Kunle Adelabu
-Gets BOT members
The founder of the Al – Monan Hijama Cupping Therapy Limited, Imam Bolaji Alliu Atunrase, has stated that he came about the idea of Seizure and Epilepsy Foundation to assist less privileged patients who cannot afford cost of treatment in his clinic.
Atunrase, who is also the Imam, NASFAT Mosque, Oke Ota -Ona, Ikorodu, added that the foundation is necessary to provide support for many patients suffering from the seizure and epilepsy which cupping therapy has proven to be a good means of treating.
He spoke last Wednesday, at the launching of the foundation which also witnessed the commissioning of a new clinic located at 17, Kolapo Ogunyemi Street, off Rep. Babajimi Benson Road (formerly Igbe Road) , Igbogbo, Ikorodu, Lagos State.
At the launch, nine of the guests – Barrister Mohammed Jaji, Zonal Missioner, Lagos Zone I, Alhaji Jamiu Ayinde, Chairman, NASFAT Elders Council, Alhaji Mikhail Longe, former NASFAT Chairman, Alhaji Wale Hamzat (HOMAT), former NASFAT Chairman, Dr Raud Adetokunbo Adelakun, Alhaji Abdulrahma Kayode, Alhaja Kudirat Lamina, Member, BOT Oriwu College Old Students’ Association of Nigeria (OCOSAN), Imam Hassan Alaseyori, Imam Bola Ahmad and Hajj Abiodun, volunteered to serve as trustees of the foundation’s board.
“We also unveiled the Seizure and Epilepsy Foundation which I conceived after treating a lot of people. The genesis was actually a particular patient whom my attention was drawn to by somebody. It was a doctor’s daughter who was having seizure and she has been taken to a University Teaching Hospital in a renowned state.
“The lady was 31 years old and needed to further her education with her Masters programme but could not because of the seizure.
“The man said that he has done everything but she was not getting any better. So, someone close to me invited me to see the lady and asked what I can do to help the lady. So, I said we could heal her with cupping therapy and to the glory of Allah, we did.
“We ran so many tests and we used cupping therapy and to the glory of Allah, today, she’s hale and healthy.
“When I now see that cupping therapy can be use in treating seizure patient, I decided to do something about it. We have treated many epilepsy patients and today, the Yoruba adage that says, “Won o ki n wo warapa. Eni to ba wo warapa ki n gbowo” (Seizure and epilepsy cannot be treated and such treatment must be free) is today a story. We treated this lady and thereafter, she’s been certified okay at the health centre”, Imam Atunrase said.
The founder also stated that there have been patients suffering from the same ailments but can not afford the treatment cost, and that it is because of the need to help relieve them of their pains and sufferings, that he instituted the foundation.
“A particular patient sometimes ago came and she could not even pay her bill. There are many instances like that that their families cannot pay. So, how do we go about this? Do we leave them and be living miserable lives just because they can’t afford the health bills?
“So, we decided that we should start a health foundation, and the foundation is only for epilepsy and seizure and anything that has to do with neurological challenges, that is what we want to focus on, especially now that we have a lot of youths that are into intoxicants that are mentally derailing, cupping is good in intreating them.
“Statistic of people with seizure in our society is about 5% and unfortunately, there has been no solution and now, there is a way out; and we will be requiring donors to support so that we can assist a lot of people in this regard. We really need to make noise about it so that more people will be aware that the foundation is treating such ailment free”, Imama Atunrase said.
Expressing his happiness and appreciation for the support for the foundation and the caliber of people that signified interest to serve as its trustees, Imam Atunrase described it as a significant step towards the achievement of the foundation’s objectives.
“One of the thing I am glad about today is the interests of nine of our guests to be part of the foundation. So, we already have a list and this is the significant achievements because board of trustees is crucial to the formation of the foundation.
“A foundation can be in the pipeline for two years because of lack of trustees, but we have been able to achieve that. It is a significant achievement”, he said.
