Nigeria: How I Lost 2 Grandchildren to Diphtheria in 1wk - Grandma
[Daily Trust] A grandmother in Jos, the Plateau State capital, Fatimatu Abdullahi, has narrated how diphtheria claimed the lives of her two grandchildren within one week.
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.
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