Seadogs advocate science-based healthcare, warn against misconceptions on sudden death
The First Vice President of the National Association of Seadogs (Pyrates Confraternity), Zuma Deck, Abuja, Hassan Mohammed, has urged Nigerians to prioritise science-based healthcare and regular medical check-ups, warning that
The First Vice President of the National Association of Seadogs (Pyrates Confraternity), Zuma Deck, Abuja, Hassan Mohammed, has urged Nigerians to prioritise science-based healthcare and regular medical check-ups, warning that ignorance and reliance on unverified beliefs are contributing to the growing cases of sudden deaths across the country.
This was as he led a public awareness walk on the streets of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) on Saturday to mark this year’s World Health Day with the aim of promoting scientific approaches to healthcare and discouraging harmful misconceptions about sudden deaths.
Mohammed said the exercise, though coming days after the official commemoration of World Health Day on April 7, was part of the association’s annual commitment to public enlightenment on critical health issues.
According to him, the theme of the engagement, ‘Together for Science’, underscores the central role of science in achieving effective healthcare outcomes and preventing avoidable deaths.
“We strongly believe that science is central to achieving proper healthcare outcomes. This outreach is aimed at creating awareness so that people understand what they need to do regarding their health,” Mohammed stated.
He explained that the campaign was designed to encourage Nigerians to take their health seriously by embracing medical science as the foundation for diagnosis and treatment, rather than resorting to unverified alternatives.
“Essentially, we are engaging members of the public to take their health seriously by embracing science as their guiding principle. People should undergo proper medical tests before taking any medication. They should visit hospitals, consult qualified medical professionals, and avoid patronising quacks. This way, they can receive accurate diagnoses and appropriate treatment,” he said.
Mohammed expressed concern over the increasing cases of sudden deaths, attributing many of them to undiagnosed medical conditions and poor health-seeking behaviour among Nigerians.
“On the issue of sudden death, we are witnessing many cases in society today. Often, this happens because people do not seek medical attention or go for routine check-ups,” he noted.
He cited hypertension as a common but often undetected condition that has led to preventable fatalities.
“For instance, some individuals are hypertensive without knowing it because they feel physically strong. If they had visited a hospital earlier, they would have been diagnosed and placed on appropriate treatment, which could prevent such tragic outcomes,” he said.
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Drawing from personal experience, Mohammed said: “I have had a personal experience where I believed I was perfectly healthy until I went to the hospital for routine checks and discovered underlying issues.” he added.
He stressed that the association’s message was to educate the public on the importance of proactive healthcare and to dispel myths surrounding sudden deaths.
Also speaking, Chairman of the Advocacy Committee of the association, Barrister Charles Ndukwe, said
the awareness drive would be complemented by a virtual lecture scheduled for 8 p.m. on the same day, focusing on the theme: ‘Sudden Death: Empiricism versus Diabolism’.
He identified poor health-seeking habits, self-medication, and dependence on anecdotal experiences as major challenges confronting effective healthcare delivery in the country.
