Omotesho Olumuyiwa, Chief Medical Officer Health Services, University of Ilorin, has enjoined Nigerians to apply economic principle scale of preference and take appropriate measures to keep themselves safe in spite the economic hardship.
Olumuyiwa in an interview with BusinessDay Sunday posits that economic woes and difficulties nowadays have a lot of impact “on our health therefore; we have to be cautious and manage the situation accordingly.”
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According to him, “In this hardship period, nutrition is first, balanced diet has to be maintained. Food is a necessity and not optional. We need to eat and plan to have all classes of foods such as; carbohydrate, protein, fat and oil, mineral and multivitamins. Allah these have present in what we eat.
“Nowadays, foods are very expensive even beyond the reach of many people but we just have to make every effort to eat the balanced diet. The cost of drugs is high thus, one has to prioritise his or her health by doing the needful to prevent ailments rather than cure.
“Health emergency could arise from not eating on time. Sudden faint, attack even convulsion as a results of low sugar level in the blood. So, ensure you have enough energy and precautions.
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“Food, and healthy living are very important. The people who already have health challenges especially adults, with diabetes, hypertension need to take extra care because there is no option, they have to attend their clinic, so that their health would be maintained.”
Speaking further, he noted that children that are prone to low protein diet would manifest into malnutrition, (Marasmus, Kwashiorkor), adding that parents have to ensure that as they grow, they consume adequate protein content in their food. Beans, milk, eggs, meat or chicken. at least, one should be present.
The Medical practitioner had while encouraging people to prioritise their health, recommended that, “when you notice unusual occurrence in your body; take appropriate evaluation and see physician.
“Because of the economic constraints, people are prone to improper reactions, as lots of things may be coming to minds. Therefore, apply economic principle of scale of preference. Attend to life matter first and avoid things that can lead or cause threat to life because of transferred aggression.
“Be happy as much as possible, find time to relax, listen to music, pray, interact with other people to have psychological and spiritual state of mind.”
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Olumuyiwa, however, urged relevant stakeholders, including NGOs and institutions to assist the needy in this difficult time.
Meanwhile, it was gathered that the rate at which people just die all of a sudden is becoming alarming. Most Nigerians are in a period of frustration, depression, stress, craziness, lunatics on the street, among other resultant effects of economic crunch, calling for stringent measures to attain a better life.
