By Brave Dickson
Fever has attacked more babies in Oshie Community in Ahoada West Local Government Area of Rivers State following the lockdown directive by the state government to forestall the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic in the state.
The Paramount Ruler of the community, His Royal Highness, Bright Dede who made this known in a chat with our correspondent said pharmaceutical shops in his community have not been opening, thereby making it difficult to buy drugs for the sick babies.
He said: “Pharmaceutical shops have not been opening. As a result, we hardly see drugs to buy for the sick.
“This period, a lot of babies are suffering from change of weather diseases such as heat rashes, fever and cases of such are now increasing because we do not see drugs to buy.
“This has led us into patronising the traditional herbalists again which we are not too sure of the treatment the herbalists are giving.
“Though, we have not recorded any casualty but there are so much panics resulting from baby illnesses within my community.”
The paramount ruler also expressed concerns over the total blackout in his community, saying that the situation had hindered them from accessing credible information from the media.
According to him: “Agip oil company used to give us diesel to power our generator, but since this lockdown started, the company has not been giving us diesel and the entire community is in total darkness.
“Due to this total blackout; to get reliable information from the news media these days becomes a challenge.”
