Essequibo resident Mohamed Khan is in desperate need of US$35,000 for surgery in India if he is to have a chance at walking again.
Doctors recently told 53-year-old Khan, who has been confined to a wheelchair since 2004, that he is running out of time and if he is to walk again the surgery needs to be done quickly.
So far, he has US$6,000 which his son managed to raise single-handedly.
Stabroek News first highlighted Khan’s case in June. Khan who lives at 43 Cotton Field, Essequibo has dedicated most of his life to Guyana’s agricultural sector and back in 2004 he was employed at the Guyana Rice Producers Association (RPA).
On July 20, 2004 while on his way to visit a seed plot at Devonshire Castle, a dog ventured into the path of the motor cycle he was riding and in taking evasive action he fell and sustained injuries.
He was diagnosed with an injury to the T-8 vertebra of his spine and since then he has been paralyzed from the waist down.
Khan told Stabroek News recently that he is frustrated by all the promises he has been getting from health officials and members of the government.
He said that since his situation was made public, a CIOG representative visited him at his home and took some information from him.
According to Khan the organization sent his MRI scan done in 2005 and his medical reports to India for evaluation a month ago.
He said that the doctor there said that the surgery can be performed in India but he wanted another scan to be done to see if his condition had improved.
The MRI which cost $75,000 was done at St Joseph Mercy Hospital and CIOG contributed $45,000 towards it, Khan said.
In addition to India, copies of the MRI were sent to Trinidad and Belgium for evaluation.
Meanwhile, the RPA, he told this newspaper, has come on board and agreed to pay the return airfare for him and his wife to wherever the operation will be done.
He said that so far he has received pledges of assistance from Tony Yassin from the Guyana Medical Watch team, the CIOG and the Ministry of Health.
Hard life
Since the accident Khan has been experiencing a very hard life. Because of his condition he is unable to work and obtain an income to support his family and pay his bills.
Khan told Stabroek News that he is only receiving $12,500 a month from the National Insurance Scheme (NIS). He said that he has to find money to pay GWI, GPL, GT&T and medical expenses every month and this amounts to a huge sum.
With frustration in his voice, he said that before the accident he had taken three loans so he is in an even more difficult situation. Khan said too that his wife is unable to work since he needs round-the-clock care.
To emphasize the urgency of the operation, he said that the doctor has told him that the longer he takes to get it done, the harder it will be for him to walk again.
He noted that he was the former deputy mayor of Anna Regina, Director of the Central Planning and Housing Authority and was with the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) for ten years.
Khan noted that although he has done so much for these organizations they have not come to his aid.
Khan is appealing to every corner of society, including churches and the business community, for help.
If anyone wants to help Khan, he could be contacted on 771-4256 or money can be deposited in account number 584-2323 at Republic Bank.
