AKTH unveils two books to address child nutrition, patient care challenges
Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital (AKTH) has launched two books aimed at improving child nutrition and patient care practices, particularly within communities in northern Nigeria where malnutrition and poor home-based care remain major health concerns.
SolaceBase reports that the books — Child Nutrition and Nutritional Disorders by Abubakar Mijinyawa and “Kulawa da Marasa Lafiya a Saukake, Gida ko Asibiti” by Bashir Madaki — were unveiled on Friday at the Conference Hall of the hospital’s Nutrition and Dietetics Department.
Speaking shortly after the launch, the Deputy Chairman of the Medical Advisory Committee in charge of Training and Research, Dr Halima Kabir, described the publication of the books as timely, given the growing burden of malnutrition and critical illnesses in the region
She said that both authors are seasoned nurses with extensive professional experience.
According to her, Mijinyawa is a paediatric nurse, while Madaki is a critical care nurse, and their expertise is clearly reflected in the books’ content.
Dr Kabir explained that many patients come to the hospital with severe complications due to improper care at home.
She said cases of mismanagement before hospital presentation are common, often worsening patients’ conditions and making treatment more difficult.
“These books are very vital because many patients are mismanaged at home before coming to the hospital, and by the time they present to us, they come with complications of that mismanagement,” she said.
She added that the preparation for the book launch took over a year, involving the setting up of a committee and several review meetings with the authors to ensure quality and relevance.
The Chief Medical Director of AKTH, Prof. Abdurrahman Abba Sheshe, she said, spearheaded the initiative to ensure the wider community benefits from the publications.
Dr Kabir announced that the books are available for purchase at the AKTH Information Units at the cost of N6,000 per copy, urging members of the public to obtain them. “They will not regret buying these books,” she added.
One of the authors, Bashir Madaki, said he was motivated to write the book due to persistent challenges in how patients are handled at home, especially during emergencies.
He explained that ignorance and harmful practices often worsen illnesses and, in some cases, hasten death.
“For example, when a child is having febrile convulsions, instead of taking the child quickly to the hospital, some people insert a spoon into the mouth to prevent tongue biting.
“These kinds of interventions have no medical rationale and only complicate the condition,” Madaki said.
He also highlighted common errors, such as feeding patients and immediately placing them on their backs, a practice that can lead to regurgitation and aspiration.
The book, he explained, addresses such mistakes while offering practical guidance on patient care both at home and in hospital settings.
Madaki said the book also tackles myths surrounding diseases such as measles, which some people believe to be caused by spirits.
“Measles is like any other medical condition,” he said, adding that the book provides clear advice on prevention and management, including immunisation and proper care.
Read Also: FG flags off emergency medical scheme at AKTH
According to him, the book covers a wide range of topics, including measles, poliomyelitis, HIV, tetanus, pneumonia, hypertension and kidney diseases, as well as how to safely transport patients to hospitals.
He further explained that personal experiences during disease outbreaks influenced his writing, recalling situations where patients could not secure hospital beds despite visiting several facilities.
This, he said, underscored the need for guidance on how to care for patients at home while awaiting proper medical attention.
On the second book, Child Nutrition and Nutritional Disorders, Madaki noted that it focuses on the nutritional needs of children and how nutritional deficiencies expose them to serious health problems.
He said the book provides insights into how poor nutrition contributes to disease and long-term health complications.
SolaceBase reports that the event attracted health professionals and stakeholders, with the hospital expressing hope that the books will help reduce preventable deaths and complications arising from poor nutrition and inappropriate patient care practices in the community.
Comments are closed.