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  • Hidden dangers of self-medication in Nigeria

    Hidden dangers of self-medication in Nigeria

    • How Nigerians are damaging their vital organs, dying due to reckless indulgence

    Every day in Nigeria, people take medicines without seeing a doctor. Instead of going to the hospital, they buy drugs from roadside chemists, untrained sellers, or even take advice from friends. A small headache, cough, or red eye is treated with any available drug, often without knowing the dangers. But using the wrong medicine can make things worse, cause serious health problems, or even lead to death.

    Many people have lost their sight, damaged their kidneys, or suffered other life-threatening conditions because of self-medication. Yet, dangerous habits continue because hospital care is expensive, hard to reach, or takes too much time. But how many more people must suffer before we realise that taking medicine without a doctor’s advice can be deadly? Chinyere Okoroafor report.

    Mrs. Ikenna (not her real name) had trouble seeing with her left eye for a long time. Her vision was blurry because she had a severe cataract. One day, her eye became very red and painful. Instead of going to a doctor, she went to a roadside chemist to get medicine.

    The chemist looked at her eye and gave her steroid eye drops, telling her it would help. But Mrs. Ikenna did not know that the drops were dangerous for her condition. Instead of making her better, the drops increased the pressure inside her eye, worsening the problem.

    The next morning, as she was walking to the market, she felt a sharp pain in the troubled eye. Suddenly, her eye burst, and the lens fell out. She was in shock and in extreme pain.

    She lost that eye completely and now makes do with only her right eye.

    While Mrs. Ikenna’s story is a serious warning on the dangers of self-medication, her case is not an isolated one. Even public figures have suffered similar consequences due to prolonged self-medication. A Nollywood actress and producer, Ufuoma McDermott also experienced a life-threatening health crisis caused by excessive use of painkiller.

    In a recent interview With Chude on YouTube, McDermott revealed that her   prolonged use of strong painkillers to manage chronic migraines led to the development of kidney disease. Initially diagnosed with Stage 3 kidney disease after a 12-year struggle, she was advised to reduce her workload and rest. However, she delayed making these lifestyle changes, which resulted in the progression to Stage 4 kidney disease, the final stage.

    During this period, McDermott faced severe health challenges, including six months of immobility and an inability to work. Reflecting on her ordeal, she acknowledged that her condition was a direct consequence of drug abuse, specifically the excessive intake of painkillers. This experience has profoundly transformed her perspective on life, leading her to prioritise her health and adopt a more private lifestyle.

    Read Also: Defence minister visits attacked communities in Plateau, promises end to killings

    The women’s stories show why people need to be more aware of the dangers of self-medication. Taking drugs without a doctor’s advice can lead to serious health problems, sometimes with no chance of recovery.

    Scary statistics

    Self-medication is a significant public health concern in Nigeria, with studies indicating a high prevalence among various populations. For instance, a study conducted among market women in the Ifako-Ijaiye area of Lagos, Nigeria, identified education, specifically literacy and public health education, as the primary factors influencing self-medication practices. The research published in the African Journal of Medicine and Medical Sciences revealed that many of these women rely on patent medicine dealers for medication information and procurement, particularly among those with lower educational levels.

    Another study published in the African Journal of Health Sciences found that 69.4% of Nigerians practise self-medication, treating conditions like headaches, fever, coughs, and infections without seeing a doctor.

    According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), medication harm accounts for 50% of the overall preventable harm in medical care.  Furthermore, the African region has the highest prevalence of substandard and counterfeit medicines among low- and middle-income countries, with a rate of 18.7%. But why do so many people take this risk?

    Why do Nigerians prefer self-medication?

    During a visit to Oshodi, a bustling commercial centre/bus terminal on Mainland Lagos, to understand why people resort to self-medication, this reporter spoke with a commuter bus driver popularly known as danfo, Sodiq. He explained that many avoid hospitals due to the high cost of medical care, opting instead for cheaper, over-the-counter drugs or advice from chemists.

    He said: “Seeing a doctor, doing tests, and buying prescribed medicine costs a lot; so people look for cheaper options like over-the-counter drugs or advice from untrained chemists.”

    Although the cost of medical consultations in Nigeria varies significantly between private and government hospitals, it is also influenced by factors such as hospital location, the specialist’s expertise, and the facility’s reputation.

    Consultation fees in government hospitals are generally more affordable. For example, the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Ebute Metta, Lagos lists consultation and utility fees at ₦300 for the General Outpatient Clinic (GOPC) and ₦500 for all specialty clinics.

    These rates make government hospitals more accessible to the general public, particularly for routine consultations. However, additional costs, such as for admission, diagnostics tests, and medications can add up. Bed space fees in some government hospitals have increased, ranging from ₦25,000 to ₦40,000 per admission, depending on the ward and services required.

    Meanwhile, these consultation fees often exclude additional expenses like laboratory tests, medications, and hospital stays, which can further increase the overall cost of healthcare. For instance, at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), upfront payments range from ₦15,000 to ₦50,000 in the children’s ward and at least ₦100,000 in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU).  These costs can be substantial, especially for individuals without health insurance coverage, potentially leading them to seek alternative, less expensive healthcare options.

    Private hospitals in Lagos and other urban centers typically charge much higher fees for consultations and treatments. Depending on the facility and the doctor’s expertise, consultation fees can range from ₦5,000 to ₦15,000 for general consultations and ₦20,000 to ₦50,000 for specialist consultations.

    In addition to consultation fees, private hospitals charge significantly higher amounts for admission, laboratory tests, surgeries, and critical care services. Many Nigerians unable to afford these costs turn to over-the-counter medications or traditional remedies, further fueling the issue of self-medication.

    Another reason people self-medicate is the long waiting time and distance to hospitals.

    A primary school teacher, simple known as Mummy Ada, explained that public hospitals are often overcrowded with long queues that make people avoid seeking professional care there.

    “How many healthcare facilities are in our rural areas? In many villages, there are very few healthcare facilities, so people have no choice but to treat themselves,” she added.

    The National President, Association of Medical Laboratory Scientists of Nigeria (AMLSN), an Infectious Disease/Public health expert, Dr. Casmir Ifeanyi, highlighted lack of awareness as another major reason for self-medication in Nigeria.

    He explained that many Nigerians do not understand the risks involved. “People assume that if a drug worked for a friend or family member, it will work for them too,” she said.

    He also noted that many misuse antibiotics and painkillers, unaware of the long-term damage these drugs can cause.

    A Nigerian pharmacist based in the United States, Dr. Christian Ike, identified easy access to prescription medication as the leading cause of self-medication in Nigeria.

    “Why should powerful drugs like antibiotics, painkillers and steroids be sold freely without a doctor’s prescription?” he questioned.

    Dr. Ike who is also the President/Chief Executive Officer of Social Circle Pharmacy, Georgia, further expressed concern that roadside chemists and unlicensed drug vendors continue to sell these medications without proper knowledge of their use, dosage, or side effects. Despite this, NAFDAC, the agency responsible for regulating drugs, has failed to enforce strict measures to curb the practice.

    Dangers of self-medication

    Self-medication may seem harmless, but it comes with serious risks.

    Explaining Mrs. Ikenna’s condition, an eye specialist, Dr. Emmanuel Utomi, in an interview with The Nation said she had hyper-mature cataracts, “Ordinarily, she ought to have had surgery to remove the cataracts. But instead, she tried to treat herself, leading to a far worse outcome.

    “Eye issues are unique and can only be treated by eye doctors, not general practitioners, not pharmacists, and certainly not through self-treatment,” he warned.

    Yet, in Nigeria, many people assume that all eye problems can be solved with over-the-counter drugs or home remedies. This misconception has led to severe complications, including blindness.

    Mrs. Ikenna’s case became worse because the chemist gave her steroid eye drops, a medication Dr. Utomi explained should never be sold without a prescription.

    “Steroid eye drops, because of the damage they can do, should only be prescribed by eye doctors. They are not over-the-counter (OTC) medications. Steroids can mask inflammation and increase intraocular pressure, leading to glaucoma and, ultimately, blindness,” he said.

    He explained that although the steroid drops initially reduced the redness, they masked the real issue, allowing the condition to worsen unnoticed. By the time she realised the damage, it was already beyond repair.

    Dr. Utomi emphasised that a red, painful eye is an emergency.

    “She noticed her eyes were red and painful. She ought to have gone straight to an eye hospital rather than attempting self-treatment,” he said.

    Unfortunately, like many Nigerians, Mrs. Ikenna dismissed the early warning signs, believing she could handle the problem herself.

    For Dr. Ike, self-meditation can cause organ damage and side effects. He explained that painkillers and other strong drugs can harm vital organs when taken without medical supervision. “Many Nigerians suffer from kidney failure and liver damage due to excessive use of painkillers like ibuprofen and paracetamol; they have to stop before it becomes too late.”

    He emphasised that McDermott’s struggle with kidney disease is a powerful warning about the dangers of self-medication, “What started as a simple reliance on painkillers gradually led to severe organ damage, showing how unchecked drug use can turn minor health issues into life-threatening conditions.”

    He noted that many people underestimate the risks of taking medications without a doctor’s supervision. “Kidney failure, liver damage, and other serious complications don’t happen overnight. They build up over time due to repeated misuse of drugs,” he explained.

    Dr. Ike also explained that some medications can cause severe allergic reactions, leading to breathing difficulties, rashes, or even death. In cases of overdose, self-medication can poison the body, leading to coma or fatal complications.

    According to a Professor of Pharmaceutical Microbiology at the University of Ibadan, Iruka Okeke, one of the biggest dangers of self-medication is antibiotic resistance.

    “Many Nigerians take antibiotics for minor illnesses like colds or headaches, not realising that these drugs do not work for viral infections,” she explained.

    She warned that misusing antibiotics allows bacteria to develop resistance, making infections harder to treat in the future. “If this continues, we may reach a point where common infections become life-threatening because antibiotics no longer work,” she added.

    Just like in Mrs. Ikenna and McDermott’s case, taking the wrong medication can worsen a condition rather than cure it. Instead of addressing the real problem, self-medication often hides symptoms, giving a false sense of relief while the illness silently progresses. By the time proper medical care is sought, it may already be too late for effective treatment.

    Evil of roadside chemists

    Experts are of the opinion that one of the major enablers of self-medication in Nigeria is the unregulated sale of prescription drugs. Many chemists operate without proper training, selling drugs based on guesswork rather than medical knowledge. These sellers often recommend medications based on symptoms alone, without conducting proper diagnosis or tests.

    They have repeatedly called for stricter enforcement of Nigeria’s drug laws to stop chemists from selling dangerous medications without prescriptions. Experts warn that the unchecked sale of powerful drugs, such as antibiotics and steroids, puts millions at risk of serious health complications. Without proper regulation, self-medication will continue to endanger lives.

    For Dr. Ike, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and the Pharmacists Council of Nigeria (PCN) need to crack down on illegal drug vendors and ensure that only licensed professionals can sell prescription drugs.

    Although NAFDAC has been actively addressing the issue, recognising its significant public health implications and the importance of consulting healthcare professionals before taking any medication.

    In May 2021, the Agency launched a sensitisation campaign aimed at encouraging Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) to register their products, urging consumers to source medicines from reputable outlets.

    Despite NAFDAC’s continuous efforts to regulate drug sales and combat self-medication, significant challenges persist. One major setback is the agency’s withdrawal from Nigerian ports, which weakened its ability to effectively monitor and control the importation of counterfeit medicines. Without a strong presence at entry points, the influx of fake and substandard drugs has remained a critical public health threat.

    NAFDAC has identified various forms of counterfeit drugs circulating in Nigeria, including those with no active ingredients, incorrect formulations, or insufficient doses of essential compounds. These substandard drugs not only fail to treat illnesses but can also lead to severe health complications and increased antimicrobial resistance.

    The agency acknowledges that the widespread availability of fake medicines is largely due to gaps in drug regulation and limited access to affordable, quality medications. Many Nigerians turn to unregulated sources, such as roadside chemists and illegal vendors, as a result of these challenges.

    Additionally, NAFDAC’s regulatory efforts are often hindered by bureaucratic inefficiencies and occasional allegations of corruption. These systemic issues delay inspections, weaken enforcement measures, and create loopholes that allow the continued distribution of counterfeit drugs.

    Until these structural problems are effectively addressed, experts are of the opinion that self-medication and the circulation of unsafe drugs will remain a major public health concern in Nigeria.

    How to stop self-medication

    To prevent more cases like Mrs. Ikenna and McDermott’s, urgent action is needed at different levels.

    Dr. Utomi emphasised the need for a public awareness campaign to address the dangers of self-medication.

    “The government, health organisations and the media must work together to educate Nigerians on the risks involved. People need to understand that no drug should be taken without a doctor’s prescription, and even common medications can be dangerous if misused,” he said.

    He stressed that nationwide campaigns should focus on promoting safe medication practices and encouraging people to seek professional medical advice rather than self-diagnosing or relying on untrained vendors.

    Dr. Ike stressed the need for stricter drug regulations to curb the reckless sale of prescription medications.

    “NAFDAC and the Pharmacists Council of Nigeria (PCN) must enforce stricter laws to stop the sale of prescription drugs without proper medical approval,” he said.

    He further emphasised the importance of monitoring chemists and pharmacies to ensure they comply with regulations, warning that failure to do so puts public health at serious risk.

    Dr. Ike urged Nigerians to seek medical attention early instead of waiting until their condition worsened.

    “People should see a doctor at the first sign of illness rather than resorting to self-medication. Hospitals and health workers also have a role to play in educating patients on the proper use of medications,” he said.

    He also called on the government to make healthcare more affordable and accessible. According to him, expanding the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) and establishing more public health centers would help ease the financial burden on Nigerians, reducing their dependence on self-medication.

    Think before you take that pill

    Mrs. Ikenna and McDermott’s stories are just one of many. Every day, Nigerians gamble with their health by taking unprescribed drugs, hoping for quick relief. But the reality is that self-medication is a silent killer, one that can lead to blindness, kidney failure, drug resistance, or even death.

    Both women now live with the consequences of one wrong decision. Their experiences serve as a reminder that no drug should be taken lightly, and proper medical consultation can be the difference between recovery and permanent damage.

    The next time you feel unwell, resist the urge to visit a chemist or take drugs based on advice from a friend. Instead, seek medical help. Your health is too precious to risk on guesswork.

  • LUTH walks against self medication

    Nigerians have been urged to desist from using unprescribed drugs, or stalling/stagnating their adherence to recommended prescriptions.

    This was the message of pharmacists at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Idi Araba during their campaign against self medication as part of activities by the hospital’s Pharmacy Department to mark this year’s Pharmacy Week.

    The campaign train took off at Car park 36, and went through LUTH Road, Mushin, the hospital’s premises and some part of College of Medicine (CMUL), Idi Araba.

    Deputy Director, Pharmacy Department, Mrs Omolola Olurombi, said described as saddening when people, especially patients, do not stick to the recommended drugs or practise self medication not knowing the implications.

    “Some people do that out of ignorance, lack or even seer arrogance, not understanding the implications on their health. That is why as a department and professional pharmacists, we are participating in this year’s Pharmacy week to enlighten the populace,” explained Mrs Olurombi.

    Mrs Olurombi, who represented the head of Department at the event said part of the implications are complications such as failure to recognise special pharmacological risks, rare but severe adverse effects, failure to recognise or self-diagnosis contraindications, interactions, warnings and precautions.

    “More common is assumption that a drug is not working and going for another, not realising that it can lead to over dosing. Risk involves not recognising that the same active substance is already being taken under a different name. And failure to report current self-medication to the prescribing physician, leads to double medication and harmful interaction,” said Mrs Olurombi.

    She also said though LUTH has a working relationship with National Pharmaco-vigilance unit of NAGDAC, but when people resort to self medication they do not know the potential of recognising or reporting adverse drug reactions.

    “Incorrect route of administration, inadequate or excessive dosage, prolonged use, risk of dependence and abuse, food drug interaction and storage in incorrect conditions or beyond the recommended shelf life are all potential risks that self medication can lead to,” she explained.

    She said LUTH has both over-the-counter drugs and orphaned/ethical drugs at affordable prices, “because we do get supply directly from source. “And management always profer solutions to any challenge being encountered as a department or by the patients. For instance, there are 17 departments/units and we have pharmacies in all those points. Payments for drugs are also easier now for patients as they can go to specific paying points at those pharmacies,” said Mrs Olurombi.

    Deputy Director, Temilola Olufohunsi , was of the opinion that the solutions are to discourage self medication, lack of advice on medicine use from the experts like doctors and pharmacists.

    “Doctors and pharmacists should be consulted for proper treatment. Avoiding self medication protects counterfeiting. LUTH obtains drugs direct from the manufacturers and marketers, so there is no fear of fake drugs,” said Mrs Olufohunsi.

     

  • Expert warns against self-medication

    A medical doctor, Sufyan Adeyanju, has warned people to desist from self-medication.

    Adeyanju spoke at a Free Medical Health Scheme organised by an All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain Kamaldeen Jaiyeola at Agbado-Oke-Odo Local Council Development Area in Abule-Egba.

    Adeyanju described the health scheme as a call to action for other philanthropists to support the masses.

    He said that many Nigerians generally seem to think they are more knowledgeable than they actually are. This attitude, he insisted, is unfortunately carried into medical and health issues at the detriment of their health.

    He listed hypertension and diabetes as one of the two serious medical conditions that have gradually become major silent killers.

     He emphasised regular medical checks and the individual’s belief in the prescriptions of the healthcare worker.

     ‘’Hypertension and Diabetes are silent killers as an individual may not notice any strange symptoms till they get complications after they are diagnosed at a hospital,” he said.

    He suggested strict adherence to doctor’s advice, regular physical exercises, healthy eating habit and chemotherapy as effective measures to combat diseases and infections.

    He identified persistent thirst, excessive urination, excessive hunger and unhealed injuries as symptomatic of diabetes.

    Frequent headaches and sleeplessness are symptomatic of hypertension, he said.

    Adeyanju stressed that having regular medical checks remains the most effective way of combatting a disease or an infection.

    Jaiyeola said the initiative was aimed at complementing the government’s efforts.

    According to him, seeing over 200 people benefit from the scheme is an indication that a lot of people need medical aid.

     

  • Erectile dysfunction can’t be self managed –  Urologist

    Erectile dysfunction can’t be self managed –  Urologist

     

     

    Men have been advised not to resort to self medication in treating erectile dysfunction (ED), even as cases of ED are on the increase in the country.

    A consultant urologist at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Ikeja, Dr. Funmilade Omisanjo gave this advice while addressing `pharmacists at the one day Pharmacy Academy programme organised by Pfizer Global Pharmaceuticals Limited for Retail Pharmacists.

    He said as a clinician there is a remarkable increase in ED among Nigerian men. “The figures we have with us will suggest that at least 30 percent to 40 percent who are above the age of 40 have some degree of erectile dysfunction, some are mild form of dysfunction. By the time you look at men who are 60 years and above, at least 25 percent of them have the very severe form of erectile dysfunction.

    “So what that means is that if you sit amongst a group of 50 years old you can expect one out of every two of them to have some degree of erectile dysfunction, for most of them it will be the very mild form of erectile dysfunction. Mild in the sense that the men can still have some sexual intercourse but he may find out the extent of the hardness (turgidity) of the penis is not what it used to be, because we measure erectile dysfunction not in the presence of or absence of erection, we also talk about the turgidity of the organ. So it is roughly about one in two in men above 50 years.”

    According to Dr Omisanjo presence of ED could be a sign of other illnesses in the body such as diabetes, hypertension and other cardiovascular challenges.

    Dr Omisanjo said, “For most people it is basically an age-related thing. As men get older one expects there will be some deteriorating in their sexual function this is likened to women who attain menopause, in men we loosely termed it Andropause. This is highly prevalent in men who are above 50 years. Age is a very important factor in ED. Also lifestyle is a very important factor.

    “Obesity is related with that, just as lack of exercise. People who do sedentary work or people who don’t do any physical activity are prone to obesity. That kind of lifestyle will also predisposed people to erectile dysfunction. Things like smoking, taking a lot of alcohol, and most of these recreational drugs that people take actually have side effects of affecting erection negatively.

    “Then of course you have various co-morbidities other diseases thing like diabetes mellitus, Hypothermia, which is a medical emergency that occurs when your body loses heat faster than it can produce heat, causing a dangerously low body temperature. People who have problems with high level of cholesterol in their system, high blood pressure, people who have problems with their nerves are all susceptible to ED. Then of course there are medications people take for various medical conditions that have various erectile dysfunctions as side effects. These are some of the factors that predisposed men to erectile dysfunction.”

    On how best to know one is suffering from ED, and the best way out Dr Omisanjo said, “Curiously you may find out that the local things that these men take actually do work, but sometimes even when they work, the results will come at the expense of some other things in the body system. For instance, most of the local things that people take are invariably things that have been soaked in alcohol. Alcohol in itself can be a risk factor for erectile dysfunction, besides that, chronic intake of alcohol can have other side effects on the liver and all that.

    “You can never tell what the concentrations of these things are. So in as much some of these do work they are not the things we prescribe routinely. We don’t encourage men to take herbal remedies for the treatment of erectile dysfunction. We always advise men to try and seek expert opinion and seek treatment at standard clinics or hospitals because we have well proven medications that do work.

    “And what more is important is that erectile dysfunction can be a pointer of other problems that a man may have. So in as much as you want to treat erectile dysfunction it is important you evaluate that man fully, because some men with erectile dysfunction may have some cardiovascular diseases (blood pressure) that we would need to sort out. So it is not enough for the man to feel he has erectile dysfunction and just goes on his own and goes about taking herbal remedies which like I said, even if they work, invariably, do have some other effects. So we normally advise they see their doctors and have a very open discussion and get to be reviewed, evaluated and treated.”

    Suggesting further on the professional way out, Dr Omisanjo said, “For me it will be that in as much as we like patients coming to us sometimes the pharmacists invariably are the first point of call because of the way most pharmacists stores are structured, patients sometimes find it easier to go to a pharmacy in the neighbourhood than going to a doctor that will only be available at teaching hospital setting, so the pharmacist may be the first point of call.

    “The important point to stress to pharmacists is that patients who have erectile dysfunction sometimes will come under the guise of all other sort of things. I think the pharmacists should take out time and have a discussion with the patients and when you see there is some degree of erectile dysfunction; you need to encourage the patient to see an expert.  Sometimes they may say they need an energy boost or some herbal supplements. I think experts should be sensitive to patients need. When people come with all this kind of loose complaints as it were, probe a little further.

    “Not only is it important to obtain proper treatment, more importantly, let the patient get a thorough evaluation so that you do not miss out on anything. So the pharmacists should not only be interested in dispensing the medication but it is always good to have some discussion with the patient, because that may be the only way you may pick erectile dysfunction in some of these men. Most of these men will not want to come out to tell you what they have. That will be my main message to the pharmacists.”

    On the impact of the training, Mr. Lere Bale said Pfizer Pharmacy Academy is totally about empowering pharmacists about the principles of patient management with medications and the whole objective is to enhance their knowledge, to give them tools to influence them so that they can have a change of attitude towards new medicines and see the importance of new medications, how much savings every new innovation can bring.

    Mr. Bale said every time a company comes up with a new medication, for every dollar you spend on new innovation you will save as much as eight dollars on hospitalisation. Typically which is costing the US economy 300 billion on both hospitalization and associated costs of manning for those people, and they will be able to build their skills on the particular therapy area.

    “They now have options or multiple options as to what they can do. It will also enhance their knowledge base on medication on the group of medication for that therapy area, which will therefore spur them into action to know that one can in a while they can pick the drug or they recommend the drug or pick a particular brand even though may be slightly higher in pricing it does not imply that it is cheaper overall. That you think a medicine is cheap does not mean the pharmacological profile, the biopharmaceutical profile of another, its creates more problem when the patient is going back to the hospital, the patient is going to be hospitalized, when the patient is taking a bed space that he shouldn’t have taken in the first instance, in a country like ours where we do not have enough bed space and so the compounding effects is more than imagined,” he said.

    Mr. Bale said; “We are also going to be looking at lessons to be learnt on those who will normally substitute or those who will normally say generics are better and without establishing that it is the same thing bio-pharmaceutically or in terms of bio- availability. So when this happen we believe that we will be able to learn some lessons from the experiences they will have before and begin to say NO. If somebody needed to be given this brand but you cannot use pricing alone to determine which the best to be picked is.

    “A number of people that will use pricing alone and does not have a means of protecting quality have become victims of substandard drugs; patients have had to have course perforations in typhoid. Many have been blinded on medications that they should have been able to use to manage Glaucoma. I can keep on reeling out virtually all family have been affected by failure of healthcare Practitioners to ensure and insists on people picking the right kind of medications.

    “Most times pharmacists have a particular tendency to have psychological attachment or to be emotionally moved when they see the dressing or they see the pictures of the patient in front of them and the feel oh don’t think these ones can afford, they just make up their mind. The person is seeing that he can’t afford this medication as an anti- hypertensive. The pharmacists is linking, all the total cost in a month but that same guy is taking a bottle of Guinness each day or he is buying aso-ebi which is far more expensive and so people have not actually address the value of medication as an integral part. People should know when you buy in to medication you are actually prolonging your life. You are improving your quality of life. People have put in priority in favor in other things like clothing, like parties and the rest of them. What they should be spending more money on as age is actually healthcare,” he stated.

  • Self-medication, major cause of kidney failure

    Self-medication, major cause of kidney failure

    James Senbanjo, who has midwifed kidney treatment and other life-threatening diseases for Nigerians at home and abroad through his Tunadel Medical Tours, speaks on the prevalence of kidney diseases in Nigeria and his organisation’s activities. He spoke to Gboyega Alaka.

    Tell us, what exactly is medical tourism?

    When we talk about medical tourism, it is when one gets treatment outside one’s place of residence. In Nigeria, we have challenges in our health sector, which are basically infrastructural. There are many medical personnel here who are well trained, but the instrument to work and exposure is not there. So I discovered that there are lots of Nigerians who have health issues and go online to look for hospitals outside the country that can assist them. But 80 to 90 per cent of them fall into wrong hands. The last time I was in India, I saw loads of Nigerians on the streets of India slaving to survive. They had gone over for treatment, but Indians have a way of – I won’t say deceiving you, but of not been totally forthcoming to you with all the facts. They may just tell you “OK you have a kidney problem, this is how much it’s going to cost you.” And then you plan with that amount, but on getting there you may find out that you need to spend extra money, and in the end, you find yourself roaming the streets, seeking help. Having worked with the Indians for years and I therefore thought I could come in and take up the burden. I’ll look for the best hospital for you, get you the best doctors, and even when necessary, set patients up on Skype with the person who’ll operate on them, so they can ask questions. They will tell you how much it will cost you and when you get there, you will pay exactly the same amount. We also make arrangement for the patients by meeting them at the airport and guiding them through to their hotel and hospital.

    How long have you been into this?

    I started Tunadel Medical Tourism Limited two years ago. But before then, I had been involved through Jawa, a pharmaceutical company in Isolo, Lagos, where I was regional business manager for Lagos. The organisation’s medical tourism arm, Jawa Saphera Medical Services, was directly under me for years; so that experience spurred me to set up. I read Industrial chemistry, I have a Masters in Public Health, and another in Managerial Psychology from the University of Lagos and an MBA from the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta. I’ve been in pharmaceuticals business for like 15 years.

    What actually spurred you into starting your own organisation?

    There were some things that I saw that I felt weren’t really encouraging. I also thought holding a medical camp here in Nigeria to avail those who can’t afford to travel the same quality of treatment in the country would be a great idea. So part of what we have done is bring in medical expatriates to take a look at the patients and treat them here, but if it is something they cannot handle, they then recommend for them to go to India. The last medical camp that we convened took place in Ibadan. We had about 250 patients and out of this number, about 45 per cent had renal failure. And like you may well know, our success rate for kidney transplants is very low, whereas India has a high success rate, having developed so much medically.  Last year, LASUTH did its first kidney transplant and it was successful, but people are still scared because they don’t want to be used as sample or specimen.

    How successful were the medical camps?

    So far, we’ve held two medical camps in Lagos and one in Ibadan. The first in Lagos had about 65 patients in attendance, out of which eight inevitably had to go to India, while others were put on just medication. Aside kidney, another major medical condition in hot demand was hip replacement.

    From your experience on the job, why do you think we have a lot of renal cases in Nigeria?

    The first reason is that a lot of us here do self-medication. At the medical camp we held in Ibadan, we found out that out of over 200 people, about 45 per cent had kidney diseases. Even teenagers had these kidney problems; and when we asked questions, we discovered that indiscriminate use of analgesics is the first cause. Somebody is having the slightest headache and the next thing is paracetamol, panadol or ibufen; and all these things go through the liver and the kidney and when you overwork the kidney, the kidney will go down. It is in this part of the world that somebody will tell you that two tablets of paracetamol do not work on his body, except he takes three or four. As good as paracetamol is, it can also be a poison.

    The same goes for agbo (local herbs) that we take. All these things can be toxic depending on how you use them. I’m not saying herbs are bad, but we don’t know the quantity that the body needs. In India they eat herbs, but they know the quantity; they know what they need to take at every point in time. Another thing is uncontrollable hypertension or high blood pressure.  When somebody has hypertension here, they go and see a cardiologist, and the next thing they’re given drugs, which lengthy use may ultimately affect the kidney. Again, when you’re taking pain relievers for a longer period, you kill your kidney. If you’re taking a pain reliever for thirty days, you should also be given some drugs as adjunct like anti-ulcer, so that the kidney will not be overworked.

    What is it about India that makes it a destination for medical issues?

    In India, their population has really helped them in that cost of labour is very cheap. So also the cost of living; but one thing they’ve got going for them is a well-developed health sector. And that’s because their government created an enabling environment for them and their doctors after training anywhere in the world, go back home to practice and contribute to the development of that sector. Compared to other parts of the world, the cost of treatment is also very cheap. I have a patient who lives in the UK but had to come to Nigeria to obtain an Indian visa to go to India for treatment. When I asked him why not in UK? He said, ‘No, I can’t’, apparently referring to the cost of the same treatment there. That is why you see Indian entrepreneurs come here and pay ridiculous salaries; they try to compare it with what people earn back home.

    What is the most memorable case you have handled?

    There are several, but one case that comes to mind is that of a 56 year-old man who had a spine problem and could barely walk a short distance without complaining of pain and fatigue. He came to one of our medical camps and the doctor took a look at him and told him he had to go to India. He went and three weeks after the surgery, he was completely different, healthy and fit. There is also the case of an 84 year-old woman, who couldn’t walk because she had knee problem. Ordinarily most women from the age of 60 and above do have problems with their knees, especially the fat ones, because of their weight. We call the treatment bi-lateral knee replacement. I discussed the matter with our orthopaedic surgeon, a professor, and he was like, ‘We did it for a 90 year-old back in India, let her come.’ Now she’s back in Nigeria fully fit.

    How fulfilled are you doing medical tourism?

    Very fulfilled. I’m seeing the patients and I’m sharing their pain. I’m happy seeing these women come back healthy and happy. There was the case of a woman who had ovarian cancer. It was initially thought to be fibroid. She underwent treatment in December and by February 12; she was back in Nigeria healed and happy. She told me that the amount of water taken out of her tummy was up to 100kg. I went to visit her at Christmas in India and I must say having a hand in such process gives me fulfilment.