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Chief of lepers chooses vision

My story

Leprosy had led to blindness for both Adamu Jibrin and his wife Hadiza.

Adamu, the Chief of the lepers in Ikara in the Kaduna State of Northern Nigeria, was ready to resign from his post because of his blindness.

It would mean the end of his work representing the leper community at all levels; negotiating on their behalf with the government and organisations providing aid for lepers. Both Adamu and his wife, Hadiza, were blind from cataracts caused by leprosy.

Hadiza depended on the children within the household for every activity and house chores. “This was quite frustrating considering the fact that I am crippled as a result of leprosy," she explained.

How we helped

Hadiza’s life was transformed by cataract surgery, supported by Seeing is Believing partners Sightsavers International. “After I had both eyes operated, I began to do things myself and I could even cook for my husband,” she said.

Adamu took some persuasion before he would consider surgery, but was finally convinced by the transformation that it had made to Hadiza’s life. “I told him to see me as an example, how I was led to the hospital but walked out on my own,” she remembers.

“We can now laugh and feel we are part of the community,” said Hadiza.

If you would like to help people like Adamu, please donate here.