Just when health officials and Nigerians
were about to forget the heat that the Ebola Virus Disease generated
while it lasted, a suspected case of ethanol poisoning reared its ugly
head in Ode-Irele, a small community in Ondo State.
Continue reading after the cut....
Unlike when most Nigerians knew how the
victims got infected with EVD, its signs and symptoms, the only tangible
information from health officials in Ondo State is that prior to their
deaths, the 18 victims complained of headache and later lost their
sight.
Five other persons who are still alive
have had to be transferred from the General Hospital, Ode-Irele, to the
University College Hospital, Ibadan, Oyo State, for proper evaluation
and management.
More interesting is the fact that
scientists with the World Health Organisation and the Lagos University
Teaching Hospital, Idi-Araba, toiling day and night in the laboratory
have yet to get a definite diagnosis. More unfortunate is the fact that
12 people had died in the affected community before the information
became public knowledge.
It is not only in Ondo State that late
detection of a condition has led to loss of lives. At least 20 persons
died from a cholera outbreak that affected 10 communities in Andoni
Local Government Area of Rivers State earlier in the year.
Many of the victims had been vomiting and stooling for at least one week before they were rushed to the nearest clinics.
The Rivers State government also had to
enlist the WHO and the Federal Ministry of Health for help to stop the
needless deaths in the affected communities.
Just last week, about 21 persons were
confirmed to have died of another cholera outbreak in seven local
government areas in Ebonyi State. The current outbreak has spiked the
call for a total restructuring of the health care system, such that
diseases can be detected early and managed properly in health facilities
across the country.
Players in the industry have said that
there is a need for government at all levels to go back to the Primary
Health Care model introduced by the late Prof. Olikoye Ransome-Kuti in
the 70s.
They opined that frequent scenarios where
essential personnel, such as doctors and nurses are lacking; while
facilities such as ambulances, and blood pressure monitors, water and
thermometers are not available in many primary health care facilities
across the country would make it difficult for Nigeria to handle
epidemics without recording needless deaths.
Culled - Punch
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