INTRODUCTION
Project “Kwandala4Ja’farShu’aibu” first came to The Foundation’s attention in September 2005, during the one of the weekly general meeting usually held at the Conference Hall of Freedom Radio. The organization’s Vice President II Maryam Dalhatu, who almost in tears with emotion and selfless abandon introduced the case to the attendance.
She explained that a woman has approached her about a week earlier, informing that her husband is critically ill and has been bedridden for the past 8 years without any assistance from any quarters. Several promises had been made by many individuals, groups, administrations both in the past and recently but have been failed. Also the immediate family had made several appeals in many radio and television station but none has yielded any positive response yet. So someone in her neighbourhood having heard about the K. Foundation recommended that she should approach the NGO and seek for help and so her coming. It is her hope that she finally had come to the end of the road of seeking for assistance on behalf of her husband Malam Ja’afar Shu’aibu, as all their resource has been depleted in the course of medical care for the man.
The Vice President II immediately identified with the woman’s predicament and comforted her, that indeed she has come to the right place and Allah Willing the Foundation will investigate her case and if found to be genuine, would definitely take it up. After the woman has left for home, Maryam Dalhatu then organized a fact-finding mission to the residence of the Shu’aibus. Together with Nasiru Sa’idu Adhama, Secretary General I I of the Foundation, her sisters Asma’u, Zainab and others they visited the house located just off New Court Road Gyadi Gyadi Quarter in Kano Metropolis. What they discovered was so pathetic that the Vice President II was shedding tears while recounting the story of the visit.
PROJECT “KWANDALA4JA’AFARSHU’AIBU”
Her narration touched the Foundation’s heart, and even though Project “Kwandala4NigerFoodCrisis” was on going, and it is the policy of The Kwandala Foundation to handle one project to its logical conclusion before considering or embarking on another, Malam Ja’afar’s case was immediately approved by the assembly to be the next project after “K4Niger…”And after the epoch journey to Zarmou Village in Zander State of Niger Republic thus completing Project “Kwandala4NigerFoodCrisis”, “Kwandala4Ja’afarShu’aibu” Project kicked off.
FACT-FINDING
The first thing done upon commencing the project was to pay a visit to the household of Malam Ja’afar Shu’aibu to witness first hand the true situation on ground. A delegation of 9 persons led by the President of the Foundation Arc. Tijjani Muhammad Musa arrived at the residence to among other issues give the glad tiding that Project “K4Ja’afarShu’aibu” has taken off, here outlines of the modus operandi was made known to the man and his relieved family. There was also the issue of feeding the family, to which a date was set when the Foundation would bring relief material to the house. Building Experts among the delegation also assessed the house for defects and possible restructuring and reconstruction, if need be, as there were reports of its unsuitability for his human habitation. Wishing him good recovery, the delegation finally left amidst thanks, tears of joy and prayers for the Foundation’s effort by the Malam Ja’afar Shu’aibu and his family.
RAPID RELIEF ACTION
At the Foundation’s next meeting the following weekend in the month of Ramadan, the sum of N10, 000.00 (Ten Thousand Naira Only) was immediately approved and made available to the Projects Committee (PC) under the Chairmanship of Abdallah King Hussain, who together with members of that committee went to Dawanau Market, in Kano and purchased assorted food items, vegetable oil, spices, ingredients etc which was promptly delivered with the sum of N2, 000.00 to Malam Ja’afar’s family. One interesting point to note was how the traders at the market started contributing their own portions upon learning that it is members of the K. Foundation on yet another humanitarian project. Then at the end of Ramadan Fasting, all members who were able submitted their Zakatil Fitr (grain alms usually given out per head) to the Foundation Secretariat for onward delivery to Malam Ja’afar’s House, that they might also have something to celebrate Eid-el-Fitr with.
REASSURANCE
In November 2005, after the festivities of Eid-el-Fitr were over, the President together with the Vice President I AbdurRahman Baffa Yola paid another very important visit to the Shu’aibus, notifying them that arrangements were almost complete on when and how the project patient would be taken to Malam Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital (AKTH) for proper medical check up to ascertain the nature of his sickness and what medical attention and expenses would be required to fully bring him back to normal life.
AKTH, Kano ADMISSION
Efforts to solicit for the sum of N30, 000.00 from close quarters of the Foundation members that would be needed to admit the patient at the teaching hospital for the preliminary test and settle other medical bills yielded little result but eventually members were able to raise the sum of N10, 000.00 at the first instance, just enough to admit Ja’afar Shu’aibu. Once again the Projects Committee made all necessary arrangements for transportation and finally succeeded in getting the patient admitted at Male Medical Ward, Bed No. 3 on 30th December 2005.
VISITATIONS
On 4th January 2006 at about 11.00am, the Foundation President personally visited the patient to see the progress made so far and found him responding well to the intensive care and drugs being administered on his system in the process of conducting the necessary tests and analysis. Meeting with the Projects Committee Chairman, Tijjani Muhammad expressed his appreciation and profound gratitude on behalf of the Foundation and family of the patient for the special attention the man was receiving from the hospital staff. Members like Salihu T. Yakasai, Datti Garko, Amina Yusuf and Others also took the trouble to personally visit at one time or the other.
EID-el-KABIR WITH THE SHU’AIBUS
Eid-el-Kabir was on Tuesday, 10th January 2006. The Foundation President, Vice President I and PC member Aminu Garba on behalf of other members visited Malam Ja’afar to wish him Barka Da Sallah. Present at his hospital bed were his wife of about 3 decades Malama Bara’atu Shu’aibu and one of his many sons 25 year old Sunusi Shu’aibu. The man, looking much better that when first admitted received them with smiles and gratitude, praying for their well-being and success of the K. Foundation.
Since there was a lot of celebrations during the “Babbar Sallah” and so plenty of food, drinks and meat to eat from the annual ram sacrifice that usually come with this happy occasion were in abundance, once again members of the Foundation remembered the family of Malam Ja’afar Shu’aibu, as they gathered portions of Sallah meat from their individual homes and donated it to the patient’s family. This is the traditional practice of Muslims all over the world that the poor, needy and those under trials might also have surplus to eat during the yuletide season.
“Kwandala4Ja’afarShua’aibu”- “Give A Coin For Life”
“Kwandala4Ja’afarShua’aibu” is on going and the project patient is still on admission at Malam Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital (AKTH) Male Medical Ward, Bed No. 3 as at press time (11/01/06) You too can take the trouble to visit him before the call for your kind assistance towards meeting the financial obligation of his medical needs.
Don’t forget, the slogan is “Give A Coin For Life” with The Kwandala Foundation.
God Bless.
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