A YOUNG Bradford woman with a chronic illness has made a heart-rending plea to people to stay at home and stop stockpiling medicines.

Mohibah Mahmood, 30, from the BD7 area of Bradford, says she is speaking out “for myself and for thousands of others like me.”

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Her message is: “We are the vulnerable. Self-isolate to save lives.”

She told the Telegraph & Argus today: “I suffer with chronic illness; that means for life. The only thing is, I don’t have a life, not really; I live like a zombie on autopilot, repeating the same things every day, all medical related, all to keep me alive.”

Mohibah has watched as: “The world has gone mad, stockpiling not only basic necessities, but medical equipment and products that people like myself need.”

She said: “We are all victims of covid-19, this global pandemic that's taking real lives. The things it has led to have shocked me and that is why I chose to speak up and speak out.

“I hear comments about how hard people are finding isolation, and others feel they don't have to do it because ‘it's only killing those with underlying conditions, so I’ve got nothing to worry about.’ An ignorant statement, but it just shows what people think: 'We don't matter’.”

Mohibah had a normal healthy childhood and went to university. But in 2015, her life changed forever when a surgical procedure went tragically wrong.

She was paralysed from the waist down but fought back and was able to walk short distances. She had recently started going to the shops in her wheelchair, assisted by her mother Lucy, but then the pandemic struck.

Mohibah said: “I want to forget all about what I can’t do and focus on what I can do. I try to encourage others like me to do the same: to show them that, despite chronic illness, pain and disabilities, we can still have an active, happy life and achieve goals.”

But she says coronavirus has exacerbated the pain of many vulnerable people.

“We have hospital appointments cancelled; surgery postponed; I know I have. I’ve been waiting years for one particular procedure. What scares me the most is shortages of my medical nutrition; it's what keeps me alive. Without it, I wouldn't be here.

“I was dying last summer, it's taken every fibre in my body to pick myself up and exist again. I didn't survive that just to die from this. The more everyone listens, stays at home and follows effective hygiene, the sooner we will be out again.

“This has become not only a war of man against virus, but man against man. Where is your humanity? I assume it’s lost in all those toilet rolls!

“People stereotype people with vulnerabilities for wearing masks, gloves; coming out looking like a walking hazmat suit; not coming out at all. Now the tables have turned, welcome to our world.”

Looking to the future, Mohibah can only hope that some things will change for the better.

“I wish everyone all the best through this. I have a heart that's filling up with love and pride for all those who love and support me. I am thankful to those who follow instructions and isolate to save lives.

“When all this is over and you go back to living, there's still an extremely vulnerable community out there. Will you remember we still exist?”