A Nigerian caretaker at one of London’s top public schools has launched a
desperate appeal to the Home Office to allow his brother to visit the UK
from Nigeria for a life-saving bone-marrow transplant.
Isaac Aganozor, who works at Dulwich College, was diagnosed with
leukaemia in August and needs an urgent stem cell transplant from his
brother Patrick, who lives with his family in Nigeria.
Patrick, a tricycle courier who earns £2.30 a day, was refused a visa
to enter the UK as he did not meet economic requirements. This was
despite the £36,000-a-year school offering to sponsor his month-long
“mercy mission” and pay £1,500 for his return flight.
His brother Isaac, 44, who lives in Sydenham Hill, is being given
regular high-dose chemotherapy sessions at St Bartholomew’s hospital
but has been told that “time is running out”.
A search of the national donor database revealed that Patrick, 38, is
a 50 per cent match for his brother, and the only realistic hope of his
receiving the stem cells in time. Despite a letter from hospital
specialists detailing Patrick’s status as the “only available matching
donor for the urgent stem cell transplant”, he was refused a visa in
April.
A rejection letter from the British High Commission in Lagos, seen by
the Standard, reads:
"You have stated your brother has acute myeloid
leukaemia and you are to be a stem cell donor. I must take into account
your personal socio-economic circumstances in Nigeria when reaching my
decision. I note that you are a tricycle driver earning £69 a month in
Nigeria but you state you have £1,500 for this trip. Given your limited economic circumstances in Nigeria I am not
satisfied that these provide you with an incentive to leave the UK at
the end of your stay as claimed.” Mr Aganozor, who has been off sick
from work since December, said there is no danger that his brother will
try to stay in the UK after the transplant as he has to care for his
four-year-old daughter and ailing mother in Lagos.
He said: "I was so happy when I found out that my brother was a
match. But when his application was rejected it was a bigger shock than
getting told I had leukaemia in the first place. The immigration
officers didn’t consider my health, only economics. It is incredibly
frustrating to know that the solution that could save my life is only
six hours away by plane. I feel the sickness inside me, I don’t know
what to do. My life is gradually slipping away."
Simon Yiend, chief operating officer at Dulwich College, where Mr
Aganozor has worked since April last year, said:
"Isaac
is a quietly
spoken, hard-working man who gets on with his job incredibly well. I’m
appalled by the Home Office’s decision. It is essentially because
Patrick is a poor man that he can’t come
across to do the only thing he wants to do — save his brother’s life. I
understand the concerns around immigration and people who want to
take advantage of our system, but Patrick wants to go back to his family
in Nigeria straight after the operation. Nigeria was part of the
Commonwealth yet we don’t allow an
individual in on humanitarian grounds for a mercy mission — it is
disgusting."
Helen Hayes, the Labour MP for Dulwich and West Norwood, has held
discussions with immigration minister James Brokenshire. But she was
told a priority appeal for a new visa is necessary, which will require
the involvement of specialist immigration lawyers.
"I’m appalled that the Home Office is showing so little flexibility and compassion.
I am doing everything possible to press the Home Office to consider
the new application as a matter of urgency, so that Patrick can travel
before Isaac’s health deteriorates further."
The Home Office confirmed: "All cases are carefully considered on
their individual merits and the onus is on the individual to provide the
necessary supporting evidence to meet the UK immigration rules. We are
sensitive to cases with compassionate circumstances but all visa
applications must be assessed against the immigration rules. The
applicant is free to submit a new application with supporting evidence."
Source: London Evening Standard
