and call me 'big-eye.' When I go to church, I sit at the back because of the way people treat me by leaving me alone on the seat. I am always ashamed and I don't want to offend people again by my sight, that is why I told my parents that I will always sit at the back anytime I go to church."
To the mother, Mrs Mary Ime Henry, "I stopped him from participating in any school activity especially joining in match-passes at Afaha Offiong during any event but he (Gospel) always insisted on taking part. I never allowed him.
"Until the last match-pass which he pleaded earnestly to join as a pupil in the Senior Primary. I obliged, knowing he needed to join as a pupil of that class.
"As you can see, Gospel hopes to partake in every school activity like any normal child without being disparaged by his health condition. Most times he is stopped from participating in school activities by us (parents) or the teachers if such activities will not suit his health," Gospel's mother narrated.
Recounting Gospel's health journey, the father, Mr Ime Henry Umoh said it all started when Gospel was three years old as they left for farm.
On returning from the farm, we were told that while Gospel was playing with his siblings, he struggled for an instrument which mistakenly choke his eyes.
According to the parents, Gospel's eyes was blood-stained and they were not able to decipher which eye was affected. "Since they were all kids, nobody was able to give adequate explanation of what object choked Gospel's eye."
The father said that he rushed him to Mercy Hospital at Abak as he was directed by some concerned neighbours.
On arrival, they conducted rounds of check-up on Gospel and was treated.
Mr Ime Henry said that after three months, the eyes started swelling which caused him to return to the hospital for another round of check-up.
"On arrival, this time, more than 20 doctors examined my son without definite medical result. At this point, they said it was Cancer and the boy should be admitted.
"I obliged but to return in a week's time so that I can go back and arrange for money.
"When we went back after a week, the story changed with no definite medical diagnosis of the eye-disease by the doctors.
"They now told me that there was no specific doctor for the case apart from specialist whom they hired from Teaching Hospital Calabar," Gospel's father explained.
He further said that he was advised to go to Calabar and meet the specialist with a note from Mercy Hospital.
At Teaching Hospital Calabar, Gospel was examined again and fluid sample was taken for test which he had to wait for the result for more than a month.
On the second month of waiting, Mr Ime Henry said he went with Gospel to get the result which was not available, instead fresh round of check-up was conducted without definite medical reply.
"We were given the excuse that it was not their area of specialization as it has to do with the upper eye-lid. It was at this point I proceeded to meet the specialist I was referred to at Mercy Hospital Abak."
On meeting the specialist, Mr. Ime Henry said he conducted a test on Gospel and was operated upon. That brought a temporary relief only for the swelling to continue months after.
Since then, according to the father, they were discouraged visiting hospitals again as they even visited University of Uyo Teaching Hospital without positive result.
They however resorted to medical programs organised in their locality for indigenes by either government or private organisations. The father said that some even extorted money from them without giving the needed medical service.
"Is not as if we have lost hope, but we seem not to know what else to do.
"We believe there is help for Gospel Ime Henry from the Government of Governor Udom Emmanuel as he is a compassionate man and his wife is a caring mother.
"We might not have the money but we believe that God can use this Government to assist us as we crave for medical solution for Gospel," Gospel's parents pleaded.
Speaking with the Headmaster of St. Andrew Primary School, Edebom II, Nsit Ibom LGA, Mr. Ekerette Umoh said that he was posted to the school in November, 2015 and Gospel's health condition became an immediate burden to him as an individual.
He added that Gospel Ime Henry is very brilliant and always falls within the first ten in his class. Mr. Umoh said his performance would have been quite outstanding if not marred by his health challenge.
"Gospel Henry is very brilliant student. I taught him in Primary 4 and he always falls within the first ten pupils in academic performance.
"I know the eye-disease has challenged him in his academic performance which is why we assist him to always sit on the front-row," the principal said.
Mr. Ekerette Umoh noted Gospel to be very hardworking child who always love to participate in activities like other children in school without being deterred by his health. He added that most times he does that out of their (teachers') will.
He appealed to the State Government to come in and give the needed medical assistance to the boy who is hardworking with a promising future which can be marred if the condition is not tackled on time.
While speaking, the Primary 5 pupil, Gospel Ime Henry bursted into prayer asking God to send him help and make him come out of the health condition which has made him an object of ridicule amongst his peers.
"God, please help me to see properly as other children as I have suffered this shame for so long. Many ridiculed me and call me 'big-eyes' and many others too reject and discriminate me. I want to see well with my eyes as other children and prepare for my Secondary School, Amen," Gospel cried.
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