Rice Producers Association (RPA) worker, Mohamed Khan, who has been confined to a wheelchair since a 2004 accident, has finally secured the funds to undergo surgery that might allow him to walk again, in India.
Though Khan is awaiting a letter from the surgeon to secure a visa, relief was evident in his voice when he spoke to Stabroek News this week. The man also said the Ministry of Health had given him a cheque for US$5000 last week to assist with expenses and his son, who resides is the United States, has managed to raise an additionally US$5000. The combined sum covers the cost of the operation.
As regard travel arrangements and other expenses he might incur, Khan said the RPA with whom he was employed when the accident occurred, has pledged pay his airfare. He said too the Central Islamic Organization of Guyana (CIOG) will sponsor his wife who is set to accompany him. Khan also said Tony Yassin, from the Guyana Medical Watch Team which is based in the US, has pledged to assist with US$2000.
This newspaper understands that the original cost of the surgery was US$35,000 but after doing some more research Khan found another Indian hospital was offering the same operation for US$10,000. The man said there are two things that are stalling the process: his wife has not been able to obtain her passport in a timely manner and he is awaiting the surgeon’s letter which he will have to submit to the Indian High Commission to secure a visa.
Doctors had told the 53-year-old that he is running out of time and if he is to walk again the surgery needs to be done quickly. This newspaper first highlighted Khan’s dilemma last June. The 43 Cotton Field, Essequibo resident had dedicated most of his life to Guyana’s agricultural sector and, on July 20, 2004, while on his way to visit a seed plot at Devonshire Castle, a dog ventured into the path of his motorcycle and, in taking evasive action he fell and sustained injuries to his back.
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. When his condition was publicised, a CIOG representative visited him at home and took some information from him. Subsequently, the group contributed $45,000 of the $75,000 needed for Khan to undergo an MRI scan at the St Joseph Mercy Hospital. It then sent the scans, which were done in 2005, and his medical reports to India for evaluation.
Khan said he was grateful to everyone who assisted him.
