NMA cites at least 50 deaths in previous incidents and urges authorities to crack down on counterfeit beverages across Ondo State.
In The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Ondo State Chapter, on Monday, raised alarm over the proliferation of counterfeit and adulterated beverages in the state, warning the consumption of potentially harmful drinks may be contributing to cases of liver cirrhosis and kidney disease among young people.
The association also called on the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) and relevant government authorities to launch an immediate crackdown on fake alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, warning that the products pose a serious threat to public health.
The NMA Chairman in Ondo State, Dr. Roland Bola Arohunmolase, raised the concerns while speaking with journalists in Akure, citing clinical observations of young people developing serious health conditions outside the age groups traditionally associated with such diseases.
Although he said the association could not provide a definitive figure for the cases recorded in recent months because some were still under investigation, Arohunmolase expressed concern over the changing demographic profile of patients presenting with liver and kidney diseases.
He said, “Traditionally, when you profile some diseases, there are certain age groups in which you do not commonly find them. When a disease no longer conforms to its traditional profile, it becomes a cause for concern.”
The NMA chairman added, “For instance, I don’t expect a child of 15 years or someone between 15 and 18 to develop liver cirrhosis. You begin to wonder why that would happen. Similarly, we are finding liver cirrhosis and kidney disease among young people between the ages of 22 and 30. I think it calls for caution.”
