By Peter Agengre
A young woman has died of rabies after being bitten by a dog infected with the virus. The incident happened at Kongo in the Nabdam District in the Upper East Region. GBC News gathered that although she had been bitten by the dog two months ago, the family of the young woman was reported to have ignored it. It was a sad day for the Akuure family and members of the Kongo Community after she was later pronounced dead.
A family member of the deceased, Mr. Charles Bugbire narrated that “a dog bit the young woman two months ago but the husband did not take it seriously after the wound was healed. The husband engaged the services of a nurse (yet to be identified) who came to give her treatment at home. On 20th September, 2024 the woman complained of some cold and fever and so she was sent to the Ayamfoya Memorial Hospital in Kongo for treatment. But the doctor at Ayamfoya realized that the case was beyond them and quickly referred them to the Regional Hospital in Bolgatanga. As at that time, we didn’t know it was rabies.”
When GBC News contacted the Director of Ayamfoya Memorial Hospital, Mr. Thomas More said he felt very sad about the case and similar cases in Nabdam of late.
“The said dog bit five people in that house including the woman, her husband and her three children. A nurse was engaged to treat the woman at home. A Good Samaritan compelled her to visit my hospital when she was already having photophobia, hydrophobia and other advanced signs of rabies. The deceased lady after the dog bite came to our hospital to donate blood for her mother who was on admission with severe anemia.” He Thomas More recounted.
At the Regional Hospital in Bolgatanga, Sarah started exhibiting the symptoms of rabies with foamy saliva dripping from her mouth. She was seen shouting and barking like a dog. These became scary to the nurses and hospital staff around who cautioned the relatives to be careful because the saliva could be contagious. The husband Godfred Yeebire was restless and invited his church members to pray for his wife but it was already late. At 7.40pm on Sunday 22nd September, correspondent Peter Agengre received a called from a member of the Fountain Gate Chapel in Kongo that Sarah had passed on.
When GBC News engaged the Member of Parliament of the area, Dr. Mark Kurt Nawaane, he indicated that the death of the young woman could have been avoided if the husband had acted swiftly after the dog bite. Though the anti-rabies injection could be expensive, the life of the young woman should have been prioritized.
“Immediately a dog bites you, you don’t need to waste time trying to treat it at home by applying local medicines. Just go for the anti-rabies injection. Because, the moment you start showing the symptoms, nothing can save you again,” Dr. Nawaane cautioned.
Before filing this report, GBC News made frantic efforts to engage the Nabdam District Director of Health Services, Ms. Mariama Mahama who was present at the hospital in Bolgatanga for her comment but she declined to speak.
