Anxiety over sudden deaths in Kwara
Thas been trepidation in Ilorin, the Kwara state capital in the last one month over cases of sudden deaths.
The recorded deaths included those of two veteran journalists in Ilorin. One of them retired from service late last year, while the second was due for retirement in the middle of 2024.
Besides, statistics of corpses buried at the Muslim Cemetery, New Yiddi Road, Osere, Ilorin, and the public cemetery at Old Jebba Road, OkeOse between January and April 2024, tripled the ones recorded last year during the same period.
Among the relatives, the strongest lead adduced for such deaths was the COVID- 19 vaccines they took three years ago at the heat of the global pandemic scourge.
Most of those that had died during this period complained of slight weaknesses of the body but died suddenly before being taken to the health care facilities for treatments.
The most pathetic one was the story of a middle- aged man around Ita- Ogunbo Area of Ilorin, who was part of the entourage to the Muslim Cemetery to bury a corpse four days ago.
His uncle, who simply identified himself as Abdullahi, said: “After the burial of his friend as they were returning from the cemetery he slumped and died in front of the vehicle he boarded. We were later contacted by a good Samaritan who identified the deceased wife’s number and called her on the deceased handset.”
The husband of a 57- year- old woman, whose wife died around Gaa Akanbi last week Monday, said: “We were all together in the sitting room when she complained of a slight chest pain. We promptly took her to the hospital, but she died inside the car on the way to the hospital.” The wife of the late journalist said of her husband’s last moments on the earth: “We were all together inside the house when he complained of heat which made him sit on the pavement. But when it was time for him to enter around 8: 00p. m., we didn’t see him. The children called him to no avail until we discovered him dead on the floor. ”
Speaking on the development, President of National Association of Resident Doctors ( NARD), Dr Dele Abdullahi and a Consultant Cardiologist with University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital ( UITH), under condition of anonymity debunked such fears that are not scientifically proved. Dr Abdullahi said: “Right now, there is no link between any death and COVID- 19 vaccines. In Nigeria, the culture of autopsy is abysmally low. But till date, no side effects have been linked with the COVID- 19 vaccines. These deaths could be linked with cardiovascular diseases. Besides, we may not rule out the effects of the harsh weather conditions leading to dehydration.
“The dwindling economic situations causing more anxieties among the citizens could also be the cause.
Nobody can stop death, but we need to also live healthy.
“We need to regularly check out blood pressure and blood sugar level. We should not allow the problems to multiply before looking for solutions. Those on medications should take their drugs religiously. We should drink more water and treat cardiovascular diseases promptly.”
The consultant Cardiologist at the UITH, said: “I am not aware of reported cases of deaths linked with side effects of COVID- 19 vaccines. We need clinical confirmation on this. Remember that the vaccines were administered to people all over the world.
“So, Nigeria could not have been an exception. We should look at the underlying causes of deaths rather than working on assumptions. The vaccines are safe, and no one has debunked the claims.
“Recall that the World Health Organisation ( WHO) recently released its first- ever report on the devastating global impact of high blood pressure, along with recommendations on the ways to win the race against this silent killer . “The report shows approximately four out of every five people with hypertension are not adequately treated, but if countries can scale up coverage, 76 million deaths could be averted between 2023 and 2050”