Chemical Inhalation Lands 201 Residents In Kano Hospitals

No fewer than 201 residents of Sharada quarters, Kano have been left hospitalised following the inhalation of a toxic substance from a cylinder dismantled by metal scrappers.
The Tide gathered the victims, after inhaling the chemical, were rushed to the Murtala Muhammad Specialist Hospital, Sharada Industrial Hospital and Ja’en Hospital for urgent medical attention.
The Kano Territorial Coordinator of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Dr Nuradeen Abdullahi, confirmed the incident to newsmen in Kano, last Friday.
Abdullahi said: “The cylinder chemical explosion occurred on Friday at about 4:00 p.m., at Sharada Industrial Area.The victims were suffocated and unconscious”.
A witness, Sani Muhammad, said the victims collapsed and became unconscious after inhaling toxic substance from the cylinder dismantled by some metal scrappers.
He said the chemicals contained in the cylinder escaped into the air and made those who inhaled it to become unconscious.
The Chief Medical Director of Murtala Muhammad Specialist Hospital, Dr Hussaini Muhammad, said they received over 70 victims out of which, 65 were now in stable condition.
“Thirty-five victims received treatment at Sharada Industrial Hospital and 96 at Ja’en Hospital,” he disclosed.
Meanwhile, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Hajiya Sadiya Faruk, has visited the victims at the hospitals.
Represented by the Humanitarian Affairs Permanent Secretary, Dr Nasir Sani-Gwarzo, the minister commended the hospital managements, NEMA, SEMA and the Nigerian Red Cross, for their support to the victims during the incident.
Faruk assured that the ministry would support the victims.
It was gathered that NEMA, Nigerian Red Cross, Kano State Emergency Management Agency were part of the rescue team.