APA-AFO

Mark of torture-Apa afo

In came this middle aged woman with a child of about two years old with the limbs dangling like a lifeless soul. The furrows on her forehead were begging for hope and her tears like a leaking roof.

Her child had been sick for two weeks  with high grade fever, abdominal distention, prostration (can't stand without support)  and anuria (no urine formation; indicating Kidney failure) .

She discontinued his herbal medication as her son's health worsened. She boldly informed me that her first daughter had a similar health challenge and was taken to an Apa-afo centre where she was cured so she had to give it a second try.

I was so disappointed seeing the countless scarification marks on the child's abdomen and was even shocked when she confirmed holding the child in her arms while this brutality was meted out on the child. The child was paper-white and bloated all over like a Christmas balloon.
This only son (yet) after two days of admission in the hospital threw in the towel and bowed in submission to the cold hands of death. It's a pity that his last days were so agonizing.

APA-AFO : AN ASSENT TO CHILD TORTURE

I'm but limited by ethnic know how as to alternative names and practices of the subject matter and so I'm using Abia State, Nigeria, in this discuss. If you understand the subject you can give the name in your dialect and the practice.
APA-AFO in Igbo literally means WOUND /INJURY IN THE ABDOMEN. Those who coined the word at least have an idea that the health challenge of the patient is in the abdomen but lacks specificity as to the diseased organ. They often make this diagnosis when patients (Child) present with FEVER & BLOATED ABDOMEN and waste no time in TORTURING the child. The treatment modalities include ; DIPPING A BUNCH OF NEEDLES INTO NATIVE CONCOCTION AND PIERCING THE ABDOMINAL SKIN WITH THEM; SOME HOWEVER HEAT UP LEAVES AND METALS IN FIRE AND BURN THE ABDOMINAL SKIN WITH WITH THEM, SOME OTHERS ARE SPECIALIZED IN INCISION & PREFER RAZOR CUTS...  THIS IS BARBARIC and it pains me to hear that parents submit their children to such AGONIZING & INHUMAN TREATMENT.
The SPLEEN, is an organ in the abdomen that can be likened to IMMIGRATION AND CUSTOMS OFFICERS, since it is responsible for removing foreign invaders ( BOKO HARAM) in our system. It also removes old red blood cells and can produce blood cells in certain disease conditions. When it has so much work to do, it enlarges (SPLENOMEGALY)  and causes the abdomen to be bloated. So in INFECTION LIKE SEVERE MALARIA, IN LIVER DISEASES LIKE HEPATITIS, IN CANCERS LIKE LYMPHOMA & LEUKAEMIA, IN TRAUMA, AFTER SOME MEDICATIONS, IN CYSTIC FORMATIONS AND IN SEQUESTRATION CRISIS OF SICKLE CELL PATIENTS etc the spleen enlarges and it will be NICKNAMED APA-AFO. Other organs in the abdomen can be diseased and cause bloating (swelling)  of the abdomen e.g INTESTINAL OBSTRUCTION.

COMPLICATIONS ASSOCIATED WITH APA-AFO TREATMENT

Sepsis: the skin is a primary protective organ but when it is broken, infectious organisms find their way into the blood stream and cause more harm. When it becomes overwhelming it compromises the vital organs.

Renal Failure: both infections and toxins from herbal concoction damage the kidney.

Viral Infection: HIV and Hepatitis B & C can be spread from poorly sterilized sharps used on positive persons.

 Death: all above complications may  result in death in addition to late presentation has caused death of so many children.

Cosmetic Embarrassment: the indelible mark/scar due to treatment raises suspicion and embarrassing looks. To some it could degenerate to low self esteem, relationship and social issues.

REJECT EVERY ADVICE TO TREAT YOUR CHILD FOR APA-AFO, ITS KILLING OUR CHILDREN. Please take them to the hospital for expert management. THIS PENNY WISE, POUND FOOLISH AND LIFE OF PRIMITIVITY IS NOT THE BEST. A STUBBORN FLY WILL END UP IN THE GRAVE. IF YOU LOVE YOUR CHILD, GIVEN HIM/HER THE BEST NOT TORTURE.
Thanks for reading. Would like to read your responses and questions.