Barely two months after The Guardian published a story of 14-year-old Reuben Azazi, who needed N1.8 million to undergo medical surgery for Burkitt lymphoma, succour at the weekend finally came the boy’s way following the donation of N1 million from the founder of Gifting Volunteer Network, David Tamarau-Kruo, for his treatment.
Burkitt lymphoma is a cancer of the lymphatic system, particularly B-lymphocytes found in the germinal centre. It is named after Denis Parsons Burkitt, the Irish surgeon, who first described the disease in 1958 while working in Africa.
Presenting the cheque for Azazi’s treatment in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital, Tamarau-Kuro, said he was touched when he learnt of the boy’s plight. He said the organisation offers a complete range of free healthcare services, including medical and surgical treatments, medical camps, and telehealth facilities to the underprivileged people of Nigeria.
He said: “After Reuben’s case was reported to us two months ago, we have been trying our best to crowdfund for him.
“We’ve been able to raise this sum of money for him. So, we are presenting this money to him here in the presence of the family and the media.
“We believe that presenting this money to him would be for the good and for the well-being of Reuben who has this ailment, and this is what we have been doing for people.”
Tamarau-Kuro said he was inspired to give to the poor and needy after a near death experience as an undergraduate at the Federal University of Science and Technology, Akure.
“So, I said let me give back to society that was why I came up with Gifting Volunteers Network to help people in such health conditions who cannot afford their medical bills. Through public patronage, we have rendered so many assistances to people, sent people to abroad for medical treatment and so many others; that’s why we are doing what we are doing today.” He called on well-meaning Nigerians and organisations to help the network to reach out to many others with similar situations across the country.
Receiving the cheque on behalf of the family, the younger sister to Reuben’s mother, Ashanti Afenfia, thanked God and the organisation for the good gesture, saying the family will proceed immediately to the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH), where the treatment will commence.
Reuben, like other kids, had a dream to go to school and become a graduate and probably get a white-collar job like some of his uncles and aunties, but his dream was caught short after what looked like a swelling in the jaw kept him away from school.
After the poor parents, who live in Ogboinbiri community, in Ijaw Local Council of Bayelsa State, applied all means to stop the swelling and yielded no positive result, they decided to approach her mother’s sister who lives in Yenagoa, the state capital for help.
Reuben, the third child of his late mother, who died five years ago, was subsequently admitted on March 23 at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) where he was diagnosed with bilateral jaw cancer.
