Not fewer than 186 Medical Doctors from seven countries have written to President Muhammadu Buhari, expressing their concerns over the deteriorating medical condition of the released leader of the Nigeria Islamic Movement (NIM), Ibrahim El-Zakzaky.
The doctors are from Pakistan, India, Iran, Afghanistan, Syria, Lebanon and Iraq.
According to a report by FARS News Agency, the Federal Government should transfer the Islamic clergy and his wife to a well-equipped hospital.
They claimed the victim is already suffering from acute insomnia, Ischemic heart disease which could lead to Myocardial Infraction, aside from heavy metal toxicity such as Lead deposit in his system.
El-Zakzaky and his wife were sighted at the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport, Sunday preparing to journey to India for medical treatments.
They were temporarily released by Justice Darius Khobo of the Kaduna State High Court to seek treatment abroad after repeated demands by Femi Falana, the defense counsel as well as protests by the cleric’s followers.
The protesters were further proscribed as a terrorist group by the federal government for insisting on the release of their leader El-Zakzaky.
The full text of the letter is as follows:
“In the name of God, The healer
From the community of Doctors
To the President of the Republic of Nigeria, Mr. Buhari.
In the past several months, the world has constantly received troubling news regarding the health of one of the prominent figures in Nigeria, Shaikh Ibrahim Zakzaky. Both Shaikh Ibrahim Zakzaky and his wife are kept in prison and the health status of both of them is very alarming.
We have chosen to be doctors even after knowing that this job is very difficult and troublesome, but we chose to save people’s lives and preferred the health of society over our personal interests.
According to the medical reports regarding the health status of Sheikh Ibrahim Zakzaky:
- He is suffering from total blindness in the left eye and is also suffering from vision problems in the right eye including glaucoma and progressive macular atrophy. According to the diagnosis of the visiting physicians, Shaikh Zakzaky will lose his vision sooner or later if the current circumstances do not change.
- He has shown symptoms of Ischemic heart disease which can lead to Myocardial Infraction.
- He is also suffering from severe cervical spondylosis which has resulted to nerve root compression and symptoms are progressive causing insomnia.
- The experiments show that he has heavy metal toxicity including Lead and Cadmium. Laboratory tests that are performed on May 31st, 2019 show that blood lead level is 171.94µg/dl. Later on June 18th, 2019 this level was reported to be 231.48µg while in the last laboratory test the blood lead level was three times more than the toxicity level (grade 5 of poisoning).
Based on the points highlighted above, Shaikh Ibrahim Zakzaky should be transferred to a well- equipped medical center that has Neuro-ophthalmologist, glaucoma specialist and low vision expert, cardiologist, orthopedist, and neurologist. Also, he may need to have surgery to reduce intraocular pressure.
We, doctors of different nationalities cannot take the health of any human for granted. This is something that is inherent in our obligation as doctors. Ignoring the critical health status of Sheikh Ibrahim Zakzaky can end up in irreparable consequences.
We request the government and parliament of Nigeria to immediately transfer him to a well-equipped hospital to prevent any unfortunate incidents. A group of doctors from Pakistan, India, Iran, Afghanistan, Syria, Lebanon and Iraq.
“Sheikh Zakzaky, a prominent Shiite leader, has been in detention along with his wife for close to four years despite the deterioration of his health conditions.
“Last Tuesday, in an exclusive interview with FNA, Dr. Pourrahim Najafabadi, MD, said Sheikh Zakzaky needs to be cured by an experienced medical team of physicians in a specialized multi-specialty hospital outside Nigeria, since there is no such medical center in the African country.
“With the current physical condition of the Sheikh, especially the virulent lead poisoning, Sheikh’s life is seriously at risk by delayed treatment. Meanwhile, there is a need for special medical care even in case of complete medical treatment. There is serious risk to Sheikh’s life if he is kept under detention,” said Najafabadi, the founder and spokesperson of a group of expert physicians who have volunteered to treat Sheikh El-Zakzaky.
See list of the doctors here.
Olugbenga heads the Investigations Desk at The ICIR. Do you have a scoop? Shoot him an email at [email protected]. Twitter Handle: @OluAdanikin