Dr Iyke Durugbor issues medical advisory on disease conditions.
3 min read
US based medical doctor and high profile Akalite Dr Iyke Durugbo has issued a medical advisory to Umuaka and other communities within the locality on the possible and commonest disease conditions in the environment and their preventions and treatments. The medical doctor who is an obstetrician, gynecologist, epidemiologist and a preventive care specialist grouped the diseases into two categories mainly, the disease conditions caused by infections and infestation and the disease conditions not caused by infections and infestation but due to the lifestyle of the people in a particular area.
The Fellow, West African College of Surgeons (FWACS) went further to notify the people that the frequency of health conditions also depends on age, gender, education, socioeconomic status and location. In his message, “The common disease conditions due to infections and infestation include malaria, sexually transmitted infections such as gonorrhea and chlamydia infections and the associated complications.”
The Loma Linda University, California trained Doctor of Public Health and Preventive Care (DrPH) (in-view) further highlighted that “common disease conditions aside infections include high blood pressure (hypertension), high blood sugar content (diabetes), and the associated complications.”
The medical advisory from Dr Durugbor also went further to inform the people of the communities within Umuaka that all hopes are not lost as there are treatments and prevention. On the role individuals should play while ensuring treatment and prevention of diseases, Doctor Durugbor who holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Medicine & Surgery (MBBCH): Port Harcourt, Nigeria advised that “Anyone who doesn’t feel well should seek for medical checks and treatment very early through qualified medical personnel. At that point, treatment is cheaper and severe disease conditions and death can be prevented.”
On the challenge of blood pressure and blood sugar, Durugbor emphasized on the need “for healthy persons who are 18 years and above to ensure they get their blood pressure and blood sugar level checked at least once a year.” He further advised people to keep their environment clean, get healthy diet, and jettison smoking and alcohol consumption. He further cautioned people to avoid risky behaviours like unprotected sexual intercourse, multiple sexual partners and drug abuse. The health consequences of indulging in these behaviours are huge.
On the role the communities should play, he advocated for functional community health facilities and good health seeking behaviour. He appealed to all the autonomous communities in Umuaka and environs to endeavour to set up health facilities and called on the government at all levels to assist in this project.
“The communities can also embark on routine health fare, enlightenment and screening for specific diseases”.
On the role of government, he listed constant visits to the health centres by health and government officials. “The health centers should be sited by the government in each ward and the required medical personnel should be posted to serve the people”.
The government, in the views of Dr Durugbor should subsidize health care cost for the children, the pregnant women and the elderly people.
While carrying out the implementation of the above strategies, he advised the government to pursue the strategies in phases. “These strategies can be successfully implemented probably in phases where there is a well scripted road map, political will, sacrifice and absence of misappropriation when funds are made available.”
In his conclusion, hear him: “The high number of deaths and diseases in our environment can be curtailed with the collaborative efforts of the people, the community and the government. Health is wealth. A healthy population is not a chance thing rather a lot of work and sacrifice is required to make it happen.”
