End malaria, malnutrition, save a child in Nigeria

Madam B. O. is a 62 year old widow who lives alone in a rented public yard at Itamerin area; a suburb of Ibadan city in Nigeria. She was washing her clothes on a fateful afternoon when she started having a headache and feeling blurred, which progressed to a fainting attack. At this moment, she was already unconscious. She was rushed to our project implementation centre located at the area,m being the only point of call for such emergency and other healthcare needs. She was immediately assessed and the Blood pressure was measured to be 270/143mmhg, a high level which has been recorded by experts as being capable of causing an irreversible brain damage and even death. She was resuscitated with little resources on ground, coupled with experts' tele-consultation. Few minutes of effective interventions determines the prognosis of this kind of condition. The blood pressure was continuously monitored as she gradually regained consciousness. Madam B.O. was so lucky to have regained her consciousness without any much pronounced neurological deficit(a rare case according to experts). As at the time of this incidence, the government owned comprehensive health centre located about 2 kilometers away was under lock and keys. Transferring madam B.O. to a well equipped healthcare facility which is about 15 kilometres away for expert management was a thug of  war, as there was no ambulance services around. It took about 2 hours before a tricycle was finally arranged for transportation to where she was finally admitted, treated and discharged home after some days.

Oak Rural Health Organization has always been proactive in ensuring that needless mortality is prevented. Madam B. O. was lucky to have us as her life saving angels. Provision of life saving healthcare interventions in underserved/unserved places like Itamerin community is the core reason for Oak Rural Health Organization's existence. Your generous donations had enabled us to make this possible, more donations to this project will help us reach more hard to reach people, test them for early diagnosis and prevention/treatment and save more lives, especially during this period when the limited healthcare infrastructures have been overstretched. There is currently a gradual attention shift from diseases like malaria, hypertension and others which are still at large, unleashing more mayhem than COVID19. Your continued support is highly solicited during this unprecedented period.

Links:

• Oak Rural Health Organization website

During this period of attention shift to the dreaded COVID-19 pandemic. Malaria epidemic still remains a major threat to sub Sahara African nations, especially Nigeria. Abigail is a five(5) year old baby girl who presented at our facility recently with history of 2 days fever, cough and refusal of food. She was tested with our malaria parasite rapid test kit and the test came positive. Her treatment commenced immediately with an artemisinin based combination, antibiotics for the upper respiratory tract infection and antipyretic drugs. A three day treatment makes project MaMaH of Oak Rural Health Organization a saving angel of the poor girl. A week later, she was followed up with multivitamin  drugs. Abigail now bounces on her feet and parents counselled on vector control.  

Oak Rural Health Organization has cared  for many more children with this condition. Open access to free blood pressure check by the community members provides us with an opportunity of follow ups and new case of hypertension discovery. Health education and counselling has become a routine ongoing activity at our health point. Little fund has helped to make bigger impact on the few populations we were able to reach. Reducing the global burden of malaria among Rural children remains a central concern of this project. Improving their nutritional status through our various planned activities will enhance their healthy living. Achieving the goals of this project depends directly on your kind heartedness. Therefore, every donations made to this project directly impacts our target population. With you behind us at this critical time, the project moves on!