Meaning, Treatment and Causes of Ama afo/ Apo Afo/Akpa Afo/Ehi Afo
DOCTOR, IS IT AMA AFO ❓
“WHAT ARE THOSE FALLACIOUS MYTHS YOU WHERE TOLD ABOUT SPLENOMEGALY(ENLARGED SPLEEN)❓” THE ENGLISH MEANING IF AMA AFO IS ENLARGED SPLEEN AND MANY DISEASES CAN CAUSE IT… IN OUR COMMUNITY AND IN AFRICA, MALARIA IS THE NUMBER CAUSE OF APO AFO… THE SECOND IS SICKLE CELL ANEMIA.
“IGBOS CALL IT ” APA- AFO ” ESAN PEOPLE CALL IT “UDE” MY YORUBA PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY, WHAT DO U CALL IT ❓”
“PLEASE THERE IS NOTHING LIKE AMA AFO, APA AFO, AKPA AFOR OR WHATEVER,❌”
👉Mama Aboy notices that Aboy’s tummy is big.
The swelling is more noticeable on the upper left side of the stomach, near the ribs.
Aboy also has a fever, poor appetite and other complaints.
Nchedo’s mother, a family friend, takes one look at Aboy and says ” Na ama-afo, I go carry you go where dem go treat am”
They took Aboy to a native doctor.❌
He takes a bunch of needles dipped in a native concoction and pierces the skin of Aboy’s abdomen. He also gives Mama Aboy some concoctions to give him to drink.
Others in the same business heat leaves and metal objects in fire and press on the child’s tummy without any form of anaesthesia… Imagine the pain the child will feel. Horrible.
THIS IS VERY WRONG!❌
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The swelling is commonly due to an enlargement of an organ called the spleen…vital organ in the human body especially for a child.
And they call it #AMA AFO or APA AFO depending on their dialect.
The spleen is located in the upper left side of abdomen.
It has several functions including removal of old red blood cells from the body, fighting of infections, production of red blood cells etc.
CAUSES OF AMA AFO
There are some things that make the spleen to enlarge progressively become big.
They include:
Malaria : The commonest cause
Sickle cell disorder
Infectious diseases like hepatitis
Some cancers
Heart failure
Liver diseases like alcoholic liver disease
Yellow fever
Etc
Dangers of giving ama afo marks (abdominal scarification) include:
HIV
Tetanus
Hepatitis
Severe infections – sepsis
Uncontrollable bleeding
Etc
See a physician if you notice any swelling.
Do not indulge in ama #afo rituals.
Written by Dr Bob Collins with contributions from www.nimedhealth.com.ng
