The Association of Ka Fadi Alheri ko Kayi Shiru (Speak good words or remain silent) has sponsored circumcisions for almost 300 vulnerable children – mainly the kids from internally displaced persons (IDPs) and those from poor families – in the Gwange community of the Maiduguri Metropolitan Council (MMC) of Borno State.
Amina Haruna, a mother whose child was circumcised, told RNI that she was extremely grateful to Almighty Allah and to the association for successfully circumcising her son free of charge.
“The association also provides free medical treatment and drugs or medicines to ensure that all circumcised children remain healthy. So, I’m very glad to witness this day. May Allah bless all the members of the association for their good deeds and kind gesture.”
Another grandmother, who asked to remain anonymous, said: “We are very delighted and we really appreciate the efforts of this great association for sponsoring the circumcisions of our children.
“My two grandchildren were among those who were circumcised free of charge. When I heard the association was conducting circumcisions, I did not think it was free. I took some tokens but the members of the association told me that it was free of charge and that made me so happy and excited.”
Bunu Mai Bukar, a member of the association, told RNI that Ka Fadi Alheri ko Kayi Shiru was established about eight to nine years ago.
“The association aims to create awareness of all kinds of issues that concern the public, particularly environmental sanitation, clearing of drainage systems, sanitising cemeteries and graveyards.
“Among its humanitarian activities, the association provides a medical outreach programme that includes circumcisions and aftercare. We give the parents medication to ensure the child remains healthy.
“The name of the association was derived from the 40th hadith of the holy Prophet Muhammad SAW [as an act of respect, Muslims follow the name of Muhammad by the Arabic benediction sallallahu ’alayhi wa sallam, meaning peace be upon him, sometimes abbreviated as SAW or PBUH].
“In the hadith [an Arabic word for speech, report, account, narrative] by Abu Hurayrah, the messenger of Allah – may the mercy and blessings of God be upon him – said: ‘Whoever believes in God and the Last Day should speak a good word or remain silent. And whoever believes in God and the Last Day should show hospitality to his neighbour. And whoever believes in God and the Last Day should show hospitality to his guest.’ That’s why we conduct humanitarian activities; it is for the sake of Almighty Allah and we do not gain anything out of it.
“The reason we carry out these free circumcisions is because of the challenges and hardships poor people are going through after 13 years of insurgency in Borno State. That’s why we selected 296 vulnerable children, who are the kids of internally displaced persons [IDPs], as well as those from less-privileged people in Gwange.”
Bukar said the association would continue its free medical outreach programme annually to ensure that children under the age of 12 to 13, who are not circumcised, are given the service free of charge.
“This will go a long way to support and help children’s parents because not all of them can afford to circumcise their children, particularly IDPs and less-privileged people because of the high cost of living.
“We are carrying out these humanitarian activities across the state to consolidate the efforts of the government towards addressing the plight and challenges faced by IDPs or less-privileged people,” Bukar said.
SHETTIMA LAWAN MONGUNO
