Ibadan funfair tragedy: Overcrowding aids spread of transmissible infections – Medical practitioner

By Chidinma Ewunonu-Aluko, Ibadan 

A medical practitioner, Dr Muhammed Odedeji, has warned that gathering large numbers of people in a small place can be a risk factor for transmissible infections, especially among children.

Odedeji disclosed this on Monday in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ibadan, following Wednesday’s stampede at a children’s funfair at Islamic High School, Bashorun, Ibadan.

NAN recalls the stampede led to the death of 35 children, leaving others injured.

Odedeji, the Medical Director of Ashamby Hospital, Moniya, Ibadan, remarked that the event’s venue was not ideal for hosting such a crowd.

He said that with 5,000 people at the venue, respiratory tract infections could spread easily, more so during the current dusty harmattan period.

“Medically, it’s bad to have that number of children gathering in such a micro-environment, as overcrowding is a risk factor for a number of transmissible infections.

“For instance, among the 5,000 children, it’s possible to have someone with tuberculosis, which can be easily transmitted to others,” he said.

The medical practitioner described stampede as an occurrence whereby a crowd begins to move, usually in the same direction.

“As people press themselves so much that they cannot breathe very well, they tend to suffocate and fall. Anyone who falls could be trapped,” he said.

According to him, a stampede occurs when there is poor crowd control, no clear exit and narrow space.

“Such an event ought to have taken place in a stadium with security personnel in place to curtail the crowd.

“There should be a lot of different emergency teams; in fact, any event that will gather more than 50 people should be well protected.

“Poverty is another factor responsible for this kind of occurrence.

“People are poor and hungry in the land; unemployment and interest rates are very high.

“The people cannot afford three square meals.

“Therefore, the government should be in a position to provide basic amenities for the people and regulate this kind of event,” Odedeji said. (NAN)