The Ondo State branch of the Nigerian Medical Association has raised concerns over the widespread availability of fake and substandard beverages, warning that consuming these dangerous drinks could be driving up cases of liver cirrhosis and kidney ailments among young people.
The association 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 Arohunmolase, raised the concerns while speaking with journalists in Akure on Monday, citing clinical observations of young people developing serious health conditions at ages when such diseases are traditionally uncommon.
Although he said the association could not provide definitive figures for cases recorded in recent months because some were still under investigation, Arohunmolase expressed concern over the increasing number of young people presenting with liver and kidney diseases.
“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,” he said.
He 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.”
According to him, the consumption of unhealthy alcoholic drinks and other potentially contaminated beverages could be among the risk factors associated with the conditions, although further investigations would be required to establish the causes of individual cases.
Arohunmolase also recalled previous incidents involving suspected adulterated drinks in Odigbo and Irele, saying the reported deaths highlighted the urgency of tackling the menace.
What You Should Know
Medical professionals in Ondo State have noticed an alarming increase in severe kidney and liver conditions among teenagers and young adults, an age group where such illnesses are normally very rare. The doctors believe that consuming counterfeit alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks circulating in the market is a major contributing factor to this trend.
- Positive Impact: This public warning serves as an urgent wake-up call, prompting regulatory agencies like the FCCPC to clamp down on counterfeit beverage producers and remove harmful products from circulation.
- Potential Concerns: Everyday consumers, especially unsuspecting youths patronizing cheap or unbranded drinks, face severe health risks including permanent organ damage, liver cirrhosis, and kidney failure.
