When Atoke Ayobami graduated from the college of Health Science and Technology, Ijero, three years ago, her dream like that of most ladies out there was to have her time as a National Youth Service Corps member, get a good job and settle down as a married woman afterwards.
Fate however had something different in stock for this young lady, she woke up sometime in year 2013 only to discover some parts of her body had swollen abnormally…
Atoke visited the hospital and was diagnosed with Elephantiasis, a parasitic infection that causes extreme swelling in the arms and leg.
To say life hasn’t remained same since then for her is to utter the obvious. She ran from pillar to post, making endless efforts at trying to raise the medical bill charged by experts who would treat her.
Atoke’s story however changed Tuesday evening when the Ekiti State governor, Mr. Ayodele Fayose visited impromptu, the construction site of Ekiti State Secretariat of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.
Governor Fayose had after acknowledging cheers from site workers and passersby moved upstairs to see for himself the level and quality of work done. He displayed his expertise in the field of construction, scolded some workers who were found wanting and later made some corrections as necessary.
As the governor stepped down the makeshift staircase, his face wasn’t attractive, one won’t ask even an enemy to seek assistance from him in such mood. Atoke was downstairs, perhaps saying silent prayers to God instead of reading the governor’s mood. She didn’t have a field day accessing him, she had the governor’s security aides and the ‘street’ to contend with.
The ‘street’ hailed and got their slice from the governor as usual, they left and it was time for him to enter his car and take his leave. Atoke knew she had to move closer to the governor else the man disappears, she made her move but the security men won’t allow her. Trust eagle eyed Fayose, she saw what was happening and asked that she be allowed to have her way.
As this continued, we watched from a fair distance, there was a conversation between the governor and Atoke, minutes later, he brought out his red pen, wrote something on paper and handed it with some cash unto Atoke. We closed in on her after the governor left and she was so glad to speak with us.
“My name is Atoke Ayobami, I have been battling this problem for about 3 years now, it started with body pain, severe body pain, when it started swelling and I couldn’t do anything with it, including the two legs, I went to the hospital and they said it was Elephantiasis, they said I should go and look for money. I had just graduated from the college where I had HND in environmental health, I have not started working.
“I want to say a very big thank you to the governor, I am most grateful, the governor gave me this note and asked me to take it to the Chief Medical Director at the University Teaching Hospital, he said he should see to my case. I have suffered for the past 3 years but I know an end has come to my problem”, she explained.
As the doctors often say they care but God heals, it is my prayer that God will lay his healing hands upon Atoke Ayobami and make her joy complete. Dare to make a move, Ask and it shall be given!
