It was around 11pm when I received a call from a nurse on night duty who expressed urgent need for laboratory investigations. Upon reaching the ward I found a 4years old boy who had been brought in by his parents.
The infant was severely nose bleeding, paper white and the head was severely injured by the “village local surgeon” who claimed to be removing “oburo” related pathogens.
We struggled with nurses to look for veins, we succeeded after several trials and got the blood sample for investigations (malaria, HB, CBC etal).
Results showed that the child had severe anemia, malaria septicaemia and thrombocytopemia, a few count of plateliets leading to nose bleeding.
The child was transfused and treated for malaria and other complications. The following day, the child was doing very well and the mother requested for discharge due to fear of rising medical bills if they stayed longer.
In communities there are many misconceptions and witch craft practices that easily lead to infant mortality. These practices are promoted by lack of information and low household incomes.
Story By Kato Joseph- Laboratory Technologist Kida Hospital