Sudden Death n Blindness Linked To Consumption Of Ogogoro

The sudden death of some resident at Ode Irele in Ondo State has been linked to local gin consumption, (Ogogoro).
Medical Chief Professor Temitope Alonge who stated that the state of health of the five patients rushed to the hospital from Ode Irele in the wake of the health crisis, disclosed that one out of the five completely blind patients that were brought to the UCH has fully recovered, while the other four are still receiving treatment.

Jero, is one of the victim of Ode-Irele methanol poisoning, a father of six, who is a vulcaniser, shared his ordeal:

“By the time I was brought here, I had gone blind. I could not identify my wife, I could not identify anything. I did not even know when I arrived here. “But I thank God and the management and staff of University College Hospital, UCH, for bailing me out. I can see all of you here clearly. I can even identify the clothes each one of you is putting on.”

The victim commended the teaching hospital for its timely medical intervention which he said saved his life. Meantime, UCH management, yesterday, confirmed that five victims of Ode-Irele methanol poisoning were responding to treatment.

The victims were said to have taken the methanol while consuming a local gin. Confirming that the toxin was detected in the blood and urine of the victims, Professor Temitope Alonge, Chief Medical Director, UCH, said the five victims were transferred to the teaching hospital on April 18 adding that they had regained their lost sight as a result of taking the chemical. Alonge, who said this while speaking with newsmen in Ibadan, warned people to be wary of taking local gin so as to avoid s similar unpleasant experience.

According to the CMD, series of tests were carried out on the victims and the samples of the three drinks they took. The medical practitioner said: “On April 18, the Consultant Pathologist with the Ondo State Ministry of Health, Dr Osasan, called to seek the assistance of the University College Hospital, Ibadan, in the management of five patients who survived the Ode-Irele neuro-toxicity saga who were completely blind.

 ‘’We agreed to take over the management of the patients but requested for the samples of the local gin that were incriminated along the fresh blood and urine samples of the patients. ‘’I contacted the consultant neurologist on call, Dr Steeve Oluwole for a comprehensive evaluation of the patients because of the clinical presentation of the patients that had died and the ones that survived since they all pointed to neurotoxicity.