Enugu Health Commissioner Clarifies Perceived Rise in Kidney, Cardiovascular Diseases... Warns Against Herbal Concoctions, Self-Medication, Other Risk Factors... Restates Governor Mbah's Commitment to Improving Access to Healthcare. The Enugu State Commissioner for Health, Prof. George Ugwu, has allayed concerns over a perceived rise in kidney and cardiovascular diseases in the state, attributing the apparent increase largely to greater public awareness, improved access to health information and increased testing.
He spoke during a live interactive programme, The Conversation, on 100.3 Udoka FM, Enugu, warning that unhealthy lifestyle choices, poor nutrition, obesity, physical inactivity and indiscriminate use of medicines remained significant risk factors. He urged residents to watch what they eat—warning against excessive sugary, salty, oily, highly processed and packaged foods—and advocated a return to locally produced foods (citing Ayaraaya oka, a mashed-maize meal common among Nsukka natives).
He advised people aged 40+ to watch calorie intake and weight, and expressed concern over young people and students relying heavily on noodles and convenience foods without vegetables and proteins. DRUG ABUSE AND KIDNEY DAMAGE: he identified self-medication and painkiller abuse as a serious kidney threat, cautioning against buying medicines without medical advice and against comparing regulated pharmaceuticals (rigorously tested) with herbal preparations whose dosage and safety are unestablished.
He said Enugu was "driving towards ensuring that all medical supplies are gotten directly from the manufacturers." MASSIVE INVESTMENTS: ultramodern Type-2 hospitals are being built in each of the state's 260 political wards; ESUT Teaching Hospital Park Lane and SUMAS Teaching Hospital Igbo Eno are receiving massive investment; the World-Class Enugu International Hospital will soon be commissioned; "health is only second to education in Enugu's consecutive annual budget."
Dr. Okoro Chizaram, a public health advocate on the programme, noted children can also develop kidney and cardiovascular conditions (from infections such as skin infections and sore throat, malaria, malnutrition, or severe dehydration), urging parents to take unusual symptoms seriously. Callers commended the government but demanded tighter regulation of adulterated palm oil and artificially ripened fruits. (Source: DanNwomeh/X)
