Mother seeks support to educate 10-year-old daughter who writes with legs

Malama Amina Idris, Mother of Fatima Kabiru, a 10-year-old pupil who writes with her legs, has appealed for support to educate her daughter and enable her pursue her dream of becoming a medical doctor.

Fatima Kabiru is a primary five pupil at Chikaji Model Primary School in Sabon Gari Local Government Kaduna State.

Amina Idris, mother of five children and resident of Dogarawa Area of Sabon Gari Local Government, made the appeal in an interview with newsmen on Tuesday in Zaria.

She said that she had some complications during the delivery of the baby (Fatima) where the traditional birth attendant had to refer her to Gambo Sawaba General Hospital, Zaria.

“While at the hospital, the medical personnel initially recommended a caesarean-delivery but later abandoned the caesarean delivery and removed the baby.

“They (medical personnel) also told me that they observed the baby’s hands had sustained some internal fractures during the delivery processes and recommended orthopedic treatment.

“I was later discharged from the hospital, while at home and upon seeing the conditions of her hands we then obtained for the services of a traditional orthopedic practitioner and the services were not successful.

“Since then her hands failed to work after several medications,’’ Idris said.

According to her, “at a point in time my husband (Fatima’s father) divorced me due to the alleged huge medical burdens, but his relations begged me not to leave the matrimonial home because of our children.”

Idris said her daughter has been using her legs to eat, write, apply makeup and is now making efforts to clean herself with little help.

She added that her daughter is now a primary five pupil at Chikaji Model Primary School and had been attending Islamic school at Chikaji Area of Sabon Gari local government.

She said that the girl has shown a very high zeal for education with a dream of becoming a medical doctor, “hence my appeal to the public for support to educate her and seek further medication for her.”

Earlier, Fatima Kabir, who demonstrated how she used her legs to write, eat, apply powder and do some makeup, said she was not discriminated against by either her teachers or classmates.

Kabir expressed her determination to study further, stressing being a pupil with a special need her dream is to become a medical doctor.

She, therefore, joined her mother to urge the public for support on her quest for education or any other necessary assistance.

Similarly, Malam Nura Uba, the Public Relations Officer of the School-Based Management Committee (SBMC) of Chikaji Model Primary School, said the committee discovered the pupil’s condition on Oct. 13 during its routine visit to the school.

He said subsequent upon the discovery of the pupil’s condition, the committee took her case to Alhaji Mohammed Usman, Chairman of Sabon Gari Local Government Council, who instantly raised some financial assistance to the girl.

According to Uba, the council of Sabon Gari LG has also pledged to sponsor her education at a school for children with special needs.