Josiah Nwankpa, a 56-year-old broadcaster from the Isiala Ngwa South Native Authorities Space of Abia State, who misplaced his sight to cataract in 2021 and is battling retina bleeding attributable to diabetes shares his ordeal with ALEXANDER OKERE
For the way lengthy have you ever been a broadcaster?
I got here into broadcasting in 1991 with Radio Nigeria; as of that point, it was Radio Nigeria 1 however now, it’s Alternative FM. I used to be there when Bond FM was created. I used to be a Pidgin English announcer and Igbo newscaster at the moment. I labored with Radio Lagos. I went to OGBC 2 FM the place I labored for over seven years. I used to be additionally a freelancer with radio stations. I labored with Star FM for 3 years then I went again to Metro FM as a freelancer. I offered programmes like ‘Make We Speak Enterprise’ on Radio Nigeria and ‘Make We Snigger Small’ on OGBC 2. Now, I work with Daar Communications, proprietor of AIT, Raypower and Faaji Fm, the place I’m a newscaster, presenter and producer. I current a household programme, ‘Make We Speak with Josiah Nwankpa’. I additionally current the information in Pidgin English.
Are you able to recall the way you misplaced your sight?
I used to be sick for a couple of yr and after the sickness, my imaginative and prescient went dangerous; pictures gave the impression to be doubled. I believed it was attributable to the malaria and typhoid I had or the injection I acquired. I believed my imaginative and prescient would enhance, unknown to me that it was removed from what I believed. I turned inquisitive and went to a watch clinic the place, I used to be instructed that I had cataracts. I used to be referred to a Catholic eye hospital in In the past Iwoye. The docs there did the whole lot they might, however ultimately stated they might not deal with it. They suggested me to go to the College Faculty Hospital, Ibadan, and particularly instructed me to fulfill a specific physician. After I received there, I used to be referred to 3 personal hospitals in Lagos and I went to one in every of them, an Indian eye clinic. One of many docs who examined me instructed me I used to be bleeding within the eyes, that my retina shifted and that I even have a cataract. That was how I received to know that I’ve cataract. That was in 2021.
How did you’re feeling while you realised it was that critical?
Oh, I felt dangerous. I believed concerning the issues I had deliberate to do and felt dangerous. The physician stated the answer was to endure an operation.
When did you ultimately lose your sight?
I used to be within the strategy of transferring from one hospital to a different after I noticed that I may now not see; the whole lot turned white. A number of the eyedrops have been so peppery that they left me unable to do something for a day or two.
Did the physician clarify why you have been bleeding in your eyes?
He stated it was resulting from stress within the eyes from the diabetes I’ve.
Was this one thing you already knew?
I’ve diabetes. My mom had diabetes.
How has the situation affected your job?
I’m a newscaster however I can’t learn information now. When the issue began, I felt dangerous as a result of I knew it might have an effect on my job. At one level, I needed to memorise the information script, as a substitute of studying from the script. I used to make use of a flashlight to memorise the script. After I received to the studio, I saved making errors. It was tough for me to inform my colleague’s that I had an issue. It was when the errors turned insufferable that I needed to inform the managing director that I had a difficulty with my eyes and would require some remedy. My situation is killing my dream.
What did your MD inform you?
He instructed me to deal with it as quickly as doable.
Did you lose your job?
I’m nonetheless an worker however I’ve not been going to the workplace. I final went to work a couple of yr in the past. I used to be not laid off as a result of my employer expects me to be again.
Are you married with youngsters?
Sure, I’m married with 4 children. I married a girl from Okene in Kogi State. I married an Igbira girl.
How are your spouse and children coping together with your situation?
Hmm. It’s a tough scenario. The lady has not been regular since she found that I’ve a difficulty with my eyes.
Not regular in what approach?
Not regular within the sense that I discovered that she feels dangerous concerning the scenario. At instances, the best way she does issues reveals that she is annoyed and possibly must abandon the wedding.
Is she nonetheless with you?
She shouldn’t be with me now.
Are you saying that she left you?
One thing like that. She lives with our kids in Ibadan.
Did she inform you that she would go away?
I don’t know what to say as a result of it’s tough. I believe she is uninterested in the wedding; she is annoyed.
Why do you assume she is annoyed?
I believe it’s due to my eye drawback and the diabetes.
How did you discover out that she left together with your youngsters?
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She instructed one in every of my brothers that they have been going to depart.
Did she give him a purpose?
She gave flimsy excuses.
Like what?
Like quarrelling with me and that I didn’t give her the prospect.
The prospect to do what?
I don’t know.
What was the final dialog you had along with her earlier than she left?
In our final dialog, she instructed me that she was not leaving, that she needed to simply keep away for a while. She instructed me this by means of messages she despatched to me.
Did you attempt to persuade her to remain?
I instructed her to not go away me as a result of I nonetheless love her.
How has her departure affected you?
It’s painful. My brothers should not in Lagos the place I reside, so I’m left with the choice of studying the best way to do issues on my own. I’m acquainted with the corners of my residence and have learnt to do sure issues on my own, like turning on a gasoline cylinder, although I maintain accidents alongside the road. I additionally get assist from some associates from the church I attend.
Did the physician on the personal clinic guarantee you that your sight could be restored after the surgical procedure?
That’s what the Indian physician has been telling me. He stated I might be advantageous after the surgical procedure. I consider him as a result of the docs who referred me to him stated if the physician stated he couldn’t deal with the issue, I ought to simply go house and never hassle losing my cash.
How a lot will the remedy price you?
I used to be instructed that it might price about N3m and between N4m and N5m, if the opposite bills, like costly medicine, are added. They stated plenty of issues needed to be achieved after the surgical procedure.
Have you ever been capable of elevate the cash?
It has been very tough. I spent the little cash I had, transferring from one hospital to the opposite and taking assessments and transferring from one state to the opposite. I went to totally different hospitals in Ogun, Akwa Ibom and Abia states.
How a lot have you ever spent thus far?
I’ve spent greater than N2m. An injection I obtain to handle the eyes prices N110,000.
Have you ever acquired any assist from household and associates?
Sure, I’ve been receiving assist however not the type I want to boost the cash. I’m interesting to members of the general public to assist elevate some cash for my eye surgical procedure. I’ve been in ache since my spouse and children left. I don’t understand how they measure the ache after I think about the feelings and love I’ve for her and my children.
How previous is your eldest baby?
My eldest baby is about 19 years previous.
Who stayed with you while you have been on the clinic?
When the issue began, my spouse was there. I’m at house now as a result of I can not afford to remain within the clinic and pay the payments.
Do your youngsters contact you?
Sure, the youthful ones name me.
Does your spouse name you?
She solely sends messages on WhatsApp however I can’t learn them and might’t inform somebody to do this for me as a result of they’re personal chats. I don’t need individuals within the neighbourhood and at work to know that she is now not round.
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