File photo: a crowded classroom
There is scramble for hydrogen peroxide in Sekondi-Takoradi and its environs, as an antidote to Covid-19. Hydrogen peroxide is a mild antiseptic used on the skin to prevent infection of minor cuts, scrapes and burns. It is also used as mouth rinse to remove mucus or relieve minor mouth irritations.
Some residents of Sekondi -Takoradi say they see this antiseptic as a cure for the virus. Reports indicate that they usually buy it from drug stores without any prescription from a pharmacist or doctor, thus creating artificial shortage of the antiseptic.
The abusers are said to be drinking it after five to ten minutes mouth rinsing. Others also put hydrogen peroxide in their nostrils with a strong belief that it will kill every corona virus in their system.
Danger
A senior pharmacist at the Effia-Nkwanta Regional Hospital, Kodwo Apenteng, says this practice has the tendency of creating more health problems, and has therefore advised those involved to put a stop to it. He said it is not right for anybody to buy hydrogen peroxide without prescription from a pharmacist or doctor, and urged the scramblers to first seek medical advice.
The senior pharmacist also advised them to wait for the Food and Drugs Authority to confirm its potency as an antidote to Covid-19.
Fear and panic
In a related development, fear and panic have gripped parents at Adum Banso in the Mpohor District over congestion in Junior High Schools in their community. Some of them who spoke to the Daily Statesman lamented that there is a maximum number of 58 students in each classroom as against the 35 directed by the Ministry of Education.
They said this may lead to spread of Covid-19 among the students in all the five Junior High Schools in the community. They have, therefore, appealed to the district assembly to rectify the situation as early as possible.
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