The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, advises Nigerians against subjecting themselves to long-hour fasting, saying it is risky to their kidneys.
The Director General Of NAFDAC, Professor Mojisola Adeyeye, who attributed the high rate of kidney problems in Nigeria to prolonged fasting by some religious adherents, insisted that those subjecting themselves to prolonged fasting on religious grounds must moderate the act.
She spoke in Abuja yesterday, while briefing the media on the breakthrough by her agency in tracking high consignments of tramadol and other pharmaceuticals to the republic of Benin.
Adeyeye, who tasked Nigerians to fast but with common sense, otherwise they will pay with our kidneys.
Speaking on the unending influx of unregulated pharmaceutical products into the country, Adeyeye explained that the water level in the human body must be enough to make the organs to function.
She lamented that some people fast for 10 or 20 days and drink only little or no water, stressing that by doing so, the kidney is being punished.
She said: “We are a very religious country, Muslims and Christians fast a lot and it is part of the kidney problem. Your body has to have homeostatic balance, meaning that the water level in your body must be enough to make your organs to function.
“Some people will fast for 10 or 20 days and drink only little water, the kidney is being punished. Now, if you put chemicals in it, it triples in exponential manner, it damages the kidney because the kidney doesn’t have water to dilute and filter. If you must fast, I will advise you fast with common sense. If not, we will pay with our kidneys.”
Adeyeye also urged Nigerians to always buy their drugs from registered pharmacies, instead of hawkers or unregulated open drug markets.
