Abu Bakarr Sesay, a security guard at the Sierra Leone-China Friendship Biological Safety Laboratory, recently experienced a life-threatening health crisis due to his reliance on self-medication and traditional remedies.

His situation, however, took a positive turn thanks to the timely intervention of Dr. XIA Ke, an Associate Professor at Xiangya Hospital and member of China Medical Team Batch 24 in the Sierra Leone-China Fellowship Hospital.

Abu Bakarr’s health had been deteriorating due to his habit of self-treatment and the improper use of traditional herbs. On February 28th, he collapsed at work, prompting urgent medical attention. Dr. XIA Ke stepped in, providing the necessary treatment, including oxygen therapy, which was crucial for Abu Bakarr Sesay’s recovery.

In Sierra Leone, the preference for traditional medicine over professional medical advice is widespread, often driven by the belief in its quicker healing properties. However, Abu Bakarr’s case serves as a cautionary tale, highlighting the potential dangers of such practices. Dr. XIA Ke emphasizes the importance of raising awareness about drug abuse in Sierra Leone to prevent similar health crises and save lives.

Abu Bakarr Sesay, now in good health and filled with gratitude, urges his fellow Sierra Leoneans to prioritize professional medical care over self-medication and traditional remedies. Reflecting on his experience, he acknowledges the risks he took and emphasizes the importance of seeking proper medical attention to avoid health complications and premature deaths. “At first, when my keen was hurting, we applied ointment and it was still hurting. When I got back home, my father advised that we use herbs, yet the situation worsened the very night, and later noticed that my urine was all blood and was having a frequent stool. I want to say a big thank you to all the doctors who helped to save my life. This is a lesson to me and I’m advising everyone to go for professional medical checkups and treatment to avoid health risks and untimely deaths.”

Dr. XIA Ke reinforces this message, stressing the significance of seeking professional medical advice and treatment for maintaining overall health and well-being.

“Bakarr’s illness was very serious at that moment. When I received a phone call asking for help, I rushed to the emergency ward immediately and found that his urine was very dark, resembling soy sauce. I sensed the gravity of the situation; without immediate rescue, the patient would have died due to acute kidney failure. After diagnosis, I discovered that Bakarr had experienced malaria symptoms several days prior and had self-medicated with anti-malaria drugs. However, his condition worsened, leading him to take at least seven to eight additional medications, resulting in drug abuse and further kidney damage. Additionally, the strain of malaria he contracted was Spyro, a particularly dangerous variant. These factors combined to severely impair his kidneys, evident in the dark color of his urine. Unfortunately, due to economic constraints and the distance to Connaught Hospital, Bakarr couldn’t be transferred immediately, prompting me to intervene with my expertise.”

“Utilizing intravenous fluids, antibiotics, and electrolyte correction, I worked to stabilize Bakarr’s condition. Over the following days, his urine gradually lightened, indicating improvement. Despite this progress, upon reaching Connaught Hospital, the doctor noted that Bakarr’s symptoms and test results had significantly improved, suggesting a positive trajectory toward recovery.”

Dr. XIA further urged the government to prioritize awareness campaigns addressing drug misuse among residents, healthcare providers, and hospitals. Additionally, she stresses the importance of educating patients on seeking medical assistance promptly rather than self-medicating, as evidenced by Bakarr’s case where even hospital-prescribed antibiotics exacerbated his condition.

“Reflecting on this experience, I recognize a prevalent issue in Sierra Leone where many lack medical knowledge and resort to self-medication for common illnesses such as malaria and typhoid. Even Bakarr admitted to trying traditional remedies when he didn’t feel better. This widespread practice underscores the urgent need for increased medical awareness and access to professional healthcare services.”

In light of Abu Bakarr’s ordeal, it is clear that proper medical care is essential for a healthy lifestyle, and everyone should heed this advice to avoid potentially fatal consequences.