Seven members of the same family suffering from a serious degenerating Nervous system ailment are appealing to well wishers for financial resources to enable them access medical treatment in Nigeria.
The seven aged between 30 and 74 are suffering from a serious degenerating Nervous system disease which has left them disabled and partially blind.
The disease has left the father, Greenwell Sakala, 74, of Chimwemwe and his six children, Elina, 50, Catherine, 40, William, 42, Judy, 38, Steven 34 and Isaac 29 all crippled, partially blind and malnourished.
Speaking in an Interview in KItwe yesterday at their house one of the patients, Steven Sakala, 34, said life has become unbearable because the family has no income because the members are crippled.
Steven said the family members are born normal but the disease attacks them between the age of twenty five and thirty leaving them bedridden.
He disclosed that they were thirteen in their family and that three have already died while seven including himself were all suffering from the rare health condition.
When the family attempted to seek medical attention from Kitwe Central Hospital and South Africa, health experts said blood samples tested showed no complication.
He said the patients experience no body pain except for weight loss, partial blindness and exhaustion.
Kitwe District Health Director Dr Chikafuna Banda said the seven were suffering from degenerating nervous system disease which can not be cured at the moment.
Dr Banda said that he was trying to arrange with the district leadership and Kitwe Central Hospital Executive Director Dr John Mwewa to admit the seven to Kitwe Central Hospital so that more examinations and study could be done on the disease.
Mr Sakala’s twelve-year-old grandson, Emmanuel Sakala, appealed to members of the public and business houses to help the family raise enough resources to seek spiritual healing in Nigeria.
Emmanuel, who has been helping to feed, cloth and bath the male sick members of the family said life is hard for them because most of the family members were always sick.
“I help to give the male sick members toilet pans, bathing and dressing them and cleaning the House, we need detergents and other sanitary materials to help us clean the rooms and beddings for the sick especially the four who are bedridden”. said Emmanuel.
Where is the government? Can we fly these folks for specialist medical help since our health system is impotent?
Pray for their quick recovery!
Too bad, lets give them both spiritual and moral support. The Goverment shold look in to that.
This is a sad state of affairs. Can the Ministry of Health do something! They are just busy gobbling billions … can they for once show us what they are really there for! Simbao and team… where are you when people need you?
Spiritual healing in Nigeria? Thats ridiculous.
I am not a doctor but the family’s real ailment has to be diagnosed first. It could be something in their home poisoning them like Lead, asbestos or Mold. It’s rather unlikely that a genetic disease can affect both parents and all the children.
You will be robbed in Nigeria.
This could ber swine flu or something ba swnie(gov´t).
I am not a doctor, but the suspicion is a nervous disease. Do you diagnose a nervous problem using a blood sample?? I think you do not need a blood test to prove that somebody is mentally ill ………….
If there doctors, eading this, can you shed some light on this?
Let the doctors do what they know best. Lets not give our person views on medical issues if were not in the field. As for the finances let Kapoko and the government pay for the bill. We always have money for Rupiahs operations and his useless trips, but never for this? Money for by elections is always there, let them suspend one of the by elections for once and take care of real issues.
My heart goes out to this family. My first impression is the family has Multiple sclerosis, however a whole lot of other degenerative disease have to be ruled out.A single blood test can not be used to diagnose MS. You need a ,detailed history,full neurological examination by a neurologist,some imaging techniques like an MRI ( funding from Kapoko necessary) The family should go to UTH.There are a whole lot of professors and students who would love to find out whats wrong with them. If the “case” sparks interest they may even solicit funding for more diagnostic tests and meds.Its a long shot but the only one available in zed! In this day and age sure we can’t even to CT scans,MRIs etc routinely?
We must heed to the suggestions forwarded by #4 & #9. I am sure our government can afford costs for diagnosis.
please take them to radiation board of zambia for testing .it sounds like radio active poisoning to me.!
Sad for this family. These are the cases that need specialist treatment at Morninig side in South Africa. Not old politicians who needs a tired knee to be rejuvanated.
I have experienced the same thing it isn’t in the genes it’s in the blood transferd sexually and the kids where born w it you can live with it but in that environment the diarrhea and stomach pain without proper foods and positivity would be very hard I have searched for the answered to this for 20 years and it is not hiv but very similar what is that.
The fact that 7 people from the same family are showing similar signs of a disease can help narrow down the cause. Let GRZ step in and show that it cares. Whatever outcome will come from this will help a great deal with dealing with further ailments in the locale where these people live. GRZ roll up ypur sleaves and get your hands dirty
Well, by faith let them be taken to TB Joshua, the man of God. Miracles will be witnessed. RB take /sieze the opportunity to show real leadership. Ibelieve people has seen God’s somewhere in Nigeria. I always watch the goodnesss and mercy of through Emmanuel TV. I hope my prayer will be answered, amen.
Well, by faith let them be taken to TB Joshua, the man of God. Miracles will be witnessed. RB take /sieze the opportunity to show real leadership. I believe people has seen God’s work somewhere in Nigeria. I always watch the goodnesss and mercy of Godthrough Emmanuel TV. I hope my prayer will be answered, amen.
Ehhh!, what disease is this??? Njili njili???
All the same, its a strange disease.. the youngest victim is 29 years old and the eldest is 74. What disease can have a 25 to 30 years incubation period? including 74 years incubation period?
just speculating…..
Zambian welfare services do something to help care for these families…
LETS PRAY FOR THEM GUYS
#15 who is this TB Joshua kanshi? I shudder when alot of attention is given to a man and not God. Is the God of this Joshua also available in Zambia? Or do we all have to fly to Nigeria? God is no respecter of persons.I can’t say much since I don’t know the man.
#16,17 I don’t think its strange at all it could be MS as I alluded to earlier.google multiple sclerosis and you will see that patients do suffer from similar symptoms as the family have. These degenerative diseases are just not so common in zambia.
# 19,
Good that you have asked. I would be happy if you took another step to know how GOd has used this man. Jokes aside find out from close nieghbours/friends that may regularly watch the services of this blessed man. Do not give up you are on right course of action.I know alot is said about Nigeria but not in his case I believe. For information he ussually says distance is not the barrier some people have been healed just by following simple intsruction of touching the TV from their homes. Some people/family including theiir generations are cursed because of sin but God’s forgiveness is in abudance once one repents. Praise be to God.
Sad situation, that family relly need assistance and the whole scene can change.
Sad and strange story which leaves a lot of questions open but all that matters is assistance to the patients in any form.
#20Muchende thanks, I actually watched him(TB Joshua) once whilst I was visiting Zambia and all I saw was some couple giving a testimony of a prophesy,next I heard he prophesied Mwanawasa would die(I’m suspicious of prophesies that come after the fact) then I heard he said there would be war in Zambia around election time! etc the snip bits I hear aren’t encouraging.But all in all the bible says seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness….I’m struggling to follow that scripture I don’t think I have time to now start seeking this Joshua and learning what he does!
I’m a Neurologist (and Zambian) so I’m interested in these cases.Get me at prion75[at]gmail.com ,replace the [at] with @. I can look at the cases and offer help in as far as coming up with a more difinitive diagnosis and management plan is concerned.I would have gladly offered to clerk the histories for all the living members of this family and carry out a physical and neurologic exam for free if I was in the country but I am not. Let them go to Lusaka and see either Brig. Gen. Dr. Simpungwe(retired) or Prof Sutanov(Russian).I don’t know of any other neurologist anywhere in Zambia apart from these two,maybe in the private.Good luck!
Please there is no point in mocking the family who are already surfering. My impression however is it should be something treatable like poisoning as suggested above or some untretable familial disease. It can NOT be multiple sclerosis because of the ages of the people involved. they do not need to go to Nigeria.
Am sure you can still find time for others and your own goodness. Adjust the priorities. Its easy than you imagine. Everything has its begining. Am not a preacher but I find it helpful to be associated with messages that are done to ground. Goodnight and blessings of the Most High to be youall the time.
#23bwalya #26 is addressed to you. Soory for that.
Nigeria???? I am suspicious. Traditional healers in North Western and Luapula must be better than Nigerians. Or it would be cheaper to fly in 1 “doctor” from Nigeria that taking the 7 patients there, nga ngabafwa?
How do you ask for donations without giving contact informatiom. How does one donate?
What this young boy is going through looking after all those relatives is very sad. Any investigative Doctors in Zed? GRZ should take over from this boy
pliz lets do something about these GUYZ
from the look of things this a spiritual problem according to what their are saying that they want to go for spiritaul help.where is mY PASTOR DANNY PULE LET HIM ORGANISE A TRIP FOR THESE GUYS TO TB JHOSHUA PLIZ PLIZ FAST FAST THIS A MATTR OF LIFE AND DEATH. BA GOV THIS NO HOSPITAL THING
DONT U GO KU CHURCH
#23 YOU DONT HAVE TIME NOW BUT TIME WILL COME AND WE WILL SEE ON AIR AT TB JOSHUA GOOD LUCK AND #29DALISO IF YOU WANT TO DONATE JUST DONATE CANT YOU ASK LUSAKA TIMES FOR CONTACTS DONT BE HARD HEARTED .WHEN YOU HAVE A PROBLEM SOMETIMES YOU FORGET SUCH THINS AND MAYB THE POOR BOY HAS SOLD HIS FONE TO HELP SAVE THESE LIVES JUST DONATE
#32 Mama Sata, What am asking is a legitimate question. Why should I start writing separate e-mails for donation. All this long article without mentioning how to get in touch with the family? Give me a break!
This is very sad, I’ve read about such illness. And this is what deserves to take to RSA, not a knee!!!
I think this very strange but interesting post.I feel pretty bad for this.
Friedreich’s ataxia (FA) is an inherited, progressive nervous system disorder causing loss of balance and coordination. In many cases, this disorder also affects the heart, certain bones and cells in the pancreas that produce insulin. The illnesstypically begins with difficulty walking. People with Friedreich’s ataxia develop clumsy, shaky movements of the legs (called gait ataxia) during childhood or early adolescence. (In rare cases, symptoms appear in infants and in middle-aged adults.) As the disease gets worse, people may develop bony deformities of the spine and feet, loss of sensation in the limb
PLEASE LET US KNOW HOW THIS FAMILY IS PLEASE PLEASE