KILLER OF NIGERIANS IN BRAZIL: Cautions Against The Terror 

 

By Adeyinka Olaiya/Brazil

If there is a silent killer tormenting the lives of most Nigerians living in Brazil , it is HEART ATTACK , the unconditional taker of lives in the Latin American country .

Heart attack , In the recent times , has robbed the lives of over 15 Nigerians living and plying their trades  in Brazil, the ratio has gone higher , it has increased since the inception of COVID 19 pandemic in the Latin American country.

Nigerians and other West African immigrants in Brazil are victims of these sudden deaths caused by heart attacks , many  fell suddenly and died in the streets of Brazil.

In fact, some gave the ghost while in bed, a lot died while walking on the streets of Brazil , some died asleep , they died without symptoms of previous illnesses, many fell and died off while walking and talking on the telephone in the streets of Saopaulo.

According to a Nigérian Medical Practitioner, Dr. Emmanuel Oluwatuyi “ This cause of death is common in the world of today , it’s one of the causes of untimely deaths in our society of today.

Nigerians are yet to take it serious, many gave the ghost suddenly in Brazil  because of their ignorance, they died of heart attacks because they didn’t take the preventive measures serious enough.

I have tried to enlighten most Nigerians , I do tell them to always do  check ups , they will never take you serious.

In fact , we had free general attendance offered by Nigerian doctors to help watch  the health of Nigerians most Nigerians living in Brazil , many would not even show up.

I am tired of telling them that prevention is better than cure , they won’t check their blood pressures, they won’t regulate their intake of foods , they won’t do exercises , they won’t sleep at the right time ,they won’t stop self medication.

I have told them to always consult Nigerian doctors so they can be able to explain better because of the language facility.

I am tired of telling them that Acute pulmonary endemic can also take lives ; that is when there is too much water in the lungs.

I am a doctor, we have many doctors here in Brazil that are cardiologists , they can always contact them for medical check ups. I love my people , that’s why I am the President of the Nigerian community in Brazil.

Thank you for writing about this issue ,it’s the duty of good journalism to correct the society , that’s what you are doing . Thank you “ he said

According to  Dr. Dele Yusuf, a Nigerian medical doctor and cardiologist,

“ Nigerians should be watchful.

Heart attack is simplified as the death of heart muscles due to the loss of blood supply. It can be subjected to some factors that are considered RISK FACTORS  , these includes:

-Age

-Sex

-Race or ethnicity

-Family history

The above factors do not depend on us we cannot change them, we can reduce the risks of heart attacks by steady control of the BP —measurement of BP at least once a year.

If hypertensive then it is necessary to do it regularly. However, several precautions are also important for a healthy life , these includes :

⁃Control  your weight

⁃Eat good food

⁃Control the level of cholesterol and triglycerides

⁃Regular exercise

⁃Avoid smoking

⁃Try to get enough sleep

⁃Control diabetes

⁃Limit alcoholic drinks

⁃Don’t stress yourself “ he advised .

Emeka Nnamdi Arum, Olawale Balogun , Anthony , Collins Benin , Olorunfemi , Prince and several other Nigerians gave the ghost suddenly, and the cause of these sudden deaths according to medical reports had to do with heart attacks.

Records  had it that Nigerians have been dying of heart  attacks in Brazil since the mid-90s , some also died of heart attacks even while in jail , the names of some Nigerians who died in prisons while serving jail terms could not even be linked to their respective families back home in Nigeria.

The Brazilian medical association said  that deaths caused by heart attacks is common among the black people than the white, the association reaffirmed that Africans should not be fooled that they are stronger than the white people , and so can not die of heart attacks.

The association advise that Nigerians and Africans in Brazil should always take care of their blood pressures, they said that excessive high blood pressure can lead to strokes  and eventual deaths , they advised to always do the rightful , make medical check ups at the right time .

Oba Adekunle Aderounmu , the Ogboni king and Yoruba traditionalist said that many Nigerians attributes these deaths to African charms , witchcrafts and all sorts , he advised that they should take care of themselves medically first and leave the rest to the tradition.

The traditional king who also is a graduate of Biochemistry from the University of Lagos said that sciences should not be confused with tradition.

In an interview with Mr Green Akang and Mr Ekpo of the Akwa Ibom and Calabar association in Brazil , they both said that the Akwa Ibom and Calabar people living in Brazil are constantly advised  to make check ups.

They claimed that is the reason why the Akwa Ibom and Calabar people living in Brazil are not victims of heart attack deaths

They advised that the Nigerian community should launch OPERATION  CHECK YOUR PRESSURE among Nigerians living  in Brazil “ This will save lives “ said Mr Ekpo.

Ethans Nicholas, the secretary of the Nigerian community in Brazil ( NICOM) said that the last time Nigerian doctors in Brazil offered free public attendance to all Nigerians in Brazil

They discovered that many Nigerians are having high blood pressures , diabetics without even knowing , he said that all these leads to heart attacks.

“The community and the Nigerian doctors in Saopaulo offered free medical attendance to Nigerians , they are still very ready to continue attending to Nigerians who look for them “ he said .