Armed clashes in northeastern Nigeria have left behind not only physical scars but have also caused community displacement, disruption of livelihoods, and placed a significant strain on vital services, including healthcare.
In the city of Maiduguri, the Physical Rehabilitation Centre (PRC), located at the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH), is a place where some victims are trying to rebuild their lives.
The story of Zara Ammakolo, 29, vividly illustrates this journey. Today she works at this organization as an administrator, but she initially sought help there for rehabilitation.
Her life changed in 2019 after sustaining a gunshot wound. She told CGTN Africa: 'It was in 2019, and I received a gunshot wound with a shrapnel fracture and vascular damage.' She was then treated at MST (Mobile Surgical Group), which is a state specialized hospital, where her leg was saved.
Despite the limb being preserved, she was left with leg asymmetry and weakness in her right lower limb, causing her to use two crutches for some time.
In 2020, a multidisciplinary team conducted an assessment. Initially, the option of fitting a shoe lift was considered, but it proved ineffective because she walked on her toes. Later, she was reassessed, and it was determined that she could use a knee-ankle-foot orthosis.
Afterward, she was referred to an orthopedic hospital in Kano, where she received her first orthopedic device. She noted that her life has positively changed since then, as she can walk independently without using any crutches and walk on both feet.
These changes have also restored her self-confidence. She shared: 'I feel confident, happy, and I realize that at first I thought I had lost limb function, but after the orthopedic device, I realized I could move forward in life, do things, realize my ambitions... and all my hopes... I can achieve them.'
The PRC in Maiduguri opened in November 2020. Before that, people needing orthopedic and prosthetic services in the northeast often had to travel hundreds of kilometers to Kano for treatment.
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) reported that the center in Maiduguri was established to make these services more accessible to those in need.
Her experience at the center opened another opportunity for Zara. While getting her first device, she made contact with the rehabilitation team and informed the ICRC orthoprothesist that she wanted to work with them. She said: 'I told her that I am a woman who wants a career, so if I can find a job there, I can work.'
Zara was informed about the construction of the center in Maiduguri, and she could apply for a job as soon as it opened. She did so, passed the interview, and was eventually hired as an administrator.
For Zara, this job revived her sense of purpose and her ability to support her loved ones. She says: 'I feel ecstatic, especially because before I was a burden to my family because I didn't contribute, I brought nothing to the table.' She continues: 'But now, working here, I get paid monthly. I support my family, my children, and even sometimes friends with what I earn as a salary.'
Furthermore, she is currently studying in her final year of midwifery. Her experience becomes particularly valuable when new beneficiaries arrive at the center. She notes: 'Most service users who come here come with little confidence, and some come with zero hope.'
Sometimes she makes extra efforts and removes her orthopedic device to demonstrate how she stands and walks both with and without it. She tells them: 'They will say that maybe one day I will be like you,' but she replies: 'I will say: you can become even better than me.'
The work of the PRC goes beyond just fitting devices. The center's director, Dr. Abdulkhameed Ardo Jabbo, stated that the broader goal is to help people return to their communities and restore their livelihoods. He emphasized: 'You can see some of our patients who walk into the center with crutches, some crawl in, and by the end of the day they leave the center comfortable and smiling, using their limbs.'
He added that this demonstrates the achievement of the goal—their reintegration back into society. Jabbo also specified that the rehabilitation process can include mental health support, assistance with livelihood provision, and training for people who can no longer perform their previous jobs.
For Zara, this reintegration has taken on a deeply personal meaning. She believes: 'Inclusivity comes to mind because we are people with disabilities, and in our community, people with disabilities are not valued.' She concludes: 'Now I can say that inclusivity has reached its peak because as a person with a disability, I am reintegrated into society thanks to this job.'
Nevertheless, challenges remain. Zara mentioned that her previous orthopedic device broke twice, and she sometimes worries that this might happen again while walking. However, these concerns have not prevented her from pursuing her aspirations. She concludes: 'I feel happy, independent, and life goes on.'
For those starting the journey she has already walked, her message is simple: 'Never lose hope in any situation. If you lose hope, that is the end of your life.'