For Yusra Lawal, the ordeal began with what appeared to be an ordinary fever.
Her six-year-old daughter later developed severe leg pain, and the family initially thought she was suffering from another illness. But when her condition worsened, they sought medical attention and eventually learnt that the child had diphtheria.
Their search for treatment took them to the Federal Teaching Hospital Katsina before they were referred to the GASH Isolation Centre, where they arrived two days ago.
Today, Lawal is relieved to see her daughter recovering.
“She has started recovering. She has improved,” she said.
But behind the relief is the memory of four painful days when her daughter could barely eat.
“For four days, she couldn’t eat anything except water because of the sickness,” Lawal recalled.
The family is also struggling with the cost of getting to the treatment centre.
According to Lawal, they spend between N1,000 and N1,500 every day on transportation, a burden she said is difficult for families already dealing with illness.
Yet her biggest concern is no longer only about her daughter. She is worried about other children arriving at the centre.
“I beg for extension of the centre because a lot of patients are coming but there is no place to put them,” she said.
Lawal appealed for another isolation centre to be established in Katsina to accommodate patients who may otherwise struggle to find space.
She also urged parents to seek medical attention as soon as they notice symptoms rather than waiting for the illness to become severe.
For Nana Suwaiba, the fear came in pairs. The mother from Dan Nakola in Daura Local Government Area brought her two daughters, aged 12 and 10, to the isolation centre after they were referred from Daura.
The family first travelled from Daura to the Federal Teaching Hospital Katsina before being referred to the GASH centre.
For about 10 days, Suwaiba said, her life has revolved around caring for her sick daughters.
“I have been suffering with them for the past 10 days. I don’t have food, money to feed them and we don’t have transport,” she said.
She said the journey alone had cost her about N10,000, adding to the difficulties of caring for two sick children away from home.
Despite the hardship, Suwaiba expressed gratitude that the medication being provided at the isolation centre is free.
“The medication here is free of charge and we thank the government for the care, but we need more,” she said.
