Sadiq Abubakar Daba, known simply as Sadiq Daba, a veteran Nigerian actor and former broadcaster who has been diagnosed with prostate cancer spoke about his health issues in a telephone interview with Sunday Scoop.
The Kano State born actor who won the coveted best actor prize at the 2014 African Movie Academy Awards South-Africa who was earlier hospitalized for a few months as a result of leukemia has said in an interview that due to his health issues with leukemia and prostrate cancer he might have to go under the knife to remove one of his testicles. The actor who has cried out that he doesn’t want that said in the interview; “Right now, I have a catheter inserted into my joystick to ease the movement of urine. I have been in and out of hospitals for a while now. Next week, I also have to go for a biopsy to determine if I would need to do a major surgery. I have leukaemia to battle with, then this prostate issue comes in. The pain is just too much for me,” he stated, explaining his journey so far.
“I have been receiving treatment at LASUTH and OAUTH and the doctors have been wonderful. I was told that one of the side effects of the surgery is that my testicles would have to be removed. That means I would be castrated and I don’t think I want that. The other option is that I would have to take injections that would cost N150,000 every two months, and I have to take it for about two years. You can imagine what the total cost would be,” he added.
Daba explained that although he is not getting enough support from the creative industry a number his colleagues have been helpful.
“A few of my colleagues have been wonderful; they have tried to help as much as they can. The DGs of NTA, Censors Board, and the president of PMAN have also been of help. I can’t start carrying bowls and be going all about the place begging for money. I believe I have paid my dues. For those who know about my situation and want to help, they are welcome. Everything that I have to do is tied to money. There is no drug that is cheap.”
