Parents have been warned that the measles outbreak in some local government areas of Borno State, including the capital, Maiduguri and its environs, cannot be cured by concoctions made with traditional herbs and onions.
Aisha Abdulkadir, a nurse at the primary health clinic in Gwange III in Maiduguri, is calling on all parents to take their affected children to be vaccinated and treated as soon as possible.
“I would like every parent to avoid complicating the illness by using traditional herbal concoctions because their children might die if they’re kept at home without medical intervention.”
Measles is an acute, highly contagious viral disease capable of causing epidemics.
Doctors and nurses in Damboa, one of the affected local government areas, began a vaccination programme in January in an effort to curtail the outbreak.
Dr Abba Gana Kolo, who works at the Primary Health Care in Damboa, told RNI that the programme aimed to get all children 15 years and younger vaccinated.
“The programme started in January and is taking place in 15 healthcare centres throughout the Damboa Local Government Area.
“So far 438 children have been vaccinated. More keep coming each day. This is the only way we can put an end to the outbreak.
“We have approached religious and traditional leaders to send the message to parents that all children 15 years and younger must be vaccinated. They are spreading the word in the hope that the public will pay attention and vaccinate their children.”
Abdulkadir said the outbreak had started earlier than expected.
“We are experiencing sweltering temperatures of between 42°C and 44°C already. It is when the hot season is at its peak that the outbreaks usually occur. Most of the measles patients are children under five.”
She said the clinic had treated 1,788 measles patients since January of which 558 were admitted.
“We have limited space in the clinic. We have set aside 20 beds for measles patients but the number of patients is increasing daily – more than 30 patients a day sometimes.
“It’s sad to see the young children suffering but our supervisors are making efforts to ensure the patients get enough ventilation despite the limited space and large number of patients.
“Some parents do not trust clinics or hospitals and are ignorant about practical and necessary medical procedures. So, instead of getting treatment for their children at healthcare centres, they opt to use traditional concoctions, using herbs and onions. That just complicates everything and the child could die. That’s never a solution.”
Ya Bintu, a mother in Damboa, said: “I have had my children vaccinated. So, now I do not worry too much. I know that if my kids get the virus, it will be mild and far less painful for them. Every parent should get their children vaccinated. It’s the only way to stop the disease from spreading.”
AISHA SD JAMAL
