The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Children

  • Children urge Fed Govt to stop killings in North

    The National Children Parliament yesterday urged the Federal Government to halt further killings in the North.

    The children spoke yesterday in Abuja at a special sitting of their parliament on Nigeria’s Independence Day anniversary.

    They decried the high level of insecurity in the country and suggested life imprisonment against rapists.

    The Speaker of the parliament, Thompson Idara, who led the sitting yesterday, said the Federal Government need to stop further killings.

    Idara said: “The Federal Government should rise up and address the various challenges facing the children so that they can live to see the future that they have laboured for.

    “The present administration should ensure that the persistent killing of youths should be stopped to safeguard their future.”

    The Minister of Women Affairs, Hajia Zainab Maina, received the parliament’s resolution, which would be forwarded to President Goodluck Jonathan.

    She said no one understood the problems faced by the children better than the children.

    Mrs Maina said: “I have listened with rapt attention to your deliberations and I’m making a commitment to forward your resolutions from this sitting to Mr President for his consideration.”

    The minister urged states that have not passed the Child’s Right Act to do so in the interest of Nigerian children.

  • Common diseases of children: Seizure syndrome, epilepsy and epilepticus in status

    Part three Common causes of seizures and epilepsy

    Many factors have been identified as etiological for epilepsy, depending on the type. It has earlier been mentioned that some individuals are born with reduced threshold for aggregates of neuronal excitation to become excitable by normal and abnormal neuronal firing, while that for inhibition is actually elevated, This also partly explains why a medication like Tegretol for instance will control epilepsy in one individual while in another person of the same age, biological sex and body mass index (BMI) twice the same dose will be required to produce favorable outcome. Doctors therefore use their professional discretion to titrate anti seizure drugs used for the purpose of aborting attacks and carefully select the ones needed for maintenance.

    In general some of the causes are as enumerated below;

    First year of life

    Problems that will give rise to convulsion in infancy may actually have begun in the mother (while child was still in the womb)

    Particularly in the third trimester(last three months of pregnancy), any febrile illness from viral and bacterial infections such as Hepatitis B, Syphilis, HIV/AIDS particularly with organopathies (evidence of disseminated disease) severe maternal malarial parasitaemia

    Drug use and abuse during pregnancy—alcohol (withdrawal), coccaine, caffeine,

    Meatabolic diseases affecting mother…. Such as Diabetes mellitus, Hypertension, Preeclampsia, Eclampsia(pregnancy associated seizure disorder with or without elevated blood pressure )

    Underage pregnancies, Grand multiparity (successful pregnancies up to five or more), old primigravid (getting pregnant at age 35and older), multiple pregnancy(twins, triplets, quadruplets ,quintuplets, etc especially with use of fertility enhancing drugs and assisted reproductive technology(ART)

    Obstetric complications(problems in pregnancy severe enough to require medical intervention outside of routine antenatal care) leading to instrumental deliveries. Bleeding problems in pregnancy such as major degree Placenta praevia, abruptio Placentae( premature separation of a normally situated placenta)

    All sorts of problems associated with disproportion –feto pelvic (FPD), cephalopelvic (CPD), premature, prelabour rupture of membranes (PPROM)—burst and leakage of liquor before actual labour begins creates an unprotected passageway for ascending infection right up to the fetus, Trial of labour with excessive use of Oxytocin, popularly referred to as hot ‘injection

    Babies born small for date, Small for age, with low APGAR scores (babies unable to cry, grip a finger, breathe spontaneously as he takes the first breathe outside mothers womb, babies born to un booked, malnourished mothers. Trauma …birth injuries involving the head, neck and trunk, in half of cases affect the rest of the central nervous system, but manifestation may not be immediate. Metabolic disorders such as Hypoglycemia leading to low blood sugar could occur in children born to diabetic mothers. They may also occur on their own as part of inherited disorders arising from errors of metabolism. Hypoglycemia could also arise in concert with hypocalcemia, as secondary complications of birth trauma

    Infections of the brain—meningitis, infestation by cysts of tape worms(cysticercus)

    Infections from the eyes, ear and mouth spreading into the brain

    CNS abnormalities – include medical conditions of the head, neck and brain present at birth –hydrocephalus, when eyes are set low , chin receding or unusually small, head flat like bread loaf, or had shaped like electric bulb, sometimes with a horn pointing upwards at the point of glabella , double heads, or collapsed scalp where eyes stick out like a frog – all these should warrant special attention, because, the brain substance itself may have taken it’s own share of the congenital abnormality—even those found down below at the genital region.

    Others: Seizures due to inborn errors of metabolism

    •Convulsion in the first few days of life may arise in families known to have other inherited brain disorders as can be demonstrated via procedures using genetic linkage analysis

    •Vitamin B deficiency such as Pyridoxine (vitamin B6) deficiency and abuse of multivitamin supplements.

    •Babies of mothers using drugs such as cocaine, heroin, or ethanol apart from damage to the brain, these babies are also at very high risks of developing drug-withdrawal seizures in the first few days after delivery.

    Adolescence Many of the conditions capable of causing seizures in early childhood can also give rise to seizures and epilepsy in older children up to the age of 14, many of these can still be traced back. In this period and most of the teen years, accidents from various sources can affect the brain and cause permanent damage. Acquired conditions of the central nervous system(CNS ):- head trauma, infections –fungal, viral .-encephalitis, parasitic infections such as cysticercosis, brain tumors, congenital CNS abnormalities, use of hard drugs(Indian hemp, cocaine, heroin alcohol(abuse and withdrawal). Stress is diabetogenic and can induce hyperglycemia to blood levels outside the capacity of endogenous insulin. Stress on it’s own can cause direct insult by its effect on the cholinergic pathways, particularly in young teenagers using combination of hard drugs—they first stimulate the CNS and then depress the neurons. Up to ten years or more may pass before the first attack of seizure and the more severe the injury ,the higher is the risk of developing epilepsy later in life. Metabolic disturbances such as electrolyte imbalance, hypo- or hyperglycemia, renal failure, and hepatic failure may cause seizures at any age. Similarly, endocrine disorders and problems of abnormal hemoglobin and many other systemic diseases may cause seizures over a broad age range.

    Febrile Seizures

    Febrile seizures may be defined clinically as seizures associated with fevers but without evidence of infection of the brain and its branches of nerves.

    Though an overall prevalence of 3–5% has been reported, this is likely to be higher in some parts of the world, such as Africa, Asia and Latin America. Febrile illness occurs more in males than females, infection common cause.

    Family history of febrile seizures or epilepsy is often present though recall is always a problem.

    Usually occurring between 3 months and 6years of age, peak incidence is between and include 18 and 24 months. Absence of previous attack, may be helpful in the diagnosis and management-if one remembers to ask .There is associated delay in milestones of development – smiling to mother, holding neck erect sitting, crawling all coming late compared to other children of the same or other families

    How do they present?-pattern recognition.

    Two main types have been observed ;

    Typical form of febrile seizure has a duration usually less than ten minutes, may occur once and is never experienced again for rest of the child’s life .

    Atypical febrile seizures type on the other hand lasts more than 15 minutes and several episodes may occur in a 24 hour period; affected kids are usually less than I year old on the average and, risk of epilepsy later is real. Most patients have a family history of convulsion and in a few cases of epilepsy. Some groups use the words simple and complex to describe typical and febrile seizures respectively.

    Febrile convulsion may begin with what appears to be mild fever in association with malaria. Its commonly seen with other common childhood infections of the ear, nose throat, and with gastroenteritis, measles, meningitis, and eyes, and then without warning, the picture changes very quickly as the child stretches out (usually generalized, tonic-clonic seizure )during a febrile illness with eyes rolling upwards ,face turned to one side (contralleteral gaze). The seizure is likely to occur during the rising phase of the temperature chart of a febrile illness such as malaria, typhoid or bronchopneumonia

    An episode of febrile convulsion is most likely to be missed in cases where subclinical doses of drugs are given and other forms of management are poor due to poverty . Watch the child closely during the periods of temperature spike when the child wants to be left alone, he is hot to touch, skin is dry, eyes are glassy and face is dull.

    Status Epilepticus

    This condition is usually diagnosed when a seizure attack continues for about half an hour or more without the patient regaining consciousness. It is usually a medical emergency because in a small but significant number of cases, patients quickly go into respiratory arrest and consequently respiratory failure. They can also develop renal shut down and eventually kidney failure from the ceaseless muscle contractions and breakdown of muscle protein.

    When a child who is convulsing ceaselessly not making urine in between attacks, you should worry about kidney shut down

    Brain death is almost inevitable if the convulsion continues without proper medical attention

    In such situations, there are a few things you can do before the Doctor arrives or before you get to the Hospital, as packaged under the acronym ABC- ensure patient has enough air going in and coming out – an individual usually breathes in oxygen and sends out carbon dioxide, whereas too much oxygen can damage brain structures, retaining carbon dioxide patient is far more dangerous. The brain substance in itself does not produce pain and so patient may die by simply from going into deep sleep.

    When you pour crude oil down the throat of a convulsing person or child, you block both breathing and movement of air, and when you sit the patient up instead of allowing him to lie down, you help the saliva and other slimy secretions and your crude oil to enter the lungs and kill the child, Crude oil irritates the eyes and can permanently damage the cornea. Oil also increases the probability of developing dangerous lipoid pneumonia and the time it takes for food to digest and so the child becomes congested and dies from a combination of problems ,some arising from bad management.

    Where it is not possible get proper medical attention , you can not avoid going to the chemist nearest to you, but the temptation of drip(intravenous fluids) should be avoided , because something that narrows the blood vessels and prevents the child urinating is already being produced in excess and there is congestion every where most importantly congestion in the brain. Doctors may put special kinds of drips but leave that for pediatricians; children are much too delicate to try things you are not too familiar with.

     

    What to do when there is a seizure?

    Remain calm and don’t panic—will help you ponder over possible questions the Doctors might ask you when you eventually get to the Hospital .

    What do you know? what can you really remember about your family medical history? What about your husband? Did he tell you any thing about seizure disorders or epilepcy concerning himself, family members? Social history of alcohol abuse , Indian hemp, if he has stopped, there could still be a connection. For the girl child, When did she see the last normal menses ? What about abnormal vaginal discharge ?

    Has the child had appetite problems? Did you have to force him to take breakfast?

    Watch and note important elements of the crisis -the way it all began; was there a cry? Strange smell?, picture of something no one else could see? Check position of head, trunk, limbs, pattern of cry. Eyes ,direction of gaze…eyes point and look in the direction of site of lesion in brain abscess, CVAS etc Check and note presence of saliva, urine, and fecal matter around the mouth, genitalia and anal region respectively. You must keep the child under close watch

    Get someone to remove objects that can harm the patient from the place where convulsion is taking metal, planks, buckets, lantern and others. Ensure that nose and mouth are not blocked ,so child can breathe properly . Ensure breathing is not obstructed and blood is flowing freely——you can suck out saliva, cough and catarrh from the child’s mouth and nose if there is nothing available to use. Doctors and nurses do these freely without holding back when they have cases that require them to ,so you can do the same thing for your child

    Remove whatever you see that can increase temperature or strangulate the child such as pieces of clothing, scarf or native amulets .Check that there is nothing in the mouth, because muscles of swallowing may be tightening. Take note of the movements ,the sound, position of the eyes, call child from time to time, pinch him to gauge his response .Do not apply hot objects to burn the child –it will trigger more seizure . Don’t put spoon in the mouth, YOU CAN CUT HIS TONGUE TO SHREDS .

    What ever the child has taken that you find suspicious, drugs or mushroom etc, keep to show the Doctors

    Bring the temperature down by dabbing and sponging the child in gentle stroke starting with the head, DO NOT USE COLD WATER, you can bring temperature down but you can hardly succeed in bringing it up when it goes down below 35 degrees in a child— It is much safer for blood to flow in the blood vessels to nourish violently contracting muscles and remove metabolic wastes from actively metabolizing tissues than to slow down the flow of blood in the tiny blood vessels, so use look-warm(slightly warm) water(tepid water)

     

    MANAGEMENT

    Management of these conditions usually will follow the established pattern of knowing the history, carrying out physical examination and laboratory investigations before drug treatment. One may not have to wait until the other one is completed. Parents and family members are advised to take note as events unfold because in places where resources are not readily available , much will depend on how much relevant information is obtained and how thoroughly, physical examination is achieved. The success of treatment also partly depends on adequate history and physical examination, especially in cases of febrile convulsion. The ultimate is to take the Child to the Hospital for thorough physical examination and laboratory tests including lumbar puncture.

    GENERAL PREVENTIVE MEASURES

    Governments can create awareness and encourage the empowerment of women via health education and improve primary health care so that malaria prevention methods are amplified. They can improve and monitor the supply of treated nets, supervise the clearing of compounds, provide anti malaria combination therapy drugs freely to children and solicit involvement of multinational companies. Detection of early cases of injuries and infections will enable early recognition and treatment of febrile illnesses and treatment of common injuries .

    Provision of basic amenities such water, electricity, food, essential medicines, and attention to pharmaco vigilance makes sense of the presence of Government and improves confidence of ordinary people in the health care delivery system.

    For Parents and Guardian know your history, including your family history, live by example, if you must drink and smoke, keep them away from your kids

    Pregnant women should be encouraged to register for ANC and attend ante natal clinics regularly and to ask questions each time they go to clinic to clinic

    Except prescribed by your Doctors, do not ingest any drugs because someone else used it for some other problem and it worked . Do also be careful about massage. Go to BTAS that are registered with appropriate authorities

    The following actions are commonly brought to bear upon children who have no power to stop them ; they do not make children happy; but torture them and should be discouraged, because a child may go into seizure/convulsion or simply stop breathing and you will be shocked

    · .holding a child vertically head down, except during birth for medical reasons

    · .tickling a child for prolonged periods

    · .closing the two ears of a child for too long

    · shaking and throwing up a child

    · .scare tactics with dogs, cats, lizards, snakes, live fish and birds, including domestic chicken

    · Shaking of babies, throwing them up or tickling them.

    · Rubbing dirt onto the face of a child

    · Kissing another person’s child in the mouth or putting his mouth on your face , even when your personal hygiene cannot be vouched for and skin harbors bacteria like Staphylococcus aureus and fungi like Candida Albicans- they become harmful when they enter the delicate structure that kids have

    · Punishing children by making them stoop, kneel, sit with hands behind or stand for long periods.

    Ensure enough food. For children but don’t over feed…give your kids enough water

    Control play activities of your kids and don’t rebuke each time a child has injuries; he will end up a recluse or hide away from you when he has wounds ; which can then become infected and cause other problems. Don’t allow sitting down to watch television for extended period of time.

    Give your children enough room so they can confide in you without being disrespectful.

    Observe normal behavior so you know when there are deviations from normal that herald the appearance of a seizure illness

    For further reading and additional information, please see Harisson17, high yield Neuroanatomy, pediatric emergencies Mede books, Isilo etc

     

  • Child Right Act: How relevant?

    he Senate sparked a row over under-age marriage recently by voting for the retention of Section 29 (a) of the 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, which states that “A woman who is married is of age.”

    In trying to exonerate themselves of blame, the lawmakers explained that the Child Rights Act outlaws under-age marriage and makes it unlawful for any child to be married off before attaining 18 years of age.

    However, the whole issue makes it imperative for us to closely examine the implementation of the so-called Child Rights Act in our country.

    The Act, which issues from the Child Rights Convention, provides for the civil, economic, education, social welfare of the child among others.

    In Nigeria, though the Federal Government has adopted the Act, it is only effective in 24 states. Twelve states are yet to adopt the Act. What are these states waiting for? In the states where they have been adopted, what difference has it made in the lives of children? How well has the Child Rights Act protected children less than 18? These are the questions begging for answers. Let us set aside the under-age marriage issue and examine other areas of the Act that are being disregarded.

    Under the Act, the children have a right to education. In the version adopted by the Lagos State government, no child below 18 should be employed as a house maid. Yet, many are not in school because they are domestic servants in the households of supposedly well-educated working-class families, most of who likely have condemned Senator Sani Ahmed Yerima for marrying a 13-year old Egyptian. In their homes, they do not think there is anything wrong with employing nine, 10-year olds to clean, cook and care for their wards.

    I attended a graduation in one hotel in Ikeja recently where I noticed a young girl, between 10 and 12 years old, standing by the wall, holding a baby. She was apparently mandated by her mistress to stay there and rock the baby to sleep. She looked forlorn; her hair unkempt. She was dressed too simple for an occasion of that nature.

    Not far from where she stood, sat some of the Primary six graduates. They looked smart in black suits and shirts; and the girls had their hair braided with extensions. Those children couldn’t have been much younger than the maid. I tried to think of what was going through her mind as she watched those better dressed children who are more fortunate than her because of her lowly birth. The Child Rights Act is in place in Lagos, but that girl is not benefiting from it.

    I was in a salon on another day fixing my hair when a girl came in to fix hers. Her arrival was noisy because she was chased into the salon by another girl of about the same age. The second girl, called Taiye, was the chaperon. When she left, the first girl, Moji (not real name) told us that Taiye was not in school, but her twin, who stays with their mother, attends school.

    After a while, Taiye returned to check on Moji but left when she saw the girl was not done yet. She returned shortly again with a directive to remain in the salon until Moji finished her hair. While she waited, she busied herself weaving discarded hair extensions she picked from the salon floor. She laughed playfully as she showed the hairdresser what she was doing. Taiye is another girl who ought to be in school; but she acts as chaperon to a girl her age. Of what use is the Child Rights Act to her? Do her guardians even know that they are infringing on her human rights by not sending her to school?

    However, Taiye’s fate is still better than Eno Bassey, an 11-year old from Akwa Ibom who I read is battling for her life at the Burns and Trauma Unit of the Gbagada General Hospital. She was set on fire by her mistress for stealing a piece of meat. The so-called madam ‘imported’ Eno and one Happiness from Akwa Ibom State to serve as domestic helps.

    It is a shame that being a nurse, who is educated and knows the value of good health, did not stop the Madam from attempting to burn Eno alive. It was the neighbours who put out the fire after the girl ran out and rushed her to the hospital. They could not carry her easily because her skin was falling off.

    At the hospital the diagnosis was 95 degree burns. Eno suffered severe injuries to her private part and needs multiple surgeries. A nurse at the hospital said it is a miracle she survived. Again, I ask, what has the Child Rights Act done to save Eno?

    When we think of the rights of children, we should not only happily demonise old men that marry under-age girls. We should also regard educated bankers, lawyers, respected teachers, doctors and other professionals who employ children as maids as evil doers.

    They are as guilty as the child rapists, denying children a right to education; overworking them; abusing them physically and verbally; and neglecting their need for love and care.

  • ‘700,000 children have cerebral palsy in Nigeria’

    No fewer than 700,000 children are living with cerebral palsy, consultant paeditrician, Prof Afolabi Lesi has said.

    Cerebral palsy (CP) is a physical disability that affects movement and posture. It is an umbrella term that refers to a group of disorders affecting a person’s ability to move. CP is a permanent life-long condition, but generally does not worsen over time. It is due to damage to the developing brain either during pregnancy or shortly after birth.

    CP affects people in different ways and can affect body movement, muscle control, muscle co-ordination, muscle tone, reflex, posture and balance.

    Speaking during the maiden National Cerebral Palsy (CP) family forum organised by a CP initiative, Benola, Lesi, Dean of Clinical Sciences at the University of Lagos (UNILAG) described the condition as one of the commonest brain issues in a child in a developing country.

    He said 60 to 80 per cent of such children would have co-morbidities such as seizures and intellectual disabilities, among others.

    For every child affected by the illness, he said, there were five other people around the child who are affected in one way or the other.

    He said drugs, infections, stress, nutrition and things taken during pregnancy and when the child is born till he or she becomes five years old go a long way to affect the development of a child’s brain.

    In his lecture on Cerebral palsy: the stigma, fears and reality, he said most cerebral palsy were caused before, around and after delivery. Some of the identified causes are: when the brain doesn’t get air immediately after birth or when a child has difficulty in establishing breathing at birth. Other causes are jaundice and infections.

    The neuro-developmental problems specialist said certain stigmas are associated with the condition. Such stigmas include high cost, long duration of care, the fear of recurrence and inappropriate labels such as, disabled.

    He said it leads to denial of such child, neglect, malnourishment, social isolation and murder in extreme cases, adding that in reality, most causes are preventable.

    “There is the need for a national policy and legislation for all neuro-developmental conditions,” he said.

    The founders of the initiative, Mr Femi and Mrs Alaba Gbadebo, said there is the need to help improve the lives of people with CP including provision of care, covering medical and living costs.

    They said the initiative would become the lead supportive agency and a leading advocate for the rights of those living with the condition in Africa.

    Gbadebo said the initiative had been working to establish a road map for early detection and better management.

    A consultant clinical psychologist at the Lagos University TEaching Hospital (LUTH), Dr Charles Umeh said CP can’t be cured in a child; rather, series of treatments will often improve the child’s capabilities and quality of life.

    According to him, there are experts to help manage the condition such as pediatricians, surgeons, occupational therapists, clinical psychologists and special need educators.

    He noted that some CPs could be mild and others severe.

    Several people shared their experiences with CP. Some of those who have CP, some, their siblings and some other parents all shared their experiences on how they were able to live with the condition.

  • Two months after losing two children to kerosene explosion:

    Two months after losing two children to kerosene explosion:

    Since a pall of grief fell on the household of Emmanuel Olisakwe and his wife, Jane, about eight months ago, the couple has continued to drench their couch with tears.

    The Nation newspaper had reported about a month ago how the couple lost their two children to a fire outbreak on December 26, 2012, following a kerosene explosion that rocked their two-room apartment at No 14, Ikire Street, off Akeredolu Street, Olambe, Ogun State.

    The fireballs had first landed on the couple’s five-year-old son, Miracle, burning him beyond recognition. He died the next day. Their eight-year-old daughter, Ebube, would have escaped unhurt, but the fire balls landed on her newly-fixed hair and she was severely burnt. She battled death for 17 days before she died in the hospital.

    Emmanuel was severely burnt while trying to light a lantern shortly after he loaded its tank with kerosene. He was taken to the Burns Unit of the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) for treatment.

    He escaped death by a whisker due to the prompt treatment he received at the hospital. He would have been discharged from the hospital about three weeks ago, but he has not been able to go home because he cannot defray his medical bill which, according to his wife, is about N700, 000. “He is removed from the bed whenever there is a new patient who cannot get a bed space,” she added.

    She spoke further on the family’s plight and how she had been running from pillar to post in search of money.

    She said: “Until the unfortunate incident, my husband was a tricycle operator and breadwinner of the family. I have practically been living on charity since then and I don’t know where else to run to for assistance.

    “Although some people had forwarded some money to us shortly after your paper published the story, it was not enough to clear the hospital bill. We have been told to settle the bill or my husband would not be allowed to go home or sleep on the bed anymore.

    “I don’t know what to do. That is why I’m asking for help from the members of the public.”

    Speaking with our correspondent, Emmanuel said: ”I was discharged about a month ago, but I cannot go home because I have not been able to pay my medical bill. I have been asked to pay or forget about going home for now.”

    Emmanuel, a native of Umunuko-Upkor community in Nnewi South Local Government Area of Anambra State, further shared his plight with our reporter, saying: ”My condition has improved and I can now walk with the aid of a walker. But my greatest problem is the unpaid bill because I have been told to pay up by this weekend or face the risk of being asked to vacate my bed for other patients. At the moment, doctors have stopped attending to me except I pay for my treatment. Life has turned nightmarish. I don’t know what to do because my wife has fruitlessly been looking for money to settle the bill. It’s almost a hopeless situation and I just hope that kind-hearted Nigerians would come to my rescue.”

    Jane, recalled the incident, saying: “The incident happened on December 26, 2012, at about 7 pm. My husband had asked me to prepare yam and fried egg for dinner, but I told him that there was no kerosene at home.

    “While returning home, he bought kerosene at a filling station in Akute. I was trying to slice some yam when I heard my 10-month -old baby’s cry. I quickly left the yam to attend to the baby.

    “Since it was in the night, my husband was about lighting the lantern after putting Kerosene into it, but the lantern exploded and burnt him and my kids.

    “We just moved into the house about six months before the fire incident. Our 10-year-old son, Victor, is about entering secondary school, and it has not been easy coping with other domestic responsibilities.

    “In fact, my son’s education would have been truncated but for the intervention of the proprietress of his school and some of her teaching staff who offered him a lifeline.

    “I have been married to my husband since 2001 and we had four children. But we have lost two of them now. I have since been squatting with one of my friends because I cannot cope with living in the same house where the fire had killed my son and daughter and rendered my husband incapacitated.

    “He is a native of Nnewi, Anambra State and a former employee of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE). He lost his job after a major shake-up in the firm and has since been operating a commercial tricycle to earn living.”

    Anyone who is willing to offer financial assistance can forward money to Mrs. Jane Nkechi Olisakwe’s First Bank account-3069048378. She can also be reached on 08139234474

  • Our children still missing, weeks after attack, say Plateau women

    Several mothers in Langtang South Local Government Area of Plateau State have said their children were still missing, weeks after the attack on their communities by gunmen suspected to be Fulani militia.

    Mrs Julcit Musa, chairperson of Tarok Women Association, spoke yesterday in Mabudi, Langtang South Local Government Area, when the peace committee set up by Governor Jonah Jang visited victims of the attack.

    Other members of the committee are: the Commissioner for Information, Yiljab Abraham; the member representing Langtang South in the House of Assembly, Joyce Ramnap; the Special Adviser on Labour, Samuel Kumakur, among others.

    In tears, Mrs Musa told the delegation that over 30 women could not find their children or their bodies since the attack.

    Some armed men, suspected to be Fulani, attacked three communities in the local government early this month. They killed 30 members of the communities and burnt several homes.

    Following the attack, Jang constituted the peace committee to dialogue with the stakeholders and restore peace in the areas.

    When the committee, chaired by the Deputy Speaker Johnbull Shekarau visited the area yesterday, scores of women trooped out to express their agony over the attack.

    They told the committee that several children were still missing.

    Mrs. Musa said: “We were sleeping when the attackers came in the middle of the night. We ran at various directions for safety. We are now in camps but many of our children are not here with us. We could not even find their bodies, to confirm that they are dead. The government should please help us to find them.

    “We also want the government to protect us by making sure those who attacked us face justice. This is because we never offended them to warrant the attack.”

    Commissioner for Water Resources Idi Waziri said the crisis and attacks have reduced the population of the state.

    He said recent statistics showed that the rate of births in the state has decreased as a result of the crisis in parts of the state.

    The Chairman of the local government, Narman Darko, said the residents were ready to dialogue and ensure that peace returned to the community.

    He urged the government to bring to justice the perpetrators of the dastardly act.

    “My people in Langtang South are still surprised why we were attacked. My people are peace-loving. My people still live in fear. Our people hardly go to farm because of the fear of the unknown.”

  • Children and cell phones

    SIR: Our children are now very much interested in the manipulation of cell phone, watching films and other thrillers every day. They are deep rooted in the act in such a way that they often forgo doing their home work, reading their books and attending to other home chores. More worrisome and disturbing is that those in the secondary schools go to school with the gadgets which they browse in the class even when lessons are going on. The frivolous activities have in fact contributed in no small measure to the massive poor performance in examinations by students.

    Unfortunately, this syndrome is manifesting at the time the government is setting every thing in motion towards achieving quality education for all by 2015. All the same, the situation is not completely out of hand as the government, especially the school authorities, can do something to remedy the situation.

    I suggest that the government, teachers, parents and other stakeholders do everything within their strides to correct these aberrations. Otherwise, our nation would be infested with bunch of illiterate graduates in the near future.

    The last UTME witnessed massive poor performance by students ever known before in the history of this country as only 10 out of 1.7 million candidates who sat for the examination scored 300 and above.

    Such a poor performance should move stakeholders, especially the government to find a lasting solution to the problem,

    Regrettably, the deadline projected for making education in the country superb clashes with the next general election. I have the eerie feeling that government wouldn’t do much on the issue since the campaign for governance in 2015 has dominated the polity.

    Nigeria has all it takes to bring back education to an enviable height like in the days of our famous trio of Obafemi Awolowo, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa and Nnamdi Azikiwe of the blessed memory. My heart bleeds whenever I see the poster, STUDY IN GHANA in our major towns and cities. Imagine Ghana that was sent packing decades ago now, like the biblical Joseph feeding us educationally. Nigerians now go to Ghana to study. Is not shameful?

    Parents should do something about their children’s indulgence in frivolities because they are the first to feel the impact of their misbehavior. The bottom line is parents should not buy their children cell phone until they finish their secondary education.

    • Nkemakolam Gabriel

    Port Harcourt, Rivers State

     

  • The painful world of children living with cancer

    The painful world of children living with cancer

    *They are the unknown few, eaten up by a cancerous cell and abandoned by
    government.  These children live in agonizing pains, reports Seun Akioye
    who spent time with many of them.*

    Chioma Ukanwa. She was light in complexion with a big, prominent facial
    features, black silky hair which some people say was unnatural for a
    nine-year-old girl. Her eyelashes were big and black adding a touch of
    beauty to her full face. She had large, clear eyes and when she focused
    them on an object for a long time they got moisture. When she smiled, and
    not too often in the last one year, she revealed a set of strong white
    teeth. It was not unusual to remark that she was a beauty queen in the
    making.

    On the evening of Friday June 14, Chioma’s remains were released from the
    morgue at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Idi-Araba, Mushin,
    Lagos mainland to  her parents, Charles and Kate Ukanwa for burial. The
    short ceremony was conducted under an ambience of extreme grief.  Exactly a
    week earlier, she had lost the battle she had bravely fought for five years
    against childhood cancer.  The afternoon Chioma died was one of the most
    shocking in the Pediatric Oncology ward at LUTH. A day before then, she had
    received the life saving platlet and had been on the road to yet another
    recovery. Hours after that treatment her condition deteriorated and in the
    early afternoon she died. Her death was sudden and shocking.

    “I still can’t wrap my hands around this. I am still in shock. I cannot
    just believe this had happened,” says Dr. Nneka Nwobi, the founder of
    Children Living with Cancer Foundation, a non-governmental organisation
    that caters for children with cancer. For some years, Nwobi had been
    involved in Chioma’s case, providing counseling to her parents and
    supporting them to offset her often heavy medical bills.

    Two weeks before her death, Nwobi had been involved in different activities
    designed to raise money for another round of chemotherapy for her. She had
    planned to go round schools to raise the much needed funds to save her
    life.  On May 30, *The Nation*  met Chioma and her parents at the
    children’s ward. They stood dutifully by her bed at the pediatric ward at
    LUTH. Chioma had exhibited no trait of someone about to die; she had
    responded to questions and expressed optimism to live. Her father told her
    story.

    It started in 2008, she developed feverish conditions, there were rashes
    all over her body, then her body began to swell, every external organ that
    could accommodate more fluid did. She was taken to the Lagos State
    University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) after she was referred to LUTH. She
    spent three weeks undergoing diagnosis, the result was crushing: Acute
    Lymphoblastic Leukemia or cancer of the blood. Her treatment began in
    earnest and after five months she was discharged with a warning to continue
    to come back for treatment.

    “Between 2009 and 2011, she was okay, she looked fine and we thought the
    worst was over so we stopped coming for the treatment. Also, our family has
    incurred a huge financial burden that we could not handle so we defaulted,”
    Charles said.

    But in January 2012, whatever hopes the family had evaporated. The rashes
    returned and the swelling began in earnest. She returned to her bed at LUTH
    and doctors say her condition had worsened due to her default. Chioma had
    maintained a permanent bed at the Ward D since July 2012 until her death.

    *Inside the cancer ward*

    Nineteen months old Esther Shedrack laid in  her cot at the paedratic
    cancer ward at LUTH. She had just finished a session of biopsies and had
    reacted violently to it. An oxygen mask was fixed to her head and there was
    a drip fixed on her hand, for several hours she stayed still without giving
    any indication that life was inside her. Her head was devoid of hair and
    she wore no ornament to distinguish her sex. Beside her, another baby slept
    peacefully in her cot, her mother also slept on a chair beside her. Ann
    remained motionless and her distraught mother, Ann Shedrack sat beside her
    cot, it was evident she had been crying.

    “The cancer is eating her up,” she said painfully,” then raising her voice
    she added: “ My baby’s condition is making me agitated, the chemotherapy is
    eating her up gradually. You go for a test, they need platelet, the next
    day it is plasma and red blood cells. Even as big as LUTH is, there is no
    facility for platlet , we go all the way to Island Maternity to get it  and
    it’s not easy, that is where the whole of Lagos go to, look at her she
    needs platlets, she needs blood. Since morning I cannot even get blood in
    LUTH here, I have been going to blood bank like somebody going to the
    bathroom.”

    Esther’s troubles began in January 2013. Her mother discovered a side of
    her abdomen was hard and swollen, when touched the baby cried out in pain.
    She acted fast and took her to a private paedriatic clinic in Ikeja , a
    scan was done and the result brought life to a halt for her parents. She
    had cancer of the ovary. Subsequently, the family was referred to the Lagos
    State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) and finally to LUTH in March,
    but her problems were far from over.

    In March, Esther was operated upon to remove the tumour in her abdomen but
    the doctors “found out the mass is large and is lying over critical organs
    in her body”.  The operation failed and the patient had to be covered up.
    Part of the mass was taken for biopsies and she resumed her chemotherapy
    which caused a violent reaction. Then she stopped eating and had
    experienced various degrees of dehydration, currently she is being fed
    through a tube passed over her mouth.

    The nurses in the ward work round the clock seeing to the wellbeing of the
    children, for some of them who had been there long enough, they had seen
    many of the children succumb to the cold hands of death. “ Our children are
    doing fine, we do lose some of them but as you can see we are doing our
    best to keep them happy while they are here,” a nurse who pleaded anonymity
    said.

    Timothy Olaonipekun was a known face to all the wards in the pediatric
    centre, most of his time was spent cheering up other children too weak to
    play and who are restricted on their beds. His journey to LUTH began in
    July 2012. He was struck with fever and taken to Sacred Heart Hospital,
    Abeokuta where he was treated for fever and tuberculosis.  When he showed
    no improvements, a cocktail of tests followed, eventually on November
    2nd2012, a test result said: Axillary Lymph node-High grade non-Hodgin
    lymphoma diffuse large cells or Acute Lymphoblastic Lymphoma.  Two days
    later, he was rushed to LUTH where he underwent three agonizing, but
    successful chemotherapy.

    Timothy is on course for his 4th therapy but has been hampered by lack of
    funds. While waiting for a miracle that would enable him complete his
    treatment and return to his friends at the Baptist Boys High School,
    Abeokuta where he was a senior student, he spent his time spreading joy and
    happiness among the children who happened to be in the same boat as himself.

    The children’s ward at LUTH has been designed to give comfort to the
    children. According to Adebola Akinsulie, a professor of Paediatric
    Haematology and Oncology, who is also the Head of Paediatrics at LUTH, the
    ward can accommodate about 20 children, a far cry from the demand as the
    hospital admits between five and six children every week.

    The rooms have between three and four beds and they are kept clean. There
    is a reception area with a television and a playing section equipped with
    toys. All over the wall, there are paintings of animated creatures which
    lightened up the ward and brought some sunshine into the otherwise grim
    circumstances of the children who lived there. The paintings *The
    Nation*learnt has been done by children of the American International
    School Lagos
    while the ward has been furnished and equipped by Children Living with
    Cancer Foundation.  Out of the children admitted for cancer in the blood,
    only 20 percent will survive the two year treatment period.

    *An underreported malady*

    Chioma was one of the hundreds of Nigerian children who die each year as a
    result of childhood cancer. Although, childhood cancer accounts for less
    than 10 percent of children’s illnesses, but for the children who have been
    afflicted and their families, the consequences are dire. Unlike adult
    cancer which has received worldwide awareness and funding, childhood
    cancers are largely unnoticed, statistics scarce, treatment expensive and
    equipments non-existent.

    In Nigeria, over 95 percent cancer actions were focused on adult cancer. In
    August 2011, the Federal Ministry of Health inaugurated a technical
    committee that would draft Nigeria’s position on Non -communicable Diseases
    (NCD) for the  United Nations High- Level Meeting on NCD which held in
    September 2011. While cancer was a recurrent feature in the technical
    committee action plan of reducing NCDs, childhood cancers were ignored.

    Consultant Paediatric at the Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital
    (OOUTH) Sagamu Ogun State, Dr. Folasade Adekanmbi said the neglect of
    childhood cancers transcends government apathy.

    “ The general attitude towards dependants is awful in Nigeria, many
    parents are not totally committed to the treatments of their child with
    cancer, some of them will say if this child dies God will bring another
    one. But if it is an adult everybody will be running around.”

    But it is not just the parents who generally disregard treatment for
    cancer, very few government hospitals are adequately equipped to deal with
    childhood oncology. For instance in the entire South West region of
    Nigeria, only the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH)  and the
    University College Hospital (UCH) have dedicated  wards to paediatric
    oncology in Nigeria.  The two hospitals also get patients from outside the
    South West. Consequently, resources and equipments are put under tremendous
    strain at the two hospitals thereby making them unable to meet up with the
    demands for drugs and other treatments.

    This situation has forced many parents into seeking alternative means of
    cure-often from traditional healers- with often devastating and fatal
    results for the children involved. In 2010, Chioma was reportedly taken to
    the village to consult herbal healers and was only returned to LUTH when
    her condition showed no improvements.

    *Treating cancer*

    No one could pretend that treating cancer is fun or cheap in Nigeria and
    Dr. Akinsulie was not about to start.  According to him, cancer can affect
    any part of the body but the most common are cancer of the blood and the
    kidney. The treatment for the two differ in time and cost, while kidney
    cancer can be treated in six months and has a survival rate of about 80
    percent, treatment of leukemia could prolong for two years with the
    survival rate hovering between 20-30 percent.

    Treating cancer is both emotionally draining and expensive. For Muyiwa
    Olaonipekun, father of Timothy, a cancer patient, the one-year experience
    has left him drained both financially and emotionally. “My wife died in
    April last year just after that this sickness began, the money left by my
    wife has been expanded on treating my son. I have had to go seek help from
    my old school association. Till now, we have spent up to N2million and we
    are on the 4th course of the chemotherapy, we still need N2.5milllion and
    we have less than N50,000,” Olaonipekun said.

    His work has suffered too.  Since the sickness began, he has abandoned his
    business and took up the full time job  of sitting by the side of his son.
    He slept each night on the floor by his son. This is no mean task for the
    floor is bare and hard. “ It is the Lord that is keeping me strong,” he
    said with a smile, clutching a tiny bible to illustrate his belief in the
    supernatural.

    Esther Shedrack, though has spent just a few months in the hospital already
    raked up about half a million naira in hospital bills and the treatment has
    just commenced.  Her mother, a caterer has given up her job and has
    exchanged her bed for the cold floor of the hospital ward. She has also
    added another profile to her new occupation: endless tears.

    “ I feel agitated all the time when I look at my child. There is no
    assurance for kids how much more adults and we call ourselves freeborn. We
    are all strangers in our fatherland that is why I don’t blame those who
    leave this country for places like Ghana,” she lamented.

    Charles Ukanwa said he had spent more than N5million treating his daughter
    before she finally gave up the ghost, a transport driver by profession he
    said he has tried his best to raise funds for the treatment of his child.
    But according to some hospital sources, the hospital staffs have been
    responsible for the upkeep and treatment of Chioma for a long time after
    the father could not come up with any more fund. He was still looking for
    about N20million to fund her treatment in India when she died. The mother
    who was a full time housewife had become a full time nurse always by the
    side of the child until the bitter end.

    Prof Akinsulie said: “For the family that has one case of cancer, its
    total. You discover you are spending N2million-N3million and how many
    families can afford that? A family that cannot make N100, 000 a month will
    need to cough out N300, 000, a month for treatment, they sell the
    properties and in six months they are poor.  The thing spreads because the
    other children cannot feed well, sicknesses set in, unfortunately, there is
    no guarantee the child would survive, and it can be very devastating.
    Sometimes treatments can be up to three years and it may cost about
    N5million,” he said.

    To survive the crippling costs of treatment, parents have devised several
    means of raising funds which include going cap-in-hand to corporate
    organizations, media and others just hit the streets, going to the motor
    parks and churches. One of such parent whose child is now late told *The
    Nation*  after an agreement to protect his identity: “ I was desperate, I
    sold my car and all my properties, if someone was willing to by my cloths,
    I could have sold them. I had to go to the streets, it was painful and
    shameful but I had no choice. To make it worse, I did not raise N50, 000
    before my son died.”

    But if the scheme currently being worked upon by LUTH comes to fruition,
    this agonizing search for funds may come to an end. According to Akinsulie,
    the hospital management is currently trying a new campaign to involve
    millions of Nigerian donating a fraction of their income monthly towards
    the Save the Cancer children fund. A paediatric hospital called St, Judes
    in the USA, it was learnt is ready to partner with LUTH to raise more funds
    if the Nigerian partners can kick-start it.

    “The aim is to get small money in large numbers so if we have one million
    Nigerians donating N100 per month we would have about N1billion to play
    with and we can give quality treatment for the children for free. Our
    partners in the USA are ready, they just want us to run this thing for like
    two years, we are appealing to Nigerians to help, it doesn’t have to be
    your child,” Akinsulie said.

    *Life saving platlets*

    The cause of about 90 percent of the deaths  from childhood cancers is laid
    sorely on scarcity of platlets. According to one of the nurses at the
    children’s ward, what many children are waiting for are platlets but while
    waiting many succumbed to death.

    “There is this crisis of platlets here, it has been hell getting it so we
    start to look for it all over the place. Here in LUTH, it costs N5,000 but
    outside in the private laboratories it is N17,000,” Olaonipekun said.

    Ann Shedrack said she has been able to secure some platlets at the Island
    Maternity on Lagos Island which is where most of the people needing the
    life saving blood get it from. The LUTH management did not deny there is
    shortage of platlets in the hospital; neither do they deny many children
    have been lost due to that shortage. So what could have caused this
    scarcity?

    In a bag of blood, there are many components like the red blood cell and
    platlets. Those needing blood transfusion do not need all of these
    component so there is a separating method using a machine called Cold
    Centrifuge for blood bag separation. This is how it works, a blood bag is
    placed inside and the machine separates the different blood components.  So
    a patient does not need to get a full bag of blood if he doesn’t need it.
    But it is this machine that would separate the platlets for use by the
    children that is scarce. Without the platlets, children undergoing
    chemotherapy will die, it is certain and many have died.

    Only LUTH and UCH have a cold centrifuge machine and all the cases in the
    South West are directed to these two institutions, which puts a lot of
    pressure on the equipments. As a result the machine is overused and it
    malfunctions, this is the exact case with LUTH.

    Frustrated and upset parents then begin to patronize the ‘black market’.
    But that also has its dangers as many unscrupulous sellers wanting to make
    maximum gain mix serum with the platlets. The results could be devastating
    as seen in the case of Chioma.

    “They got the platlets outside LUTH and there should be a toxicology test
    carried out on it, the thing is that one bag of platlets in LUTH is better
    than six bags outside. I do not know if the girl reacted to the platlets, I
    am also not sure of the source either,” Nwobi said.

    The problem is replicated at all the teaching hospitals. At the OOUTH
    Sagamu, sources said even though it does not have a dedicated paeditric
    oncology ward, it nonetheless has the capacity to get platlets anytime it
    is needed. “We have a professor here that has connections at LUTH, so we
    always get it when we need it.  We are also in the process of establishing
    our cancer ward and in two years time we should be able to do that so that
    we can fully treat our patients.”

    According to Akinsulie, the problem of scarcity of platlets could be solved
    if the hospital can get the machine. A single machine that is capable of
    separating four bags of blood cost only N6million while one that can
    separate between 10 and 12 bags of blood cost N10million.

    “We are appealing to those with human kindness to help us purchase these
    machines which are so vital to the treatment of these children,” Nwobi said.

    “These children do not have to die needless deaths all the time, the
    government can fund the purchase of this machine and highly subsidize the
    treatment of Paediatric cancer. If corruption is eliminated in governance
    that money can be channeled into treating those with cancer. Even Somalia
    has made tremendous progress, why can’t we curb corruption and save the
    children,” a hospital management staff said.

    “I once spoke to a state government and I was shocked when they said the
    money they will use to treat one cancer patient would be used to treat
    5,000 dieahoreah  or malaria. That is the way our government thinks,”
    Nwobbi recounted to *The Nation*.

    *Creating Awareness*

    By 2002, Nneka Nwobbi has seen enough inside the horrid walls of caner
    wards at the LUTH; she had seen many children die from childhood cancer due
    to lack of financial resources to treat the disease or from sheer apathy
    from the parents. She, therefore, decided to embark on an adventure such
    that would attempt to save the lives of some of the children. She founded
    the Children Living With Cancer Foundation (CLWCF).

    The organisation she founded has gone ahead to provide services to these
    children some of which include: Total or partial coverage of expenses
    related to chemotherapy; support with medications; overseas travels when
    needed; counseling for families and patients; creating awareness about
    childhood cancers.

    Nwobbi has worked with many of the patients at LUTH, a week before Chioma
    died; she has been involved in the campaign to raise funds for her. Her
    past chemotherapy has been partially funded by her organization. The
    paediatric oncology ward had been furnished and equipped by her
    organization. Most of the parents come to her for chemotherapy medications
    which she gave free of charge. Her success stories have been more of kidney
    cancer than leukemia. “We have had success stories mainly with kidney
    cancer.  We have what we call save 10 projects, looking for sponsors at
    least to treat 10 children with the disease. Not as costly as leukemia,
    roughly about N2 million for treatment,” she told *The Nation* in her
    Anthony Village, Lagos office.

    Nwobbi believes that childhood cancer doesn’t have to be a death sentence.
    “ The cancer is curable if the children are brought in early enough to
    start treatment and that is why awareness is involved. Parents need to know
    the signs to look for in their children.”

    She has therefore devised the SILUAN method. This method involves Seeking
    medical help for persistent symptoms, check for white sports, squinting in
    the EYE, looking for LUMP in the abdomen and pelvis and other parts of the
    body, reporting UNEXPLAINED  fever, weight loss and appetite, Aching bones
    and joints should be reported and NEUROLOGICAL change in behavior, balance
    and gaits in children should be reported.

    But one of the factors inhibiting the work against childhood cancers
    surprisingly is the attitude of the parents. Many parents simply refused to
    believe their wards may have cancer. “There are several cases where the
    parents have simply refused to believe in the doctor’s diagnosis,” she said.

    The refusal of the parents to believe in cancer have had devastating
    consequences for the children who are caught in the middle of this
    unbelief, a situation which has led to the death of many of them. Closely
    following this is the belief in the supernatural. “When the after-effects
    of the chemotherapy start to occur like the loss of hair, many parents are
    afraid and they say this cannot be cancer again, some evil spirits must
    have been responsible, so they stop coming for treatment and take the
    children to the village. Even Chioma went to the village that was when she
    defaulted. Unfortunately, when they return to the hospital it’s always too
    late,” Nwobbi explained.

    It’s another week at LUTH and five more patients will join the ones who are
    lucky enough to be alive, none of the doctors could guarantee which of them
    would survive, but what they can assure is that they will be needing
    finances in the millions. Maybe few can afford it many none can, except
    kind hearted Nigerians come to their rescue.  Ann Shedrack and Muyiwa
    Olaonipekun are appealing to kind hearted Nigerians to save their children.
    Donations are solicited through the following accounts:  Muyiwa
    Olaonipekun, Stanbic IBTC Bank, Account N0: 0005233079

    *Box interview*

    *Why we lose many children to cancer-Prof. Akinsulie, Head Paediatrics LUTH*

    *How frequently do we have the cases of childhood cancer and what are the
    various forms it takes?*

    Cancer is just about one percent in children’s health problems. But there
    has been a slight increase in some of them like cancer of the blood, called
    leukemia; we have so many cases here because we have referrers from all
    over South West. For the family that has one case of cancer, its total. But
    when we consider it among other diseases, it’s still low. For those who
    have, it can be devastating for the family.

    Cancer in children if presented early is curable,  but we need to  educate
    the parents on some of the forms cancer takes in children. When flashes are
    coming in the eye of the child it could be Retino Plastoma; when the tummy
    is growing more than normal especially when you can feel something hard ,
    it could be a cancer of the kidney, likewise if any other part of the body
    is hard. It is only the cancer of the blood that does not give us a lot of
    signs, but you will still notice the child feeling tired, unfortunately a
    lot of doctors will be treating malaria instead of looking at the blood.
    When the cancer is in the blood, it is already all over the body because
    blood goes all over the body and the more they delay the more damage it
    does to the body organs, but cancer of the blood can also be diagnosed
    early.

    Fortunately, many of our doctors in private hospitals also know enough to
    check the blood for signs of cancer. Most of these things are diagnosed
    early in advance countries but are picked quite late here, but there are
    some cancers that are quite merciful so to say like cancer of the kidney
    called nefroblastoma. It must take a careless person to have this cancer
    going to many places in the body before they come for treatment. Some
    cancers start as a solid tumor, but our people will apply Robb and pray,
    instead of coming straight to the hospital.

    You need to see some of our children, one has the cancer of the jaw, it was
    huge as a football but now she is looking almost normal because some
    organizations were able to donate for her. She had almost five operations. *
    *

    *What is the most common type of cancer that you have noticed in Nigeria?*

    We usually like to separate the one that affects the blood and the solid
    one. In the blood category, the most common is Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia
    (ALL).  The commonest solid one is Wilems Tumor. There are others too that
    are common, retino plastoma.

    *What are the causes of childhood cancer?*

    In most cases we don’t know but from research, we know some viral infection
    and malaria are associated with cancer of the jaw, if you are exposed to
    heavy radiation, they can develop cancer, even the radiotherapy that we use
    in curing cancer, if you are exposed to it for long, you might develop a
    secondary cancer. Some drugs taken by mother can affect the baby, but this
    is less than five percent of the causes.  But to be honest, 90 to 95
    percent of the time , we don’t know the causes, it occurred spontaneously.
    Occasionally we know some abnormalities in parent; genetic abnormalities
    too can lead to some cancer. The good thing is that the signs are there, if
    you are the type that would approach a doctor early enough you stand a
    chance to cure it.  For the cancer of the blood, the child can be bleeding
    and weak. It also affect their ability to fight infection so they can have
    fever, these are the signs of the other normal ailments so if your child
    have this sign and its not responding to the usual drugs you must come in
    to the hospital.

    *How much does it cost to treat these cancer and for how long?*

    On the average we can treat them for upwards of two years especially cancer
    of the blood. Those with cancer of the kidney can be treated in six
    months.  But you discover you are spending N2million-N3million and how many
    families can afford that? A family that cannot make N100,000 a month will
    need to cough out N300,000, a month for treatment, they sell the properties
    and in six months they are poor.  The thing spreads because the other
    children cannot feed well, sicknesses set in, unfortunately, there is no
    guarantee the child would survive, and it can be very devastating.

    We also do radiotherapy for leukemia for as long as two to three years, if
    you stop the cancer comes back,  for the first 3 months they must be in the
    hospital but after that they need to come to the hospital at intervals and
    we give treatments for the next three years, the cost of it may be up to N5
    million.

    *How is the hospital helping regarding funding this treatment?*

    What we need is education. Another thing we need is to treat it free; it
    is possible. If every Nigerian is contributing N100 naira per month, we
    will have almost a billion naira to use for treatment in a month. It is
    awareness, people need to start donating freely, these children will come
    and we will treat them free, we can give them the best of treatment.

    But if people can donate just a tiny fraction of their income, something
    they will not notice, we can call it  friends of leukemia or  friends of
    children living with nefroblastoma etc,  the money can be managed by an NGO.

    We have been going to companies, which can donate like N10, 000 a month and
    the more people buy into the idea the bigger the fund, we can buy more
    equipment. St Jude’s hospital in the United States  is promising us that if
    we can start and run it well, we can become an affiliate and more funds
    will come in. In that hospital, they admit hundreds of children with cancer
    every day, they come all over the world and they are treated free. With a
    facility like that why won’t the children come in early?

    If you say I want to be donating N200 a month for the children living with
    cancer, this project  will move ahead, the group in America, wants us to
    start running the free donation project for at least two years so they see
    that we have capacity to manage big funds. But also we will appeal to the
    government to make the treatment free or subsidize it heavily. It will be
    wonderful if it is on the National Health Insurance Scheme, (NHIS).

    *How many children do you admit here weekly?*

    Here we see between five to ten children every week but our ward is still
    small for them, our ward is for 20 patients and its always filled up, so
    most of them are out-patient.

    *There is so much noise about platlets, how important is it and why is it
    scarce?*

    Now platlet is what prevents us from bleeding. If the child bleeds in the
    brain it is instant death so they need the platlet. In a bag of blood there
    are different components and platlet is one of them. A patient that needs
    blood may not need platlet or some other components and we would need to
    separate what he needs from what he does not. The machine we use for that
    separation is called cold centrifuge for blood bag separation. We have just
    one machine at LUTH and I think there is another one in UCH. That is all
    for the whole South West. Our own here is overused because we are not the
    only one using it, it is not available all the time.

    The children need platlets during Chemotherapy because they can lose a lot
    of blood and if it gets to the brain the child dies .We lose a lot of
    children just because we don’t have the platlets. That is one big appeal I
    am making to the people to please help us with the machine that can help us
    separate the platlet.   A moderate one is 6 million, if we can get two or
    three machines in this hospital it will save lives.

    *What are the chances of survival for cancer patients?*

    The prognosis for Leukemia is not encouraging.  It is just about 20-30
    percent that can survive two year.  But for cancer of kidney, it could be
    as high as 80 percent, if they come early.

  • Don seeks free education for children

    The Dean, Faculty of Law of the Nasarawa State University, Prof Maxwell Gidado, is seeking free education for every child.

    He said although corruption and lack of political are impediments to his proposal, Nigeria with her wealth can tackle this effectively.

    Gidado stated this while answering questions from reporters in Abuja at the commemoration of the ‘Day of the African Child’, organised by Women Trafficking and Child Labour Eradication Foundation (WOTCLEF), under the theme: Eliminating social and harmful cultural practices against children.

    He urged Nigerians to stop all harmful cultural habits that inhibit the growth of children. He called on the lawmakers to ensure there is no foot-dragging in passing any law that will inhibit harmful practices against children.

    “And if they (children) are denied opportunities to grow and be mentored in an atmosphere that we could relax and see them take over from us, then the country is doomed,” he warned.

    The National Coordinator, WOTCLEF, Mrs Veronica Umaru, said the theme for this years’ day celebration of the day, chosen by the African Union (AU) is appropriate as there are many such practices affecting children in Nigeria.

    She said though the Child Rights Act (CRA), which is the domestication of the Convention against the rights of the child, was okay adding that states that are yet to adopt the law should comply.

    She identifies adults as responsible for the dwindling morals in the society, urging them to be models for children.

    Meanwhile, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Anyim Pius Anyim, said Federal Government is partnering with many Non Governmental Organisations (NGOs) to stop child abuse, even as government encourages all the states to domesticate the CRA.

    He added that the celebration is to call attention to the fact that children must always be given their rights which must also be respected.

     

     

     

  • Sterling Bank rewards children of staff

    After a keenly contested maiden edition of the Sterling Bank staff children art competition, Princess Nworah, daughter of Mary Nworah of the bank’s University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH) branch, carted home the first prize in the four to eight years category.

    In the nine to 12 years category, Kehinde Olatunji, daughter of Sweetie Olatunji of the bank’s Trade Services group clinched the first prize while Agboola Samuel, son of Comfort Agboola, also of the bank’s Trade Services group led the 13-17 years category.

    The competition is an initiative aimed at celebrating the creativity of the children of staff of the bank and providing an opportunity for expression of the latent talents of the future artists.

    The competition required the children of staff to express their creativity in painting with the theme, My Beautiful World. It was held in Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, Onitsha and Kano.

    The judges which were drawn from the best in the creative industry included founder of Niger Delta Cultural Centre, Agbarha-Ottor, Prof. Bruce Onobrakpeya, Mr Segun Adejumo and Mrs Ifeoma Fafunwa. All entries were judged on simplicity, form and depth of expression of the theme.

    Chimamanda L. Melifonwu, David Edoho and Unoma Okoye Aghadinuno, all got the second prizes in the four to eight nine and 12, and 13-17 years’ categories while Sheu Aroworowon, Ibukun Fashogbon and Aina Oladipupo took home the third prizes per category.

    The judges noted that the banks competition was a worthy initiative. They added that it was commendable that a bank was recognising and celebrating the creativity of the children of their staff. “It is worthy of emulation as the bank is adding value to the families of their staff and leaving an indelible positive mark in the lives of the children”, Prof Bruce added.

    Speaking at the event, the Group Head, Strategy & Communications of Sterling Bank, Shina Atilola, noted that the Sterling children art competition was one of the many initiatives the bank was embarking upon to make it a great place to work.

    “We believe in promoting the ingenuity of the children of our staff and providing an enabling environment for staff to feel appreciated by the bank. It shows that Sterling Bank is thinking about the families of her staff and is willing to celebrate their children’s talents and help discover their talents for their future careers, he said”. He added that all the finalists were given consolation prizes in recognition of their talent and to further encourage them.