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Tag: illness

  • Strange illness kills four in Sokoto, affects 164

    Strange illness kills four in Sokoto, affects 164

    • No cause for alarm, NCDC assures residents

    The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has urged the public not to panic over last month’s outbreak of a strange illness in Sokoto State.

    Although the cause of the illness, which has resulted in four fatalities out of 164 reported cases, remains unknown.

    The agency’s Director General Jide Idris, who gave the assurance, said initial investigations indicated that the disease is non-infectious and restricted to Isa Local Government Area.

    He said while there was no immediate cause for the alarm on the disease’s transmission, even a single death was worrisome.

    The NCDC boss said this prompted the agency to broaden its collaboration, engaging external sister agencies, as well as the National Agency Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and the National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRD) in addressing the strange illness.

    Idris said two suspected cases were under treatment at the Uthman Dan Fodio University Teaching Hospital (UDUTH) in Sokoto with one patient discharged due to noticed improvements.

    The NCDC boss said four additional suspected cases were hospitalised at Isa General Hospital, in addition to approximately 130 others that were receiving treatment at primary healthcare centres (PHCs) or through home care within the affected local government.

    Read Also: Police arrest two for blocking containers at Lagos ports

    Addressing reporters in Abuja on Tuesday, Idris had confirmed that the agency and the Sokoto State Ministry of Health promptly responded to the reported outbreak.

    He said: “The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) was notified by the Sokoto State Ministry of Health on March 21, 2024, of reported cases of children presenting with symptoms, which include abdominal distension due to rapid onset of fluids in the abdomen (ascites), fever, vomiting, and weight loss from Isa Local Government Area of Sokoto State.

    “Most of these cases are children aged four to 13 years, including some adults. The patients came from different wards and settlements across the local government.

    “The NCDC deployed a National Rapid Response Team (NRRT) to work with the State Ministry of Health to further investigate and respond to this incident.

    “So far, a total of 164 suspected cases have been identified in six wards of Isa Local Government Area, Bargaja (22), Isa North (17), Isa South (98), Tozai (12), Tsabre (four), and Turba (11).”

  • Don’t discriminate against people with mental illness, say psychiatrists

    Nigerians and reporters have been advised not to discriminate against people suffering from mental illness.

    They spoke at a workshop for reporters and members of the Suicide Research and Prevention Initiative (SURPIN) of Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Idi Araba.

    They said the workshop was aimed at reducing the rising rate of suicide across the country.

    The experts, which included Dr Babatunde Fadipe, Dr Bola Ola, Dr Peters Nubi, Dr Raphael E. Ogbolu and Dr Oladipo A. Adepoju, Dr Alero and Miss Titi Tade of LUTH’s Socia Welfare Unit praised LUTH’s SURPIN, saying it is the first of its kind.

    Stigma, the experts said, makes sufferers of mental illness to be maltreated by friends, relatives, neighbours and employers.

    It has aggravated their rejection, loneliness and depression among those with the illness, they said. They also said those with the condition are often denied participation in family life, normal social networks and productive employment.

    According to the psychiatrists, stigma can be defined as a mark of shame, disgrace or disapproval, which results in an individual being shunned or rejected by others.

    The stigma associated with mental illness is strong, but increases more if an individual’s behaviour differs from that of the ‘norm’, they added.

    Stigma, especially the one associated with mental illness, they said, has a negative effect on any mentally ill person’s recovery, ability to access services, the type of treatment and level of support received and acceptance in the community. Rejection of people with mental illness, they said, also affects the family and caretakers of the mentally ill person and leads to isolation and humiliation.

    Major causes of stigma, according to them, are myths, misconceptions and negative stereotypes about mental illness.

    They said the number one factor, which drives suicide or mental illness, is stigma, and that it could be reduced by  talking about mental illness in the community. It could also be reduced by providing accurate information on the causes, prevalence, course and effects of mental illness and countering the negative stereotypes and misconceptions surrounding mental illness.

    Providing support and treatment services, which enable sufferers to participate in community activities and ensuring the existence of a legislation to reduce discrimination in the workplace, access to health and social community services, is another way of reduce the stigma.

    The experts pointed out that mental illness have both economic and diminishing effects on the society. This, according to them, is because it affects the thinking of the individual and diminishes his or her social role and productivity.

    Also, they said mental illnesses could disable one and last for many years, as they take could reduce the emotional and socio-economic capabilities of relatives, who care for sufferers, especially when the health system is unable to offer treatment and support at an early stage.

    The experts listed some of the  costs to include lost production from premature deaths caused by suicide (which most times are under reported, hence, generally equals to and greater than deaths from road accidents); loss of production from people with mental illness, who are unable to work; loss of productivity from family members caring for the mentally-ill person, reduced productivity from people who are ill while at work and cost of accidents by people who are psychologically disturbed, especially dangerous in people like train drivers, airline pilots and factory workers.

    Also, supporting dependants of the mentally ill persons, financial costs for families caring for the mentally-ill persons, unemployment, alienation, and crime in young people whose childhood problems, e.g., depression, behaviour disorder, were not sufficiently well addressed  to benefit from the education available, poor cognitive development in the children of mentally ill parents, and the emotional burden and diminished quality of life for family members.

  • ‘Buhari can’t resign over mere illness’

    An All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship aspirant in Ekiti State, Mr. Kayode Ojo, has condemned those demanding the resignation of President Muhammadu Buhari over his ill health.

    The APC chieftain described the call for the President to step down from office as “unjustifiable and mischievous”.

    He said President Buhari had fulfilled the constitutional requirement of transmitting power to Acting President Yemi Osinbajo, who he said has been exercising powers in the absence of the President.

    Ojo, an engineer, spoke yesterday at Ijero-Ekiti in Ijero Local Government Area, where he officially declared his intent to contest the governorship on the platform of APC.

    He was reacting to Wednesday’s protests in Abuja, led by musician Charles Oputa (aka Charly Boy) and actor Jim Iyke.

    The protesters demanded President Buhari’s return from a London hospital where he is receiving treatment, or resign from office.

  • ‘Kit yourself against wet season illness’

    The wet season is here. As usual, it comes with cold, cough, and catarrh. OYEYEMI GBENGA-MUSTAPHA writes now is the time to stock up on wellness foods, especially those that can boost the immune system.

    The best way to prevent cold and any wet season infection is through natural remedies that boost the immune system, fight of virus, bacteria and fungi, and help the body cleanse toxins.

    According to traditional practitioners, the rainy season is a break from hot temperatures, and with it comes the perpetual sneezing, runny nose fluid, swollen throat, and painful cough, called common cold.

    But did you know that common cold cannot be cured or prevented by antibiotics, because it is caused by a virus? In fact, using antibiotics to treat cold inappropriately can damage the immune system and make one more susceptible to other sicknesses.

    But there are some provisions by Mother Nature, such as teas that come handy during this time of the year. So, also, are strong flavour of foods, such as garlic, ginger, horseradish, onions and cayenne pepper; when they are eaten raw, they do not only boost the body’s immunity but also knock off infections. These can be made into tea as well.

    To Mrs Bolanle Alabede of Pax Herbal Clinic and Research Laboratories, Lagos, teas made from organic fruits, vegetables, herbs, plants or roots do enhance the immune system.

    Mrs Alabede said eating ginger and more garlic this season could be the best thing one could do. She said with its anti-bacterial, anti-fungal and anti-viral properties, it is evident that this immune-boosting herb is nothing to turn the nose up to. And it is suspected that the chemical compound – allicilin in garlic – is the main one inhibiting growth and even killing the germs.

    To enjoy the benefits of this natural remedy, professionals say one can eat one bulb of raw garlic daily. But, don’t be discouraged, even if cooked, it still provides benefits. ‘’Garlic is well known throughout history as a food that fights infections from bacteria and viruses. Allicin is one of the immune-stimulating nutrients in garlic that is released when you cut, chop or crush the cloves. Garlic stimulates the activity of immune system cells that destroy cold and flu viruses,” she explained.

    Another is onion. It contains quercetin, a nutrient that breaks up mucus in your head and chest, boosting the immune system. When the smell of raw onions makes your nose run and your eyes tear up, this stimulates your immune system to fight infection. ”Onions also contain allicin, which slows down and kills various viruses and bacteria. The pungency of onions increases your blood circulation and makes you sweat. This effect is helpful during cold weather to prevent infections and to sweat out a cold or flu. Consuming fresh raw white onion within a few hours of the first symptoms of a cold or flu is when you’ll get the strongest immune effect,” she said.

    She said: “So, also, is ginger. It reduces fevers, soothes sore throats, and encourages coughing to remove mucus from the chest. The chemicals shagaols and gingerols in ginger give it that spicy kick that stimulates blood circulation and opens your sinuses. Improved circulation means that more oxygen is getting to your tissues to help remove toxins and viruses.”

    A phytotherapist, Dr Francis Elegbuo of Franel Food Supplements and Natural Health Clinic, Ijegun, Lagos, said horseradish strengthens the immune system and increases blood flow to parts of it affected by cold and flu infections to remove wastes.

    “This pungent food encourages you to flush out infected fluids through sweat and increased urination. Horseradish is known to stimulate your lungs to cough out mucus from colds and flus while heating up your body. This powerful plant is also an anti-bacteria, which prevents other diseases, such as sinus infections from taking hold while you’re sick. “

    He said: “Cayenne pepper contains the chemical capsicum, a source of vitamin C that aids your immune system in fighting colds and flus. The powerful effect of vitamin C comes from bioflavinoids that help your body produce white blood cells, especially the white blood cells of your lymphatic system that cleanse your cells and tissues of toxins.

    ‘’It is full of beta carotene and antioxidants that support the immune system, helps build healthy mucus membrane tissue that defends against viruses and bacteria. Spicy cayenne peppers raise your body’s temperature to make you sweat, increasing the activity of your immune system. The chemicals that give these hot and spicy foods their kick are also responsible for their immune boosting power. These foods act as antiviral remedies, enhancing your immune system, making it easier for your body to fight viral infections.”

  • Stroke: Early identification of symptoms prevents loss of life – expert

    A cardiologist, Dr Afolabi Akinkunmi, on Sunday in Lagos said that early identification of risk factors of stroke remained the best way of preventing the life threatening illness.
    Akinkunmi, President, Association of Residents Doctors (ARD), Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Idi-Araba, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that stroke was also known as a cerebrovascular accident.
    According to him, the risk factors of stroke include high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, smoking as well as advancement in age and heart valve disease.
    He said: “Stroke occurs when a part of the brain loses its blood supply to a part of the body; blood is deprived of that area and brain cells control stops working.
    “A stroke is a medical emergency which can happen to anyone; however, the older you are, the higher the risk and stroke can lead to death or permanent disability.
    “When the signs of stroke appear, time is of the essence to diagnose it because the longer a stroke remains unrecognised and un-treated, the longer brain cells are deprived of oxygen-rich blood.
    “As such, it is important to identify the signs and risk factors, in order to prevent stroke.’’
    On the symptoms of stroke, the cardiologist said there may be no warning signs of a stroke until it occurs.
    “That is why high blood pressure, one of the risk factors for stroke, is called the silent killer.
    “Other symptoms like speech, vision, balance, and coordination loss, helps the health care professionals locate the part of the brain that has stopped working,’’ he said.
    According to him, strokes are also often described based on the function of the body that is lost, as well as by the area of the brain that is affected.
    The cardiologist also spoke on the most common treatment to administer on a stroke patient.
    “Drug therapy with blood thinners, airways breathing and circulation to make the patient breathe are recommended.
    “Also, ensuring that the patient gets adequate blood pressure is a common treatment for someone that has stroke,’’ he said. (NAN)

  • Strange illness hits Lagos, kills 20 kids

    Strange illness hits Lagos, kills 20 kids

    • 34 cases under examination
    • We’ll fight outbreak, says health Commissioner

    An outbreak  febrile rash illnesses (FRI)  has been recorded in Otodo Gbame community in Eti-Osa Local Government Area of Lagos State,leaving at least 20 kids dead.

    Thirty-four  other cases are currently under examination, Health Commissioner Jide Idris announced  yesterday.

    The outbreak was first identified  by the Medical Officer of Health of the LGA on the 9th February, he said.

    The victims  are said to be within the age range of  eight and 72 months.

    Dr  Idris said his ministry has  already notified the Federal Ministry of Health (FMOH) and the World Health Organisation (WHO) on the situation.

    It has also  constituted a team of Epidemiologists to investigate the outbreak and institute appropriate measures to prevent further spread of the disease.

    But he said  although the disease causing the outbreak is yet to be confirmed, “the signs and symptoms are suggestive of Febrile Rash Illnesses.”

    He added: “Blood samples (and throat swabs) from the patients and water samples from the community have been taken to the Virology Reference Laboratory at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) and Lagos State Drug Quality Control Laboratory (DQCL), LASUTH, Ikeja respectively. The source of the infection is still under investigation.”

    Otodo Gbame community, according to Idris is  an expansive, sandy riverine, flood prone and camp-lie settlements with an estimated population of 100,000 people.

    “The people are mainly Egun, however there are other tribes in the minority. The community is a slum with waste deposited at different spots. There are many scattered shallow wells in the community. The water from the wells is found to be used mostly for bathing, washing and cooking. Majority of the citizen claimed it is not used for drinking but a few said they sometimes drink from the well. The community head Chief Hunpe Dansu confirmed the outbreak of the Febrile Rash illnesses.”

    The government is said  to be  intensifying efforts to conduct mapping of all slums and blighted areas in the state towards reducing the health hazards associated with such areas.

    He enjoined the people to join hands with the government in the identification of slums and in ensuring environmental sanitation at all times. And members of the public and health workers are to report any strange illness to the nearest health facility or call the following lines- 08037170614, 08055281442 and 08023169485.

  • ‘Illness, wrong choices made us carry drugs’

    ‘Illness, wrong choices made us carry drugs’

    Two suspected female drug traffickers have been caught by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) officers at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) Lagos.

    They are assisting investigators with facts relating to the exportation of 4.450kg of cocaine to India and 7kg of cannabis to China.

    The suspects said they got involved in drug trafficking because of ill-health, lack of support from their husbands and wrong choices.

    NDLEA Airport Commander Ahmadu Garba gave their names as Abdulrasaq Modinat Alake and Mbonu Chizoba.

    Garba said Mbonu Chizoba was a second-time offender. He said she was first caught in 2013 for attempting to export narcotics.

    Forty-four-year old Alake from Kwara State said circumstances forced her into drug smuggling.

    “I was married but later separated. I am the only person taking care of myself. My business was booming before I had a health challenge. I used to buy clothes from India and Dubai for supply in Lagos since 2011.

    “My problem started when the doctor said I need to do a surgical operation costing $5,000. Before now, I have spent my money on medical bills in hospitals.

    ‘’That was how I met a man in India during my last visit who promised to pay for my medical expenses.

    “He also told me to take a bag of cocaine to India. It was all about regaining my health but I never knew it will end this way,” she lamented.

    Chizoba, from Imo State, has a pending drug case at the Federal High Court in Ikoyi . She said she made a mistake in not checking her bag thoroughly.

    “I accept blame for not checking the bag carefully when a client gave it to me. My job is risky because we assist people in clearing cargoes. I feel bad that this is happening to me when the first case is still on”.

    She is a 2008 graduate of Business Administration. She is married and has two children.

     

  • Entrepreneur overcomes illness to find success

    Entrepreneur overcomes illness to find success

    Some start-up entrepreneurs overcame obstacles before achieving success. One of them survived an illness and rejection to achieve success, marketing investment and financial information that are changing lives.  DANIEL ESSIET reports.

    One of the strongest reasons why the nation may have a secured economic future is the growing number of  young entrepreneurs applying their creative energy to  solving  business  challenges despite  facing  incredible  personal  odds.

    Chief Executive, Multiple Vineyard Empowerment Club, Josephson Peter,  is one young  Nigerian,  who   defied incredible personal odds — including a serious disease to start his  business. At a very early age in life he has had to come across hurdles in business, struggling with serious health problems for several years before relocating to Lagos. from Enugu, in Enugu State

    He had to cry himself to sleep, begging God to make him well.  He even promised God that if he was cured, he would help those in need. Later, his health improved. But instead of being merely grateful to God, he began thinking of how to create a life he wanted for himself.  He saw the possibility of achieving his dream by moving to Lagos from Enugu.

    The move was not as rosy as expected. When he came to Lagos in 1996, he was rejected by those he thought would accommodate him. Although, he confessed that he didn’t tell them before moving to Lagos, this probably explained the rejection.  But luck smiled on him, he met a young man about his age on  the  bus  to Lagos, whose address he decided to trace. Luckily, he got  him at Ojodu-Berger, Ikeja and lied  that he couldn’t locate his uncle, whom he had come to see. The friend begged  his uncle to accommodate him, but three days later he was also rejected.

    Homeless and dejected, Peter  decided to look for a church to stay. He got to a church and related his experience and reluctantly the church  allowed to stay .  But two weeks later, he was again asked to leave. Initially, he was depressed, terrified and  helpless.   But  he  was determined  to stay on.  He  found an abandoned car on the  same street where the  church was located, moved into the abandoned  vehicle and lived  there for eight months.

    Along the line, he met a young man, who was a member of the church and was working around the place. The fellow helped him to get a job in a company and secured a small  apartment meant for the security man inside the company’s  compound for him. He lived together with his friend for two years and within the period, they became inseparable.

    They then decided to set up a business and rented a house outside the company. However, his  friend opted out, went ahead to set up the business alone and returned the money Peter contributed as share capital.

    For Peter, it was “sink or swim and sinking was not an option for him.

    What kept him going was the determination to prove to others that he could make it selling financial information such as how to make money through equity financing. multi-level marketing and cooperative investments. Yet, there were many obstacles on his way. But he did not allow  them  to  kill his  dream.

    After much prayers and increasing faith in God , he began to  experience  a breakthrough. He was able to rent his own house and his church pastor later welcomed him back.  Few years later, he launched an online financial information media outfit, aimed at helping people grow their finance and investments through ebooks and other online training materials.

    Today, he focuses on the success of others, and helps people make a living doing what they love. His business ventures, which  include real estate, multi-level marketing, equity financing are money spinners for him. He also engages in public  speaking by delivering motivational speeches to adults and youths.

    Peter epitomises the self-made entrepreneur. He openly shares his background with his audience because his personal story reinforces the theme that common people can find uncommon success if they turn their perceived weakness into strength.  For  him, being an entrepreneur is one of the greatest highs, but it comes with a lot of stress and a lot of worries. He attributed his business success to his ability to let go of his internal fears, taking control of his situation.  For him,  going through abandonment was the reason for being self-reliant, self motivated, goal oriented and results driven.

    To him, one  should  start a business with a small amount of money and turn it into a million-naira venture. After all, every business has to start from somewhere. For him, investing in businesses is about picking businesses one  believes have the potential to grow.

    While, there will continue to be many failures, Peter sees bigger  returns coming to investors in early-stage companies. His strategy is  to diversify by investing small amounts in multiple businesses.  Through  his  Multiple Vineyard Empowerment Club, small  investors  are  encouraged to invest in businesses directly through the platform.  He believes in  the  concept of having many people provide finance in small quantities to fund start up and existing companies. Multiple Vineyard Club is designed for business people and intending entrepreneurs .The club teaches its members  the  easiest method of creating a profitable business from the very beginning and expose them to investment opportunity and profitable businesses, which they can start with little or no capital.

  • Terminal illness

    Terminal illness

    How wonderful it is to die healthy, peaceful, and hopeful; old and spent and fulfilled, at home close to one’s children or grandchildren on a normal day in a happy environment.  Rather than to die beautifully, unfortunately, the best that many hope for is not to suffer too much when dying.

    The news of terminal illness should not always result in depression and despondence.  There are a few famous movies themed around the bucket list. Indeed, a person that is sufficiently well-off and has been told by experts that he or she is going to die by such and such a time can make a list of what he or she wants to do before dying.  If one can still move around or live as normally as possible on palliative care, one can enjoy  this world  as best as possible and do whatever good one can do before one’s soul leaves the mortal body and passes on to meet the Maker.

    Too many people die through terminal illness. Terminal illnesses are generally medically incurable diseases.  Some of them kill slowly.  Some of them kill quickly.  Some of them cause a lot of pain or discomfort.  Some of them are very debilitating.  All of them are very evil.

    You may spend a lot of time thinking of somebody as your enemy, perhaps even wanting to harm that person, perhaps even hunting and hounding him or her.  Forgive your so-called enemy and move on with enjoying your short-enough life.  The worst enemies are not easily known or destructible.  Embarrassing for powerful mankind, they are very insignificant looking (if you can see them), extremely small and formless, yet powerfully destructive to mankind.   These are pathologic viruses, God’s creatures.  Pray that these enemies never reach you.

    Amongst the top incurable or difficult-to-cure diseases leading to terminal illness are those caused by viruses.  Ebola hemorrhagic fever, poliomyelitis, influenza A, HIV/AIDS, and bird flu are viral diseases that easily claim lives. The efficacy of viruses to destroy human life is so potent that, unfortunately, viruses are being studied and developed as biological weapons.

    Other incurable or difficult-to-cure diseases are from spontaneous or progressive genomic, immunological, neurological, or other changes within the body.  Examples are: Lesch-Nyhan disease (a metabolic disorder leading to kidney failure), lupus erythematosus (an autoimmune disorder), Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (a degenerative neurological disorder), diabetes (a metabolic disorder), asthma (a functional disorder), cancer (a functional disorder causing abnormal growth); heart disease; lung disease; kidney disease, or any disease that destroys the structure or function of a vital organ of the body.

    There are about one hundred forms of cancer.  Some, such as pancreatic cancer, can be described as a foretaste of Hell because they are nothing but pain.  One out of 3 persons in developed countries may probably encounter some form of cancer in his or her life time.  The statistics is probably the same in developing countries. The present day apocalyptic statistics of diseases makes us want to “watch and pray” because any one of us could be the next victim, if unprotected.

    The reality of high incidences of these diseases also means that we could probably have a sick person close by: within our homes, amongst our colleagues at work, a neighbor, a relative, a friend, a member of our faith community, an associate, etc.  Let’s not talk about miracles for now because we seem to lack people who are good enough, powerful enough, clean enough, or generous enough to work them these days.   Indeed for any disease, prevention is better than cure and a lifestyle that keeps them away is a path to longevity.

    Some of you are probably already chanting a modern-day litany: “Lung disease, not my portion! Heart disease, not my portion! Kidney disease, not my portion!” Or is it the more potent: “Ebola, back to sender! Bird flu, back to sender! Cancer, back to sender!”  What a prayerful world.

    Let us consider, next, how we could help to support a terminally ill person which some of us do have a probability of doing in our lifetime.

     

    Dr. ‘Bola John is a biomedical scientist based in Nigeria and in the USA.   For any comments or questions on this column, please email bolajohnwritings@yahoo.com or call 08160944635

  • Terminal illness

    Terminal illness

    This summer, I was in Memphis, Tennessee to do some scientific research as a way of keeping abreast with work in my field.  My host University wanted me to have health insurance.  In the USA, health insurance is a big topic.  During one of our relaxed moments in the lab we were chatting about expensive diseases, especially incurable ones and were short of lamenting hopelessly until we decided we wanted Jesus Christ to come back to earth and work his miracles again because the masses need them. (Christians do not know about miracles, we need Jesus Christ Himself).  Thereafter, we continued our rigorous research to find solutions to kidney problems, our own small contribution to the good of mankind.

    Terminal illnesses are never welcomed.  In Nigeria we would yell: “Back to sender!”, “Not my portion!”, “God forbid bad ting!”, “Be gone, Satan!”.

    Terminal and chronic illnesses are so rampant that good health is something that absolutely nobody can take for granted these days.  Good health makes us free to live our best lives and to do good things and indeed we should use every day of good health to do good.  Illness is a bondage that limits our experience of life and capacity to be fruitful in life.  The terminally ill is no longer able to contribute well to society professionally, culturally, economically, politically, socially, and perhaps also spiritually  because life begets life.  Indeed the diagnosis of a terminal illness is sometimes called a “life-limiting diagnosis”.

    A neighbor of mine just celebrated her 70th birthday and at the recent neighborhood meeting she was thanking God for her good health and good looks, a rarity.  Surely she had many other blessings to give thanks for but top of the list were good health and good looks.  The older we become, the better we can appreciate that good health and good looks are amongst the greatest blessings we can have, give thanks for, and take care of.

    Terminal illnesses happen to people of all ages, all socio-economic levels, in all countries.  “Terminal illness is a disease that cannot be cured or adequately treated and that is reasonably expected to result in the death of the patient within a short period of time. This term is more commonly used for progressive diseases such as cancer or advanced heart disease than for trauma” (Wikipedia).

    The news of a terminal illness can precipitate various emotions and battles between: denial and acceptance, shock and peace, fear and hope, anger and contrition, resentment and gratitude, frustration and determination, anxiety and depression, etc.  Both the mind and spirit adjust positively or negatively as the illness progresses, often depending on the support system one has. One may be very much alone or very much supported by family, friends, professionals, or pastoral care.  Perhaps the elderly are psychologically better disposed in terminal illness than younger people who may feel there is still something more they need to do in life and want to cling to life.

    One of the tragedies of terminal or chronic illnesses is becoming inconveniently dependent.  A baby or a grandparent is generally acceptably and possibly joyfully dependent within the family structure and that is normal.  The terminally ill is considered in a different light and knows it. In our fast paced, money making, fun loving, sexy world, understandably for many people, having a terminally ill person at home may be unacceptable, inconvenient, and sad.  For this reason, there are many professional set-ups/homes (hospices) available to take care of such patients and provide them with needed company.

    For a terminally ill, the new condition is a great contrast to the life he or she got used to. One still has free will but cannot exercise it and has to rely on other persons – adequate or inadequate, desired or undesired, good or bad, etc. Powerlessness, dependence, vulnerability, submission  the new routine – can destroy the ego or sense of worth and self-esteem.  That perhaps, aside from the pains and inconveniences is a big challenge that may lead the victim to contemplate suicide or assisted departure  euthanasia (mercy killing).

    At my hotel in Memphis this summer, I met a middle aged woman who told me she was going to die soon and was about to travel and see a few people to say good bye to them before she comes back to die. To me, she looked and sounded healthier than many people who are not preoccupied with death.  There are people in our present world that have been confirmed by health professionals to be heading for death within a period of a few months or a few years.  It is indeed difficult to live with thoughts of death rather than thoughts of life. To be continued.

     

    Dr. ‘Bola John is a biomedical scientist based in Nigeria and in the USA.   For any comments or questions on this column, please email bolajohnwritings@yahoo.com or call 08160944635