Yesterday, Rahma Haruna, the limbless girl from Lahadin Makole, Kano State who caught the attention of many after a journalist bought her a wheelchair and posted her pictures online, was visited by
the state Commissioner for Women Affairs, Barr. Zubaida Damakka Abubakar.
Hitherto, Rahma, was being moved around in a bowl by her young cousin, to beg for alms in Kano city, about 26km from her village. The earnings help in sustaining her family of four. Her father, Haruna Muhammad, said her challenge started when she was 6 months old and due to poverty, he could not get her a comprehensive medical attention.
On behalf of the state government, Barr. Zubaida Damakka donated some empowerment items to her family. She said the state government is touched by her condition and would do all it could to see that she does not feel forsaken.
Items donated to her mother to start a business include: 10 cartons of noodles, 2 bags of detergent, 10 cartons of biscuits, 2 bags of semovita, a bag of rice, a sack of soya bean, 2 gallons of cooking oil 25 liters each and the sum of N20,000.
Her father said he had to sell his farm and personal belongings to get her a comprehensive treatment but no progress was recorded. He eventually resigned to the fate, which most of the people in his community seem to believe, that her condition is the handiwork of evil spirits.