Health
Killer Ogogoro: Another Cause Of Impaired Vision
Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Health, Mr Linus Awute (left), speaking during the opening ceremony to mark the World Sickle Cell Day in Abuja on Friday. With him is the Head/Director, Department of Public Health,Federal Ministry of Health, Dr Bridget Okoeguale
The old aphorism,
“what a man takes in makes him” is indeed playing out its relevance in recent times. With the passage of time and evolvement of scientific, technological, economic and health reformations, it has become imperative that there be a conscious effort in checking human consumption especially of foods and drinks, the very essentials that keep the life alive.
With the recent killer menaces being traced to the intake of certain food items, it is evident that our living is determined by the things we consume as against the usual sayings of the intemperate consumers, particularly of drinks “its my life”
About II months ago, when the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) was at its rampage, beyond the bodily contact (which if it were mainly, many of us in this part of the world would have been victims), the consumption of such stuffs as bats, bush meat, monkeys and chimpanzees were the agents of contraction. The case was easily contained maybe because we are not fond of the habit of such consumptions, an attempt which I doubt could be easily attained in this case of local gin alias ‘kaikai’ or ‘Ogogoro’ menace if the cause is not tackled from the root.
“Even from creation, this drink has been with us. It is the traditional drink for every positive achievement and celebrations-marriage, birthdays and others. It didn’t kill since that time, is it now that it will begin to kill”… were the words of a kaikai dealer (name withheld) at one of the motor parks in Port Harcourt. And so many, shared in this view. But then, if they are consuming this Ogogoro and yet are alive, have they ever considered the adverse effect of that consumption?
We are already used to the ‘push me, I push you’ nature of the local gin and the other forms of it as well as the unusual exhibitions by their consumers. But that it is now an agent of sudden death is yet to be contained with, not to talk of it as a means of acute blindness.
It was shocking when medical experts attributed the intake of local gin even at the shortterm to sudden blindness and a whole number of cases of impaired vision.
The Director, Public Health, Rivers State Ministry of Health, Dr Nyekwere N.V. revealed to The Tide during an exclusive interview in his office in Port Harcourt, Monday, that of the 80 victims of the menace in the state, 70 died leaving 10 blind.
Nyekwere explained that the consumption of the local gin affects the optic nerve, a vital organ of the sight. According to him, about 80 persons across five local governments of the state namely Port Harcourt, Obio/Akpor, Bonny, Gokana and Ahoada-West have died of it. Out of this 80, 70 died and 10 survived but with varying degree of visual impairment like blindness and near blindness.
Explaining the sudden change in reaction of the age-long drink, Nyekwere noted that the production of the local gin had been adulterated and contaminated with methanol, a chemical that is injurious to the human system.
“The methanol is just like the ethanol which is used in the production of most alcoholic beverages. They look alike but their metabolisms and by-products are different. While the by-product of ethanol is carbohydrate, that of methanol is formic acid which is dangerous to the body. The intake of such through the local gin causes symptoms of acute stomach upset, dizziness and others and the consumers, if they survive suffer blindness,” he said.
A specialist in General Medicine, Dr. Mathew Ela, affirmed that alcohol in whatever form was bad and affects vital organs of the human body including the sight organs.
Ela, who noted that the local gin is very highly concentrated and seemed slow in causing damage to the system said however, that its recent contamination with chemicals has resulted to the ‘quick action’ status it now acquires.
He said: “like it has been discovered, the production of today’s local gin is contaminated with certain chemicals like the ethanol and methanol which are not meant for the human system. These are laboratory and industrial chemicals yet are brought into the human system and the result should be nothing less than what we are experiencing”.
A surgeon, in one of the state’s health centres who pleaded anonymity also decried the act of using the methanol chemical for the production of alcohol stating that the human system of the consumers would be in serious danger of severe impairment.
“Investigations have revealed that the local gin is not produced in the natural way. Chemicals that are harmful to the human body have been introduced into it and this chemical especially the methanol has the ability of combating ordinary water to alcohol and people are taking it. Ofcourse, it affects not just the eye but virtually all parts of the body,” he said.
Undoubtedly, one of the most common health challenges in recent times is impaired vision ranging from glaucoma, cataract to others even as children are seen with medicated glasses to aid their vision.
According to an optician, Dr Sofiri Wilcox, eye problems are very common now. It is no longer associated with age because even children and new born suffer it. This could be traced to the drinks made from these chemicals and consumed by the mothers and children themselves.
Indeed, the chemical components of human food intakes can no longer be disassociated with the varied and various health challenges faced in recent times. Outside the medical world, could it be the religious signs of the times? Whatever it is, health and religion are always hand-in-gloves as most religions then and now preach intake of natural foods and drinks (vegetarianism)
Again, it is high time we take another look at our consumption habits and as a matter of necessity to life-saving attitude, abstain from such food and drink intakes that would jeopardise our lives and leave us vulnerable to every and any kind of wind of health challenge.
Lady Godknows Ogbulu
To address the increasing number of rape and defilement cases in Lagos communities, the State Ministry of Health has trained healthcare workers on the prevention and management of sexual assault cases.
The Director, Public Affairs in the ministry, Tunbosun Ogunbanwo, in a statement on Monday said the training equipped health workers with the knowledge and skills to provide professional, compassionate, and timely care to survivors.
Dr Folasade Oludara, Director, Family Health and Nutrition, State Ministry of Health, said the growing number of rape and defilement cases in Lagos communities necessitated the upskilling of healthcare workers who are often the first responders to survivors.
Oludara, represented by Dr Oluwatosin Onasanya, Deputy Director, Child Health, said the government recognised the critical role of health professionals in both clinical management and legal documentation of sexual assault cases.
She explained that the training was designed to ensure healthcare workers are adequately equipped to identify, document, and manage sexual assault cases effectively.
According to her, the training will strengthen Lagos’ coordinated health system response to gender-based violence.
She disclosed that the state government had already provided equipment and specimen collection tools to health facilities, noting that the training complemented this investment by building the competence of personnel handling such sensitive cases.
Oludara explained that doctors and nurses at the primary, secondary, and tertiary levels who serve as first contact points for survivors were carefully selected from all 57 LGAs and LCDAs, particularly from areas with higher incident rates.
The SGBV Programme Manager, Lagos State Ministry of Health, Dr Juradat Aofiyebi, emphasised that the capacity-building initiative was a strategic step toward improving survivor-centred healthcare delivery and prosecution outcomes.
Aofiyebi added that the training underscored the government’s commitment to reducing the prevalence of sexual assault through a robust, multi-sectoral approach.
“The training provides healthcare workers with the knowledge to properly identify survivors, document findings accurately, and provide comprehensive care, all of which contribute to justice delivery and prevention of repeat offences.
She said the ministry would sustain such training to ensure that every survivor who presented at a Lagos health facility received quality, non-judgmental care.
Mrs Adebanke Ogunde, Deputy Director, Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Lagos State Ministry of Justice, highlighted the importance of medical documentation in sexual assault trials.
She explained that most convictions hinge on the quality of medical reports and forensic evidence provided by healthcare professionals, noting that medical reports served as vital corroborative evidence in court, particularly in cases involving children.
“Your medical reports are crucial; they can determine whether justice is served or denied,” she said.
Ogunde reminded health workers of their legal duty to report suspected sexual assault cases to the police or the Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency (DSVA).
Similarly, Dr Oluwajimi Sodipo, Consultant Family Physician, Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), underscored the importance of timely medical attention, psychosocial support, and non-stigmatising care for survivors.
Sodipo explained that immediate presentation within 72 hours of assault improved chances of preventing infections and collecting viable forensic evidence.
He commended Lagos State for sustaining its inter-agency collaboration and continuous professional training on SGBV.
Sodipo, however, called for the strengthening of DNA and forensic capacities, improved insurance coverage, and better remuneration for healthcare workers.
“We must sustain motivation and continuous retraining if we want to retain skilled professionals and enhance justice outcomes,” he added.
Also, Mrs Margret Anyebe, Claims Officer, Lagos State Health Management Agency (LASHMA), said domestic and sexual violence response had been integrated into the ILERA EKO Health Insurance Scheme.
Anyebe explained that survivors of sexual and domestic violence are covered for medical treatment, investigations, and follow-up care under the state’s Equity Fund for vulnerable groups.
“Hospitals are to provide first-line care, document, and refer survivors appropriately, while LASHMA ensures prompt reimbursement and oversight,” she said.
The technical session of the ongoing National Council on Health (NCH) meeting on Monday reviewed 35 out of the 82 policy memos submitted ahead of full Council deliberations scheduled for later in the week.
Dr Kamil Shoretire, Director of Health Planning, Research and Statistics, disclosed this on Tuesday during the Technical Session of the 66th Regular meeting of the NCH ongoing in Calabar, Cross River.
He said that 10 of the memos considered were recommended for Council’s approval, eight were noted, and 18 stepped down for further work.
According him, two additional memos were deferred and will be re-presented after revisions are made.
At the reconvening of the session, Ms Kachallom Daju, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, said that there were five memos from the Coordinating Minister of Health, adding that they were all related to the Department of Food and Drugs.
Daju said that the memos were stepped down on Monday and scheduled for re-presentation.
She also provided clarification on the previously contentious healthcare waste-management memo, explaining that the N3.5 million requests tied to the proposal had already been repurposed by the Global Fund.
“I have followed up, and I am informed that the funds have been reprogrammed. Just so we put it to rest, we will not be discussing that memo anymore,” she said.
She also said that the final memo considered on Monday was the proposal for the inclusion of telemedicine services under the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA).
“The next memo scheduled for presentation is the proposal for the establishment of Medipool as a Group Purchasing Organisation (GPO) for medicines and health commodities in Nigeria.
Meanwhile, Dr Oritseweyimi Ogbe, Secretary of the Ministerial Oversight Committee (MOC), formally notified the Council of the establishment of Medipool, a new public-private GPO created to strengthen the procurement of medicines and health commodities nationwide.
Presenting an information memorandum at the technical session, Ogbe explained that Medipool was the first nationally approved GPO designed to leverage economies of scale, negotiate better prices, and ensure quality-assured medicines.
He said this was beginning with primary healthcare facilities funded through the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF).
According to him, Medipool was established after a proposal to the Ministry of Health, followed by appraisals and endorsements by the Project Implementation and Verification Committee (PIVAC) and the Ministry of Finance Incorporated (MOFI).
“It subsequently received Federal Executive Council approval, with MOFI now owning 10 per cent of the company’s shares. The Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission has also approved its operations.
“Under the model, Medipool will work with Drug Management Agencies (DMAs) in all states to aggregate national demand and negotiate directly with reputable manufacturers to obtain competitive prices and guaranteed-quality supplies.
“The platform will function as a one-stop shop for DMAs, who will then distribute medicines to health facilities through existing state structures.”
Ogbe added that while Medipool will initially focus on BHCPF-supported primary healthcare centres, it was expected to expand to other levels of care nationwide.
“The organisation will provide regular reports to the ministry of health and participate in national logistics working groups to ensure transparency, oversight, and technical guidance,” he said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Day One of the 66th NCH technical session opened with a call reaffirming the Ministry’s commitment to advancing Universal Health Coverage under the theme “My Health, My Right”.
“The delegates also adopted the amended report of the 65th NCH, setting the stage for informed deliberations.
The implementation status of the 19 resolutions from the previous Council was also reviewed, highlighting progress and gaps.
The authorities of Police Clinic in Port Harcourt have reported high cases of Malaria in its facility.
The revelation was made by Mrs Udoh Mba Robert, a Chief Superintendent of Police and senior medical personnel in the Clinic.
She told The Tide that,”the Hospital admits sixty (60) to seventy (70) patients in a month”.
On how the facility runs, she stated that the hospital is under the National Health Insurance Scheme as most patients are treated almost free.
She maintained that staff of the hospital have been trained professionally to manage health issues that come under the purview of the National Health Insurance Scheme.
Mrs. Robert explained that malaria treatment also falls under NHIA, as patients are expected to pay only 10 per cent for their treatment while the government takes care of the outstanding bills.
NHIA, she further stated covers treatment and care for uniform personnel like the police force, military men, civil servants and all others working for the government.
Urging the public to seek professional medical attention, Mrs. Robert said the facility is open to workers in the federal services, especially police staff.
Favour Umunnakwe, Victory Awaji, Excel Nnodim
