by Isaiah Benjamin
Medical experts at a tertiary health institution in Kaduna State
are now working round the clock to unveil the circumstances leading to the
total blindness of 10 out-patients after they were injected with a drug the
same day.
The
victims, who are regular patients of the National Eye Centre, Kaduna became
totally blind the same day they received injections for eye-related problems.
Once
the incident happened, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and
Control (NAFDAC) intervened and took the drug for a test. The agency’s findings
are being awaited.
Shocked
by the development, the hospital management recalled all the affected patients
and placed them on free treatment and feeding.
LEADERSHIP Weekend gathered that despite the efforts of the hospital
management, none of the patients is yet to regain his or her sight.
A
source said that when the incident occurred, NAFDAC went to the hospital within
48 hours and took a sample of the drug that was administered on the male and
female patients including the one that was not opened for investigation and
analysis.
The sad incident reportedly took place in May this year.
Some
of the victims, who narrated their experiences to LEADERSHIP Weekend, said they
were still in shock on how they suddenly became blind after taking the
injection.
They
said that they were yet to get satisfactory explanations on the cause(s) of
their blindness the same day after they were injected with a drug in the same
bottle.
The
management of the hospital said they were not leaving any stone unturned to
ensure that the victims regain their sight.
The hospital authorities said they had embarked on a thorough investigation to
unravel the circumstances that led to the unfortunate incident.
The
chief medical director (CMD), Dr. Mahmoud Alhassan, said that the hospital had
been injecting other patients with the same drug without any problem.
He said: “The injection they were given is the same drug we use to give to
patients to reduce bleeding in the eye, especially for diabetics and other patients.
“Interestingly,
this is the second, third and last time some of them are taking this particular
drug and these reactions just took place.
“The
drug is made by Russians. One of the patients complained that her vision had
gone down so she came and we thought it was abnormal reactions; we treated it
as an infection. We took actions and gave them drugs.
“We
still have to clean the eyes, their vision will come back, the CMD said.
Alhassan, who confirmed that NAFDAC came to the hospital within 48 hours of the
incident and took samples of the drug, said that it included the used and the
unused drugs.
“The
point is that these eyes are severely affected eyes. Their vision is poor and
we are trying to help them. We have been talking to them and doing our best but
it might take two to three months to achieve the desired results because eyes
heal gradually. They will be able to get them back,” he said.
“In
fact, two of them are very happy now because their situation is now better than
it was before. Aside the medical efforts we are making, we are also carrying
out necessary investigation, we are not happy with the situation and we will
address it accordingly,” he said.
Meanwhile, the patients who until the sad occurrence were out-patients and
received same injection at one point or the other without any implications,
said that they were yet to recover from the shock.
They
questioned the rationale behind the incident as they admitted that they had
been receiving the injection but now with no satisfactory explanation as to the
cause of the blindness to all of them that were injected the same day.
Five
of the victims, three of whose two eyes went blind and two had one of their
eyes which was injected affected, were unanimous in seeking for explanations
and total restoration of their sight.
According to them, “how do we come for a solution with our two eyes seeing and
now our situation is made worst to a point that we can no longer see again?”
Mr
Zakariah Idzy, from Zangon Kataf in Kaduna State, who until the saga, was commercial
tricycle (Keke Napep) rider, said: “Before I came to this hospital, I was
seeing with my left eye properly but couldn’t see clearly with the right eye.
Two months ago, I came to the hospital and was checked and given an appointment
after being told that the right eye has cataract and might require operation.
“So,
I was asked to go home and to come back on an appointed date. When I came on
that date, I was told that the operation was no longer going to take place but
instead will be given three injections on each of the two eyes. I was asked to
raise N14,500 for each of the injections without the money for drugs. So, I
told my relatives who helped to raise the money. I came by myself and was given
the first injection and went home alone. I was given another one month
appointment and told that I will be given two injections, one on each eye.
“When I came on that day along with my second daughter, I was given the two
injections one on each eye and went back home even though I was feeling somehow
on my eyes but at about 4pm that same day, I could no longer see again. I
called for my daughter and my church pastor who came to pray for me. The next
day, I was brought back to the hospital only to be told that about 10 of us
have the same problem of not seeing again after we received the injection.
“we
were taken back to the theatre for reexamination and washing of the eyes but as
I speak to you now (Thursday, 7th June,2019), there is no difference because we are not seeing. The hospital has
given those of us on admission free treatment and food but our situation
remains the same. “We want our eyes restored and told what happened; there is
no way we will accept coming for solution and our situation made worst” he
lamented.
Another
victim, Mr Jonathan Yahaya, whose problem was with only one of his eyes, said:
“I have received the injection three times and this is my fourth time. Before
now I could see with my two eyes but I had a little challenge with one of the
eyes and that is the one that I have been receiving treatment. Like others have
explained after I received the injection on that eye, it suddenly became blind
and this is the situation we have found ourselves. Something certainly went
wrong, it is either we were injected with an expired drug or the drug may have
been contaminated or infected. The hospital owes us explanations and above all
restore our sight. Yes the hospital management is treating us free since the
incident happened and we are being fed but the situation of our eyes have
remained the same and that is our worries,” he emphasised.
Hajia Hajara Hussaini from Bauchi State said that she had received the
injection twice and was receiving it for the third time. In her narration, she
was seeing with her two eyes but had a problem with one of them and that upon
receiving the said injection the eye with which she was seeing before coming to
the hospital went completely blind.
Another
victim who did not want her name in print, said: “I brought myself here with my
two eyes but now I can’t see with any of them after receiving the injection.
The hospital must investigate what happened and find a solution to it
urgently,” she said.
On
her part, another victim, a retired civil servant from Adamawa State said:
“This is the sixth injections I am receiving. I had received four in ECWA
Hospital, Kano, I also received one in April in this National Eye Centre and
came for another one in May that resulted in this blindness. Normally, the
injection is taken once monthly. On Mondays you come for dilation and if the
eyes are okay for the injection, you will be asked to come back the next day
for the injection. I came like other victims on Monday and after the dilation,
I was okayed for the injection.
“I went back home and came back the next day, paid the bills and alongside
other 10 people was taken to the theatre for the injection. Ten of us were
given the same injection and the other one was given a separate injection.
“After
taking the injection, I went back home and started feeling my eyes tearing out
and about 11pm same day, I could no longer see anything. The next day at about
7pm I was rushed back to the hospital and after explaining what happened, I was
admitted and my eyes were examined. It was then they started calling others
whom received the same injection to come back to the hospital. They all came
back with the same situation: all not seeing again with the injected eyes. We
were taken back to the theatre. In fact, the hospital management tried for us;
our eyes were thoroughly washed but there was no solution. We were again taken
back to the theatre but the situation has remained the same. The hospital since
then has been treating us for free and giving us breakfast, lunch and dinner.”
