Unilorin Professor Talks About Dangers Of Misusing Antibiotics At MERA’s Year-End Party In Ilorin

The misuse of antibiotics has the potential to wreak more havoc than the Covid-19 pandemic has done and those who are impecunious will be the worst hit, antibiotic overuse will also strengthen bacteria and this potentially develops resistance while an infection becoming impossible to treat is one of its aftereffects, a health practitioner, has warned.

Professor Ali Ajibola Akanbi, a lecturer at the Faculty of Basic Clinical Sciences, University of Ilorin, said this on Saturday during the ‘Health Talk’ programme organized by the Mandate Estate Residents Association , (MERA) , Hajj Camp Road, Ilorin  which was part of the activities and programmes for the association’s   2023 Year-End party.

Recall that Alexander Fleming discovered the first antibiotic, penicillin in 1928, Prontosil, the first commercially available antibacterial  also surfaced in the 1930s while penicillin was introduced on a large scale as a treatment for bacterial infections in 1945.

1940  to 1962  marked the golden era of antibiotics as most of the antibiotic classes  available today were discovered and introduced to the market during the period in question. 

Professor Ali Ajibola Akanbi , who urged co-health practitioners  to  exercise caution while prescribing antibiotic drugs for patients  , noted that,  malaria a common disease, is parasitic and not an infection and will  therefore not require  the use of antibiotic drugs.

 ‘Malaria is parasitic and not an infection, yes, some will say people practice medicine for money but malaria is not an infection.  The patients also have a fair share of blame;  as a patient, don’t tell the doctor the drug you want.  Antibiotics drugs are overused these days  and they do not cure infections anymore, we must take remedial steps without delay’ he said.

Akanbi also warned that drugs contain chemical substances  and too much of it will  therefore have side effects while lamenting that antibiotic drugs are displayed and sold by the women like other items at marketplaces.

‘Drugs are to be stored at proper temperatures  but you have these antibiotic drugs displayed like other items at marketplaces  and when someone feels unwell, he or she will say help me buy capsule oloja, this is not something that should be encouraged’ he said.

Akanbi also emphasized the importance of observing dosage regimen and completing  antibiotic dose.

‘One other thing is that  when someone feels unwell and he or she has gotten  a prescription and he or she feels well  after taking it for one or two days, people usually do not bother to  complete it anymore and the bacteria responsible for your illness might not get completely killed.

It is important to take your medications as prescribed, the right dose at the right time and in the right way and frequency’ he noted.

 Giving his speech, MERA chairman, Mr. Abdulganiyu Oloyin, who noted that ‘in the past twelve months, our community has maintained high level of peaceful and harmonious living’, also thanked residents of the estate for their unwavering support and commitment to the growth and progress of the community.

He wished residents of the estate a prosperous year while also giving account of his stewardship.

‘Since the inception of this administration, we have put in our best and recorded some remarkable achievements, which include but not limited to;

 Installation of the third leg upriser cable of Phase II transformer; 

 Reconstruction of the fallen fence at Isin Road, which has been a reoccurring issue, thanks to Allah that we have gotten it fixed, after different experts were invited to give their opinions on getting a  long lasting solution;

 Reconstruction of damaged and fallen culvert along Mandate Square, 1st Avenue, 4th Avenue, 5th Avenue, in Phase I and Oyun, Ilorin West, Ilorin South, Isin Road and Patigi Roads in Phase II;

 Regular contact with the IBEDC to ensure that power is stable in the estate and ensure that all electricity issues in the estate are fixed without delay;

 Regular meetings and dialogue with our members;

Regular maintenance of  roads within the Estate through filling of  pot holes;

 Regular engagement with the neighbouring communities;

 We  have operated an open door policy with our members;

 Increment of salary of MERA staff  on two occasions in the last twelve months and presentation of Sallah and Christmas Bonuses to them;

Redesigning of the Proposed Estate Clinic project to meet the basic health needs of residents of the estate’ he said.

Oloyin also disclosed that his administration has begun to take necessary steps to ensure that the dream of having a functional clinic at the estate comes to fruition while urging all to support this noble cause.

‘Fellow residents, I would like to use this opportunity to share with you an exciting proposal that we have been working on tirelessly, the Mandate clinic! As we all know, access to quality healthcare is a fundamental right that every individual should have.

This proposed Mandate Clinic aims to bridge the gap by providing accessible and affordable healthcare services to all members of our community. It will serve as a primary healthcare centre, offering a wide range of medical services, including general check-ups, vaccinations and basic treatments.

 Additionally, we plan to collaborate with government agencies and healthcare professionals to provide specialized services and consultations.

However, the success of this project relies heavily on the support and cooperation of our members. I humbly request every resident to extend his/her support in any way possible, through financial contributions, volunteering time and expertise, or spreading awareness about this noble cause.

I firmly believe that by coming together as a community, we can make this dream a reality. Let us join hands and work towards the establishment of this clinic that will not only benefit us but also future generations to come’ he submitted.   

Earlier, Chairman of the occasion, Alhaji Isa Bawa , who was represented by  Alhaji Ibrahim Dan Asabe , had noted that the year-end party is an annual event and commended  members of the current MERA exco for sustaining this while adding that residents of the estate ‘live together harmoniously , speak with one voice and ready to welcome new faces’.

Senator Salihu Mustapha, Rep Muktar Shagaya, Alhaji Razaq Jidda, Engineer Kale Kawu, Alhaji Mohammed Basambo, Alhaji Abdul Aiyelabegan, Alhaji Ibrahim Dan Asabe and others were honoured with ‘Award of Excellence’ during the event in recognition of their altruistic acts and service to humanity.

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Team@orientactualmags.com learned that the organizing Committee headed by Dr AbdulRazaq had also  on Friday organized a football match between residents of Phase 1 and Phase 2 in the estate which featured old and young men. In the young men category, the match ended 5-1 in favour of Phase 1 while  the old men category ended in a draw-Team@orientactualmags.com
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