Unwavering in its determination to rally round its members, Maritime Reporters' Association of Nigeria (MARAN); the umbrella body of accredited maritime journalists in Nigeria, is currently soliciting financial support for one of its own, Mr. Andrew Airahuobhor.
Airahuobhor, who is the Maritime Correspondent of Daily Independent newspaper, needs to travel to India to undergo urgent surgery on his left eye to save his sight.
Unwavering in its determination to rally round its members, Maritime Reporters' Association of Nigeria (MARAN); the umbrella body of accredited maritime journalists in Nigeria, is currently soliciting financial support for one of its own, Mr. Andrew Airahuobhor.
Airahuobhor, who is the Maritime Correspondent of Daily Independent newspaper, needs to travel to India to undergo urgent surgery on his left eye to save his sight.
As Airahuobhor tells it in his own words, "in August 2011, I was struck with a medical condition that caused hemifacial lesion on my forehead and eventually resulted in loss of light perception in my left eye while undergoing treatment at the hospital.
"I was on admission for one week at Subol Hospital, Idimu, Lagos and eventually went to University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH), Benin City, Edo State, where I was placed on admission at its Ophthalmology Clinic and discharged after two weeks of treatment.
"The doctors say I have cornea opacity, which can only be corrected by corneal graft (transplant) and UBTH is not equipped for such, and that I may need to seek treatment abroad if I can afford it.
"I approached Heidelberg Medical Centre in Germany, which has a good ophthalmology department. But they recommended Narayana Nethralaya eye Hospital in Bangalore, India, and gave an estimate of the treatment, which rounded up to N1.7 million including accommodation and travelling expenses for approximately six weeks period. That is excluding travelling expenses for one attendant that is required to provide me personal support while on the treatment.
"Meanwhile, I have been issued with a two-month single entry visa by the Indian High Commission in Lagos, which will expire August 24, 2012. But there is no fund to embark on the trip and the condition is still there."
Consequently, MARAN has set up a committee to help mobilise the much-needed financial support for Airahuobhor.
Therefore, MARAN passionately appeals to all and sundry, including individuals and organisations, to contribute their widow's mite to support the Andrew Airahuobhor Fund.
In case of any support, these are his account details: Ecobank; Account No: 0024398588; Sort Code: 056150357; and Account Name: Andrew Airahuobhor.
Discussion about this post