Most especially the word strange ailment raised the curiosity of Nigerians. It appears to be a season of emerging new diseases.
First it was the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) that upset the apple cart two years ago. Thereafter, Lassa fever too set itself loose, maiming and killing over 100 Nigerians across 20 states.
In addition, news of the Zika virus from the Americas is similarly making the rounds presently and now comes the strange disease which was initially described as the Febrile Rash illness (FRI).
“Is the world coming to an end as predicted in the Holly Books,” a concerned Lagosian had asked on hearing that Lagos had recorded 20 childrens’ deaths from FRI already.
For this fellow, if this strange disease could break out like a bush fire in the harmattan, killing children like rats and cockroaches, then there is trouble.
“If such happened in a community located in the Centre of Excellence which is known for outstanding achievements, “are children in other states of the federation safe,” the fellow asked.
What exactly happened? Did Lagos go to sleep? Several questions are being asked about how those deaths came about in the 21st Century when modern medicine has solutions to numerous ailments.
Bombarded with questions on how these happened, the Lagos State Ministry of Health raced to Otogbame, the riverine community near Lekki Phase 1, Eti-Osa Local Government Area where the strange illness had laid siege.
Based on findings from laboratory tests on samples from some of the infected kids that were still battling the diseases, the Commissioner for Health in the state, Dr. Jide Idris revealed that the ailment was measles.
According to him, although, 20 children had died, 34 others that were down with the same ailment had been listed and followed up with treatment, which eventually stopped further deaths.
However, contrary to information released by the Lagos Ministry of Health, not lesser than 60 children died from measles in Otodogbame, a community of indigenous Egun tribe.
Confirming the tragedy to the NT HEALTH during a visit to the community on Saturday, the Bale of Otodogbame, Hunpe Dansu said 60 children died when that tragedy struck in January.
Speaking in similar vein, a former Special Adviser on Chieftancy, Boundary & Cultural Matters to the Amuwo Odofin Local Government, Hennu Solomon, a key member of the Otodogbame, community confirmed that 60 children died beginning from January 19, 2016 up till “two weeks ago when the government started immunisation of children in the community.
When alerted on the disparity in the number of deaths given by the community as against the 20 released from the Lagos State Secretariat, Alausa, Solomon said, the number “is never 20; its more than that. We told officials of the Lagos State Government that came that the number of deaths is not less than 60.
We are compiling all the names of the parents and their phone numbers.”
Lamenting the extent of the tragedy, Roselyn Esinsu, a woman leader in Otodogbame said while the problem lasted, “children died like chickens. Daily, the community buried between three to four children amidst wailing and crying.
It got to a point when people in the community began asking themselves what could be behind the mysterious deaths.
Their only suspicion pointed to Ikate Elegushi, a neighbouring community under Eti-Osa Local Government Area.
Otodogbame community had alleged that the son of a prominent king in Ikate Elegushi once led an attack against the Egun indigenes of Otodogbame with aim of forcefully ejecting them and taking over the land which the aggressors plan to sell off.
Since that attack armed thugs joined some uniformed men from Ikate allegedly beat up many innocent citizens in Otodogbame, while some women were raped. That led to frosty relationship between both parties.
That is why while the measles siege lasted many parents with sick children couldn’t seek medical attention in Ikate, where the only public hospital that is close to Otodogbame, is located.
Many in Otodogbame believed that seeking healthcare at the public hospital in Ikate amounted to walking into the trap of the enemy.
It didn’t make sense to them, not even at the expense of their childrens’ lives. No wonder at the heat of the crisis 17-year-old Suzan Whusu who lost her only child and one and half-year-old son, lamented that even when the temperature of his son who presented with severe fever became too high, she never considered taking him to the hospital in Ikate.
She said, “I did not know it was measles. I used herbal medication to treat him at home for 10 days. When I observed that he was not relieved, I took him to Kizito Private Hospital at Jakande in Lekki.”
She however noted that due to the severe nature of the ailment the private hospital refused to admit the sick boy.
Rather, Kizito referred the boy to Mercy Children Hospital in Idumota. Whusu said, “I did not have any other money on me and because of the financial problem, I returned home with my son.
That same night, the boy died at home.” Suzan who braids hair for a living and her, a fisherman husband, wept bitterly after losing their only son to measles.
Asked if her late son ever received preventive vaccination against measles before the tragedy struck, Suzan said there is no health facility in Otodogbame.
Although, Whusu claimed she could not access immunisation for his son due to nonavailability of a public hospital in Otodogbame.
Hence, for the one and half years of his son’s life, the late son got two shots of vaccinations only but Suzan did not know which particular immuniations his son got.
Moses Agozu, another fisherman in the community told NT HEALTH that he lost two children to the measles menace. Initially, he said his three-year old boy manifested very high temperature while developing rash all over his body.
Within one week of being down with measles, Agozu said his daughter of one and half year-old from his second wife similarly became infected with the same ailment. According to him while the boy died after two weeks, the little girl died two days after his brother’s death.
Although, it was painful and traumatic for Agozu and his two wives, “the fear of going to Ikate for medical treatment prevailed on him and his wives throughout the period.
Hence the kids missed out on medical treatment. Although, Agozu is left with five surviving children whose ages range from 25 to five years, he said whatever help the Lagos State Government could render to him to assuage his loss would be acceptable.
Mr. Christian Whabo is another fisherman who also lost two of his daughters to the dreaded measles. According to Whabo who has seven children from two wives, his two and half year old girl was the first to manifest the rash all over her body, presenting with high temperature, severe cough and excretion of very black feaces.
Although, he was taken to Osapa Private Hospital, the girl died within one week of being admitted in the hospital. When his second daughter, one and a half –year-old girl developed measles, she was promptly taken to the same Osapa hospital from where she was referred to Mercy Childrens’ Hospital.
She also died, Whabo lamented. Is now left with five children whose ages range between six and four years. Due to the manner of the deaths which happened in quick succession, Whabo said his two wives are presently taking refuge in their mothers’ homes, pending when they would recover from the shock Apart from the late one and half year old son of Whusu who got two shots of vaccinations, the other four children that died did not benefit from immunisation which is key for child survival all over the world.
Speaking on the challenges of immunisation, Solomon, said, “Before now the Lagos State Government had not been coming from house to house to immunise children in Otodogbame. We have not felt their presence. He refuted claims of the Ministry of Health to the effect that the Otodogbame community was set up without recourse to the Lagos Government, explaining that that is the reason the government was not aware of the existence of that settlement.
This similarly explained why the children there missed out on immunisations. Refuting the claim, Solomon said: “members of the Otodogbame community have been voting right from days of the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN) to the days of Social Democratice Party (SDP), National Republican Convention (NRC), Action for Democracy (AD), up till the present day of All Progressives Congress (APC).
According to him, the people have their party cards and have been part of the political process in their LGA. Speaking further, Solomon said the community needs a health centre, a school, security post, portable water, public toilet and market for the women, especially fish market.
“We want the government to come and improve our fish ponds because we are predominantly fishermen. This will help us to become commercial fish producers.
“The government should also teach our women how to process and export fish. We need roads and electricity supply. You can see that the power supply we are using here is through community efforts.
“If the government can put all these in place, it will go a long way to bring development and improvement to the people.”
