Indomie firm donates artificial limbs to woman who lost legs to truck driver’s recklessness

BARELY three days after the plight of an amputee, Mrs. Mercy Ihiere, was published in The Nation, foremost maker of Indomie noodles, Tolaram Group, has donated artificial limbs (prosthesis) to the 46-year-old native of Delta State. The presentation of the prosthesis took place on Tuesday at the Lagos office of ISHK Limb Centre, a charity foundation established by Tolaram Group.

Ihiere became an amputee after a truck carrying powder cement for a Lagos-based roofing tiles company ran over her and others at about 5:30 p.m on July 30, 2016, at the Sango Market in Agege. The mother of three was first taken to Ifako/Ijaiye General Hospital, from where she was transferred to the National Orthopaedic Hospital, Igbobi, Yaba, Lagos. The fear of having her badly fractured legs amputated forced her to ask for transfer to Irrua Specialist Hospital in Edo State, for possible redemption. The legs were eventually amputated after doctors at the hospital said there was no remedy to the ravaged legs.

Her pathetic story was published last Saturday, after which the company got in touch with The Nation through its Port Harcourt Regional Human Resources, Mr Faustus Itakpe. ‘’I do not know what to say other than to thank God. I am too shocked beyond words. I was initially sceptical to visit their office after I was told of the gesture on the telephone. But I summoned the courage to visit their office and I was more than happy to receive the prosthesis without having to pay a dime. ‘’My family has been looking for money to purchase prosthesis for me to no avail. It was the reason why we decided to take my plight to the media, hence, The Nation published my plight last weekend.

I want to thank Tolaram Group for the uncommon gesture and the newspaper (The Nation) for bringing my plight to the attention of the public. It was learnt that Tolaram Group through its charity foundation, ISHK Limb Centre, fabricates and donates artificial limbs to amputees nationwide. In a telephone conversation with The Nation, Head, Human Resource of the marketing subsidiary of the company, Mr Dominic Egbodor, said: ‘’Our company has been giving free artificial limbs to amputees in the last few years as part of our corporate social responsibilities. ‘’Amputees who cannot afford to buy artificial limbs or prosthesis are encouraged to visit the operational office of our charity foundation and they will be given the artificial limbs free of charge.’’