Mother --- Good morning nurse (8am)
My son, 3 years old has been passing watery stools Frequently.
Nurse --- Good morning madam and welcome, when did this start?
Mother -- Two days, just two days ago.
Nurse ----- ok, what have you given him? Well you will have to see the Doctor, do you have a file with us? Bring him closer so I can get his Vitals. Mother approaches nurse, Willing to open a folder and for the Child's vitals signs to be Checked.
Ring! Ring!! Ring!!! Ring!!!, sounds Her phone
Mother --- Nurse, my mother is ringing my phone
Nurse ---- Go on and answer
Mother --- on phone: Am in the hospital, the nurse said it's serious and I Should open a folder. The conversations went on, and On, from both ends.
Mother --- Nurse !! my mother said, it's Apar 'Afor' that hospital Cannot treat it, it has no medical treatment. mmh so am going to where it can be treated, Mum said I had same problem as a child and she used herbs For me. So, nurse bye, as she ran out of the hospital reception.
Nurse --- Trying to educate her, madam Listen, at least give him Oral Rehydration therapy and do not let your child die, Stand your ground and Make a choice to save your son He's yours. (8.30am) No response and off she zoomed Same day, at about 5pm
Mother --- Rushed into the hospital, yelling From the entrance, nurse please I want to see the doctor my son is so weak, his not responding to calls, no longer tolerating feeds, his breathing has changed, you
remember me I was here in the morning, pls help and she screamed DOCTOR...…. Pacing around
Nurse --- Yes, I remembered you, you took him for apar 'afor' treatment (Responding and Performs a quick assessment) Child is very weak, severally dehydrated, dry lips, sunken eyes, weak Cry without tears, with a Big fresh wound on the Tommy Mmh! Madam it's an emergency you will have to open an emergency folder.
Mother --- Mmh please, No problem, just Start treatment ....do not let my Child die.
Nurse --- Madam, it your choice, he has Low chances of surviving but we Will try our best....
The above narrations are dramas that often occur in hospitals especially in Eastern Nigeria, all thanks to Cultural belief systems approach on health issues.
I have witnessed so many children aged under 5 who were brought into the hospital, either in shock, unconscious, dead on arrival or the child was brought in dead. This death seemingly could have been prevented through timely and adequate medical care. `
APA' 'AFO'
Literally translates to scar of the belly. `Apa' -scar - a mark left (usually on the skin) by the healing of injured tissue. `Afo- tommy- the region of the body between the thorax and the pelvis. Igbotique, 2019. In Igbo land most under 5 child disease conditions are regarded as `Apa' `Afo. Especially when it's recurrent following poor treatment, from abdominal distension, signs such as fever to actual disease conditions as malaria. The conversations continue between the nurse, mother and now involving doctor.
Doctor --- Madam why do you have to put Your Son through this? assessing the Child, commencing fluid therapy prescribing medicines and doing all necessary to help Survival.
Mother --- Silent, but obviously anxious. Mmh will he survive, what have I done to myself and stories that that touches the heart.
Nurse --- Madam pray he survives, Whatever happens is your fault.