EMHÖ NEYTÖ: Self-Medication, Drug Abuse the Twin Killers of Nigerians

"Drugs are Poisons in Small Quantities" _Dr. Omokhefe

🖊️ Enaholo J.K.
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Described as the act of purchasing and consuming drugs outside doctors prescription, the issues of self-medication and drug abuse formed the agenda for discourse on Saturday during AUCHI BLOGspot 's local dialect programme tagged Emhö Neytö.

Anchored by Enaholo J.K., drug abuse was seen as a slow killer of the abuser who uses his money to purchase and consume drugs which ultimately end up causing harm to vital organs in his/her system.

Dr. Biem Omokhefe Precious was handy in x-raying most aspects of the practice. He stated that even though the Nigerian health system is one of the cheapest in the whole world, poor masses resort to self-medication in a bid to cut cost since they see going to hospitals as money draining and time waiting endeavors.

Instances where people would resort to taking pain killers and antibiotics instead of getting comprehensive medicare for their ailments were cited and Dr. Omokhefe stated that in such instances, the patient ends up compounding their health challenges with complications that eventually lead to their painful death.

He advised that whenever one experiences symptoms, whether mild and severe, the right course of action to take is see a doctor or at least consult a certified nurse if the means of seeking doctor's attention is not within reach.

Dr. Biems warned against the intake of a collection of drugs called 'ananökoko' in Yékhey's local palance as such collection of drugs which are often times pain killers and antibiotics though capable of immediate pain relief could damage vital organs slowly and cause unexpected and painful future complications for the patients through stomach ulcer, renal injuries, hypertension and other ailments.

"Drugs are poisons in tiny quantities. When consumed without the prescription of doctors, they can be very harmful to the consumer." he said.

Hajia Zeleha Edo, a public health worker who called into the show from Saudi Arabia corroborated Dr. Biems position on the matter and added that the system of drugs administration in Nigeria has in no small measure encouraged the practice of self-medication and drug abuse.

She said that Doctors cannot access drugs in other countries without first obtaining prescription for same but in Nigeria, Chemists/Pharmaceutical shops are out to make money and so, they have shunned the ethics of the profession by selling drugs without prescription to anyone who has money to offer.

This worrying trend was discussed at length as commentators in the course of the 1hour 20minutes livestream were all agreed that measures should be put in place to discourage the scourge of drug abuse and Primary Health Centers be established with functional facilities and personnel for ease of getting medical attention and care.