•Public enlightenment rather than outright ban will help in the circumstance

Sequel to the deaths of 66 persons in Rivers State, and 18 in Ondo State from consumption of the popular local gin, Ogogoro, the Federal Government on Monday banned the consumption of unregistered locally made spirits and other unregistered biters. Director-General of the National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Dr Paul Orhii, said that it has become imperative to ”warn the public to desist from the consumption of unregistered locally made spirits (Ogogoro) and other unregistered bitters.” He added that the government “would confiscate all illegally brewed alcoholic beverages” across the country.

The symptoms suffered by victims –    vomiting, abdominal pain, blurred vision, headache, dizziness and loss of consciousness – according to the NAFDAC boss are the hallmark signs of methanol poisoning. Indeed, “the results of the laboratory investigation revealed methanol toxicity. Five samples were found to contain high concentration of methanol in them. Blood methanol concentration above 1500-2000mg/L will certainly lead to death in untreated patients,” the NAFDAC director-general added.

In view of these findings and the number of deaths so far recorded in the Ogogoro saga, we understand the government’s concern but we are worried that NAFDAC does not have the capacity to enforce the ban or even confiscate all illegally brewed alcoholic beverages in the country. Our law enforcement agencies have been threatening for years to enforce the ban on alcoholic drinks at our motor parks without success. As a matter of fact, some law enforcement agents too consume the drinks at the parks even while in uniform.

What to do, in our view, is intensification of enlightenment campaign on the dangers of consuming the unregistered brands of these spirits. In the first instance, it should be understood that Ogogoro has become more or less a popular drink in many parts of the country. Indeed, it is a part and parcel of the culture in almost all parts of Nigeria and some social or cultural activities, including naming, marriage ceremonies, town festivals, etc. are incomplete without the pouring of libation or using of the local gin for prayers.

Perhaps to show how passionate those who consume Ogogoro can be about it, media reports had it that even as angry youths were setting ablaze a popular joint in one of the states where people who consumed the local gin sold there had died, some other people were only some metres away entertaining themselves with the same Ogogoro which they claimed to be ‘original’ and therefore safe for consumption!

The point they were making, probably, is that Ogogoro has been with us for a long time, how come it is now that it is killing people? There is a point here though. And that is why it would be a herculean task dissuading people addicted to it from drinking it. Something must have gone wrong somewhere that is now making people to die after drinking the spirit.

So, the message that the authorities, including NAFDAC, should focus on in their enlightenment programme should be the dangers of consuming non-registered brands of the drink and what to do when the symptoms are noticed in people. For effect, the messages should be done in the local languages, first in the affected areas, and later in other parts of the country.

It is gratifying that the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) and the World Health Organisation (WHO) have ruled out any infectious diseases. NAFDAC would therefore do well to heed their advice to conduct further investigation into the deaths. Moreover, people in the affected areas and Nigerians in general must ensure that victims with the symptoms of methanol poisoning are rushed to the nearest tertiary institution for proper diagnosis and treatment since quick intervention can still save lives. They should not embark on  self-medication or submit themselves for  treatment by quack doctors.

The post Ogogoro deaths appeared first on The Nation.

•Public enlightenment rather than outright ban will help in the circumstance

Sequel to the deaths of 66 persons in Rivers State, and 18 in Ondo State from consumption of the popular local gin, Ogogoro, the Federal Government on Monday banned the consumption of unregistered locally made spirits and other unregistered biters. Director-General of the National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Dr Paul Orhii, said that it has become imperative to ”warn the public to desist from the consumption of unregistered locally made spirits (Ogogoro) and other unregistered bitters.” He added that the government “would confiscate all illegally brewed alcoholic beverages” across the country.

The symptoms suffered by victims –    vomiting, abdominal pain, blurred vision, headache, dizziness and loss of consciousness – according to the NAFDAC boss are the hallmark signs of methanol poisoning. Indeed, “the results of the laboratory investigation revealed methanol toxicity. Five samples were found to contain high concentration of methanol in them. Blood methanol concentration above 1500-2000mg/L will certainly lead to death in untreated patients,” the NAFDAC director-general added.

In view of these findings and the number of deaths so far recorded in the Ogogoro saga, we understand the government’s concern but we are worried that NAFDAC does not have the capacity to enforce the ban or even confiscate all illegally brewed alcoholic beverages in the country. Our law enforcement agencies have been threatening for years to enforce the ban on alcoholic drinks at our motor parks without success. As a matter of fact, some law enforcement agents too consume the drinks at the parks even while in uniform.

What to do, in our view, is intensification of enlightenment campaign on the dangers of consuming the unregistered brands of these spirits. In the first instance, it should be understood that Ogogoro has become more or less a popular drink in many parts of the country. Indeed, it is a part and parcel of the culture in almost all parts of Nigeria and some social or cultural activities, including naming, marriage ceremonies, town festivals, etc. are incomplete without the pouring of libation or using of the local gin for prayers.

Perhaps to show how passionate those who consume Ogogoro can be about it, media reports had it that even as angry youths were setting ablaze a popular joint in one of the states where people who consumed the local gin sold there had died, some other people were only some metres away entertaining themselves with the same Ogogoro which they claimed to be ‘original’ and therefore safe for consumption!

The point they were making, probably, is that Ogogoro has been with us for a long time, how come it is now that it is killing people? There is a point here though. And that is why it would be a herculean task dissuading people addicted to it from drinking it. Something must have gone wrong somewhere that is now making people to die after drinking the spirit.

So, the message that the authorities, including NAFDAC, should focus on in their enlightenment programme should be the dangers of consuming non-registered brands of the drink and what to do when the symptoms are noticed in people. For effect, the messages should be done in the local languages, first in the affected areas, and later in other parts of the country.

It is gratifying that the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) and the World Health Organisation (WHO) have ruled out any infectious diseases. NAFDAC would therefore do well to heed their advice to conduct further investigation into the deaths. Moreover, people in the affected areas and Nigerians in general must ensure that victims with the symptoms of methanol poisoning are rushed to the nearest tertiary institution for proper diagnosis and treatment since quick intervention can still save lives. They should not embark on  self-medication or submit themselves for  treatment by quack doctors.

The post Ogogoro deaths appeared first on The Nation.