This is where my old blog ends and the new one begins…
Well, well, can you believe it? I switched to a new blog at http://mikeblyth.blogspot.com and totally forgot to put that information here on my now-old blog! I’m glad my dad pointed out the missing connection before too long. Anyway, it’s true … you will still find the blog posts here through mid November 2008, but I’m now using only the new spot, mainly because of this old one requiring frequent updates if I was to keep it secure, while with Blogspot, I can let the company maintain their software and I will just write my blogs. So, on to the new blog!
August 30th, 2009 at 9:40 am
Dear Dr. Blyth,
I have had the pleasure to read your blog and it’s with great feelings & expectations that I am contacting you now. My name is Rosalie, I am Italian and live in Egypt with my husband and our 16 months old son. I am pregnant of twins, I will deliver in November in Rome. We are moving to Lagos as soon as the kids are fine to fly. I have read enough on Nigeria to understand that Malaria is a real risk. But still I have few questions regarding my kids and I think I might find professional answers from you:
1) Is it true that if kids under 2 years old contract malaria there is no treatment to give them?
2) Is it true that Yellow Fever vaccination can be given only to kids who are over 9 months old?
3) Do you have the official immunization schedule that kids are following in Nigeria?
4) In your opinion is it advisable to travel to Nigeria with 1 or 2 motnhs old infants or you advice to wait? If so until when?
5) Do you know a pediatrician in Lagos who you can recommend?
Dr. Blyth, I will be so happy to receive an answer from your side and I really thank you in advance if you would like to spend some of your time in helping us. I will be glad to meet you on day if you ever get to pass to Lagos!
Kind regards
Rosalie Ripiccini
August 31st, 2009 at 12:36 pm
Greetings, Rosalie. I think most of your questions will be answered on a page I wrote on the Living in Nigeria wiki, which you may find helpful in other ways as well. The main site is http://www.ecwaevangel.org/living_in_nigeria, and the page on traveling here with children and infants is at http://tinyurl.com/child-travel-nigeria. It contains my own opinions and also links to several more up-to-date, authoritative sources.
Is it advisable to travel to Nigeria with infants? Well, Nigeria is not as safe as Italy or probably Egypt, that’s just the reality. If you’re willing to come yourself, and bring your children, then there is no particular reason to avoid bringing infants. Lagos has better medical facilities than most areas of Nigeria, though I don’t personally know any pediatricians working there.
I hope this answers your questions. Let me know if you need more information.
–Mike
August 31st, 2009 at 12:38 pm
PS — The one other question I should have answered is that it is NOT true that there is no treatment for small children with malaria. That is simply incorrect.
December 11th, 2009 at 12:56 am
I finally had or perhaps took, the time to read all your blog postings today. I have enjoyed them all. I am adding several of your book recommendations to my Christmas list!