ADVERTISEMENT

Health scares that gripped Nigeria this year

Nigeria grappled with known and unknown ailments in 2017.

For context, 2017 was the year when First Lady Aisha Buhari disclosed that the Aso Rock clinic had no syringe or x-ray facilities to call its own--even after receiving billions of naira in budgetary allocations through the years.

Here are the health scares that made Nigerians doubly worried in 2017…

1. Strange illness kills 50 in Jigawa

ADVERTISEMENT

In November, the people of Gidan Dugus in Wangara District, Dutse Local Government of Jigawa State, reportedly lost 50 children to a “strange ailment”.

One parent, Haladu Usman, told the media that she lost seven children to the ailment.

“Within 14 days, I lost seven of my children, 3 boys and 4 girls. The children died one after the other,” Usman said.

Another parent, Salisu Abdullahi, said the community had left everything in God’s hands.

“I was dead scared by this unknown sickness which consumed the lives of our innocent children. We have intensified our daily prayers for Allah to protect this community,” Abdullahi said.

ADVERTISEMENT

2. Monkeypox

The viral monkeypox disease gave a lot of folks quite the scare in 2017 as it spread from one city to the next before government efforts stopped it dead in its tracks.

There were a handful of deaths from the monkeypox disease as well, with healthcare practitioners warning folks to stay off bushmeat while they could.

3. Strange illness kills in Kogi, Kwara

A strange ailment took lives in Kwara and Kogi State in 2017.

ADVERTISEMENT

In Kogi, Dr Jannette Hathorn of the ECWA hospital in Egbe, told the press that medical professionals had been unable to tell what ailment it was.

“We are sure it is not lassa fever; but our concern is that we do not know exactly what is happening. We have not arrived at a definitive diagnosis”, Hathorn said.

She added that; “Two adult patients were also brought here; one showed symptoms of ulcer-viral illness, but there was no bleeding component of any haemorrhagic symptom.

“We isolated them and both of them were treated for malaria. When they started improving, we let them go.

“Another parent brought a child to the hospital and pleaded for help. He said that 50 people had died in their village with similar symptoms of bloodstained vomiting, diarrhea and fever”.

ADVERTISEMENT

The ailment that claimed lives in Kwara and Kogi remains mysterious till this day.

4. Lassa Fever kills in Lagos

In August, Lassa Fever claimed the lives of two persons in Nigeria’s commercial capital city of Lagos.

Chief Medical Director at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Prof Chris Bode, told the press that about 100 hospital workers had been exposed to the index case and were being monitored.

ADVERTISEMENT

It was all the rest of the country needed to slip into panic mode.

JOIN OUR PULSE COMMUNITY!

Unblock notifications in browser settings.
ADVERTISEMENT

Eyewitness? Submit your stories now via social or:

Email: eyewitness@pulse.ng

Recommended articles

Obama, Clinton support Biden at NYC fundraiser amid protests

Obama, Clinton support Biden at NYC fundraiser amid protests

Tinubu’s refusal to celebrate 72nd birthday marks great leadership - Rahman

Tinubu’s refusal to celebrate 72nd birthday marks great leadership - Rahman

Adamawa Police reaffirms ban on motorcycles in Yola

Adamawa Police reaffirms ban on motorcycles in Yola

You make bold decisions & live with consequences - Ondo Gov hails Tinubu at 72

You make bold decisions & live with consequences - Ondo Gov hails Tinubu at 72

170 electrical vandalism cases in 2 years, 100 charged to court - EEDC

170 electrical vandalism cases in 2 years, 100 charged to court - EEDC

Tinubu appoints Bello as chairman of code of conduct bureau

Tinubu appoints Bello as chairman of code of conduct bureau

Don't curse, condemn Nigeria in your sermons - Tinubu tells clerics

Don't curse, condemn Nigeria in your sermons - Tinubu tells clerics

Lagos postpones eagerly anticipated Easter boat regatta indefinitely

Lagos postpones eagerly anticipated Easter boat regatta indefinitely

Third Mainland Bridge reopens in 1 week, formal ceremony later - Minister

Third Mainland Bridge reopens in 1 week, formal ceremony later - Minister

Pulse Sports

Nigeria vs Mali: Has Finidi George done enough to land Super Eagles job permanently?

Nigeria vs Mali: Has Finidi George done enough to land Super Eagles job permanently?

I want to emulate Keshi and win the AFCON - Finidi George shares ambitious Super Eagles dream

I want to emulate Keshi and win the AFCON - Finidi George shares ambitious Super Eagles dream

Michelle Alozie: I had to do it because of African referees

Michelle Alozie: I had to do it because of African referees

AC Milan star reveals he was named after Super Eagles legend Tijani Babangida

AC Milan star reveals he was named after Super Eagles legend Tijani Babangida

Give him the job! Super Eagles fans beg NFF to make Finidi George permanent coach after Nigeria's win over Ghana

Give him the job! Super Eagles fans beg NFF to make Finidi George permanent coach after Nigeria's win over Ghana

Super Eagles 2-1 Black Stars: Nigerians praise Iwobi, Lookman, Finidi George after friendly victory against Ghana

Super Eagles 2-1 Black Stars: Nigerians praise Iwobi, Lookman, Finidi George after friendly victory against Ghana

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT