27yr-Old Super Falcons Goalkeeper Battles for Life
Former Super Falcons goalkeeper Bidemi Aluko has said she is unable to have chemotherapy for breast cancer as hospitals in Nigeria as the major focus is on treating coronavirus. After the Super Falcons goalkeeper was diagnosis of breast cancer in January 2019, Aluko was braced for an a-year-long session of chemotherapy and possible surgery, and the former Super Falcons goalkeeper underwent 10 chemotherapy sessions before the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic.
But now, in common with hospitals across the country, the hospital in Ibadan where Aluko was receiving the treatment has told patients with other conditions to stay away as their major focus is now on coronavirus. According to Aluko she said: “I couldn’t go to the clinic because of my health status we were told that people with existing health issues should stay out of the clinic.”
“They are attending to people whose cases they deem as critical.” Aluko was forced to seek medical care at a private hospital outside Ibadan. But last month that no longer became an option as Aluko “ran out of funds.” The 27-year-old was initially diagnosed with breast cancer in April 2017. She was given the all-clear a year later after undergoing treatment and a mastectomy.
In 2019 the goalkeeper spoke of how she had had to pay $1,305 for each of 10 doses and had “sold everything” in order to pay for it. But the disease returned in January 2019, with her career over due to her diagnosis, Aluko cannot afford her subsequent treatment. Her husband who was her major backbone providing her financial support is now unemployed due to the coronavirus impact on jobs in the country.
She said: “I do not have the money to pay for the subsequent drugs.” “My husband lost his job as a result of the financial constraint impacted by coronavirus.” Last year, she received nearly $13,000 (£10,000) from the Nigerian Football Federation to support her in her treatment.
But the former Rivers Angels goalkeeper is still in need of more funds to continue her treatment, she admitted that the Football Federation may have done enough already but she really need help now. She said: “The Nigerian Football Federation has really done a lot for me by providing the initial funds for my treatment. Although I have exhausted my funds, I do not want to be a burden on the Federation.”