A Consultant Radiation and Clinical Oncologist at the Federal Medical Centre in Abeokuta, Ogun State, Bolaji Salako, has issued caution to Muslim faithfuls on the need to engage in healthy fasting exercise.

Salako said fasting during Ramadan can pose certain health risks, like kidney problems.

Speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, in Ibadan on Monday, Salako said dehydration during fasting posed a lot of concerns due to the hot climate.

He warned that fasting not properly observed can affect blood sugar level for those battling with diabetes.

“Not drinking water for long hours can lead to dehydration, which can result in fatigue, headaches, dizziness, and even more serious complications like kidney challenges if not addressed.

“It is crucial for fasting individuals to stay hydrated during non-fasting hours,” Salako said.

He also identified nutritional deficiencies because fasting involved abstaining from food and drink during daylight hours, which can sometimes lead to imbalances in nutrient intake.

Salako charged those engaging in fasting to consume balanced diets during non-fasting hours.

He said that consuming diets that are not balanced could potentially lead to deficiencies in essential vitamins and minerals if not managed properly.

“Additionally, fasting can affect blood sugar levels, especially for individuals with diabetes.

“It is important for those with diabetes and other diseases like hypertension and cancer to work closely with their medical doctors to adjust their medication schedules and monitor their health conditions carefully during Ramadan,” Salako said.

Some residents of Lagos have decried the non-implementation of the state government’s free antenatal and child delivery services at some General Hospitals and Primary Healthcare Centres in the state.

The residents spoke in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria on Sunday in Lagos.

NAN reports that Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, had, during a media chat on February 22, announced sweeping interventions which the state would be implementing to reduce the effects of the current economic hardship on its citizens.

On health, Sanwo-Olu reintroduced a free child delivery programme for expectant mothers in all the state-owned General Hospitals and special maternity centres.

According to the governor, the state government will take up the cost of the child delivery, including caesarean section.

It would also reduce the cost of certain drugs, such as hypertension medication.

The residents said that the free antenatal and child delivery services were lip-service, stressing that the hospitals charged for every service rendered.

Mrs Funmilayo Olatunji, a trader who delivered at Ikorodu Health Centre, Ita-Elewa, said that delivery wasn’t free at the centre.

“I had normal delivery at the centre in February 2024. We paid N8,000 for child delivery fees, N10,500 for vaginal tear, and a carton of Maltina.

“I’m surprised to hear that the child delivery service was meant to be free at government facilities because the reverse was my experience,” she said.

Similarly, Mr Michael Adebiyi, whose wife delivered at Ikorodu General Hospital, Ebute, said he spent over N250,000 for caesarean section delivery and consumables at the hospital.

“My wife gave birth in February, and we paid for everything needed for the delivery from blood to caesarean section charges.

“Nothing was free; in fact, I’m still owing some people because I had to run around to source for the money.

“I was happy when I heard last year that expectant mothers would enjoy free child delivery services at government health facilities as part of relief measures to ease economic burden on families.

“The government should put mechanism in place to ensure that policies made truly impact on the lives of citizens,” he said.

Also, Mrs Stella Nwosu, a hairstylist, said that she switched to a trado-medical centre for antenatal and child delivery due to the high service charges.

“Sometimes in September, I went to Amuwo-Odofin General Hospital to register for antenatal service and was told to pay ₦30,000.

“We couldn’t afford it because every child care item is expensive and to feed is even a challenge. My mother-in-law took me to a traditional birth attendant, and I delivered my baby there,” she said.

A healthcare worker, who pleaded anonymity, told NAN that many pregnant women pay out-of-pocket for antenatal and delivery services at many government-owned facilities.

She opined that the programme required improved planning, compliance monitoring, and management for sustainability.

The healthcare worker noted that the economic situation of the country, which led to increased cost of products, especially medicines and healthcare services, would worsen the plight of couples with unplanned pregnancy.

She advised couples to take smart decisions, stressing that child care was a lifelong socio-economic experience that extends beyond access to free antenatal and child delivery services.

NAN reports that Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, also in 2023, during the state’s Security Council meeting on July 31, 2023, had directed General Hospitals and Primary Health Care Centres to offer free antenatal care and child delivery services.

This is part of relief measures to ease the burden of the fuel subsidy removal.

The medical intervention will cover the cost of antenatal care, including the cost of registration and ANC clinics, as well as normal and cesarean section child delivery services.

It also seeks to increase access to quality maternal and child health services in line with the state government’s Universal Health Coverage attainment drive.

NAN

Benue State is currently struggling with a Lassa fever outbreak that has claimed the lives of nine individuals in the past two months.

The state epidemiologist, Dr. Sam Ngishe, revealed this to newsmen on Thursday, noting that some of the deceased were residing in Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camps.

“From our report so far, the IDP camp has a high population of rats. So, if the rats transmitting are within the IDP camps, it means that we need to work hard so we don’t have an outbreak that will be difficult to control,” the epidemiologist said.

He stated that 46 people, including health workers and IDPs, have been affected by the disease across the state.

Ngishe stated that four cases were identified among displaced persons at the Ortese IDP camp in the Guma Local Government Area, and that the disease had spread to seven of the 23 local government areas of the state, including Obi, Okpokwu, Gwer West, Makurdi, Guma, Gwer East, and Ukum.

He said, “nine deaths in confirmed cases and they have been buried in accordance with safe burial protocols across the various areas of the state where they hail from.”

The epidemiologist stated that, to address the outbreak, the state government had implemented safe burial protocols for the deceased and was intensifying efforts to reduce the fatality rate, which was currently above the national average of 10 percent.

Ngishe stated the importance of enhanced surveillance, risk communication, and community engagement to mitigate the spread of the disease.

He also pointed to the challenges posed by the IDP camp environment, including poor sanitation, overcrowding, and malnutrition, which contribute to the spread of infectious diseases.

“There is active surveillance going on in the community (housing Ortese IDP camp) as you know that the IDP camp is a cluster setting with very poor infection control in terms of poor sanitation, crowded environment and they have issues of malnutrition,” he noted.