Multiple lacerations in an Almajiri pupil

Abstract

Background: Almajiri is someone, most often a child, who moves from place to place in search of Islamic and Quranic knowledge, usually under the tutelage of a Mallam. They roam the streets begging and doing menial jobs for subsistence. They lack adequate healthcare and education. This case report highlights the health risks inherent in the Almajiri system and calls for its reform.

Case report: We report a 13-year-old Almajiri boy who presented with lacerations on the scalp and left leg after he was knocked down by a car while pushing another stalled car on the street. There was no loss of consciousness or bleeding from cranio-facial orifices. He was bleeding profusely from a deep laceration on the left parietal area measuring about 6cm. He also had another deep laceration on the left shin measuring 2.5 - 3cm. His cardiovascular condition was stable. The lacerations were sutured under local anaesthesia and he was placed on antibiotics and analgesics.

Conclusion: The Almajiri system is a common practice in Northern Nigeria. The children are poorly cared for and exposed to serious health hazards. There is need to reform the system. Parents of Almajiri pupils and their Mallams should be encouraged to take their children off the streets and enrol them into formal schools so they can contribute meaningfully to the society and country at large.

Keywords: Almajiri, Lacerations, Mallam