A physically-challenged waste collector in Calabar, Cross River State, Effanga Francis Umoh, has revealed that he does not go to hospital when sick, but smokes marijuana to get cured.Unlike other refuse disposal agents in the market, who log waste baskets on their heads, in wheelbarrows or trucks, Umoh shuffles his king-size basket filled with waste to point of disposal, while crawling on his buttocks.
In a chat with Vanguard he said:
“The money the market women pay to pack their refuse cannot even buy me enough food to eat and igbo (marijuana) to cool my body, so which one do I take to the hospital for treatment? .
I stay at home and buy herbs from Mallam and smoke some igbo and God always cures me. Even when I have sores on my body because of scratching on the ground, I burn the sores with igbo and I get well.” .
Asked why he does not sit at one spot and beg for alms rather than undertaking the laborious activity to make money, he said:
“I am an Efik man and we do not beg for alms in any circumstance because we are a proud nation. So I will rather work than bring shame to my people.”