Doctors in Rivers State are worried, as the number of deaths caused by the consumption of locally brewed gin known as Ogogoro has now reached 66.
The Ministry of Health in the State gave the new figures on Friday, days after the first death was recorded.
The Ministry noted that deaths have so far been recorded in Obio Akpor, Bonny and Gokana Local Government Areas.
The National Association of Resident Doctors of Nigeria (NARD) in a press briefing in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State’s capital, has step up stringent measures that will curtail the production and distribution of what the group called a deadly poison.
The National President of NARD, Prince Dan-Jumbo, at the press briefing urged State governments that are yet to pay their members monthly salaries form 5-7 months to do so.
According to him, Oyo, Osun, Benue, Nassarawa, Imo, Abia and Lagos State are owing 2013 and 2014 months salaries while and Rivers State had two months outstanding.
Meanwhile, the level of compliance to the ban on the sale of the local gin is still in question, as some peddlers of the product are still sighted on the street.
