Medical practitioners in Ondo State have raised the alarm over reported cases of liver and kidney diseases among young people, expressing concern over the possible health risks associated with fake and adulterated alcoholic beverages.
The State Chairman of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Dr. Roland Arohunmolase, said doctors were increasingly encountering cases of liver cirrhosis among teenagers and young adults aged between 22 and 30.
He described the trend as disturbing, noting that severe liver conditions were traditionally less common among people in that age bracket.
The association, however, stressed the need for further investigations to establish the extent to which unsafe alcoholic beverages contribute to the reported cases.
The NMA expressed concern that fake and adulterated drinks were reportedly finding their way beyond informal markets into supermarkets, hotels and bars, potentially exposing more consumers to serious health risks.
It warned that the consumption of such products could have devastating health consequences and called for urgent action to check their circulation.
The association urged the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) and other relevant regulatory agencies to strengthen surveillance, seize unsafe beverages and prosecute individuals found culpable.
It also called for stricter enforcement of existing regulations and greater vigilance across the beverage supply chain to ensure that products sold to the public meet required safety and quality standards.
