Plateau resident: I lost 2 grandchildren to Diphtheria in one week
As diphtheria continues to claim the lives of many Nigerians, a grandmother in Jos, the Plateau State capital, Fatimatu Abdullahi, has explained how the disease took the lives of her two grandchildren within a week. The grandmother, who resides in the Bauchi Road community, described the deaths of her grandchildren as unforgettable, considering how the […]
Fatimatu Abdullahi, a grandmother from Jos in Plateau State, has recounted how her two grandchildren succumbed to diphtheria within a week. Umar Muktar, aged 14, was the first to fall ill, and passed away within three to four days. His sister, Hauwa Shapi'u, 17, developed similar symptoms two days later and succumbed to the disease after being admitted to Jos University Teaching Hospital.
The grandmother noted that the children initially complained of sore throats, followed by swelling of their throats, which made it impossible for them to eat or drink. The father of Hauwa, Shapi'u Abdullahi, described his daughter as a brilliant and obedient child who had just been promoted to SS3 and was preparing for the SSCE.
The family is now receiving vaccines against the disease, and authorities are raising awareness about the importance of reporting symptoms to prevent further loss of life.
Written by urgent.news from Daily Trust's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
