The president returned to the country on Friday, March 10 after an extended medical vacation in London and Professor Williams, in an interview with The Nation, said the president’s blood transfusion was an indication that he was anaemic.
He said: “We now have a pretty good idea of diagnosis, which is now comprehensive or good enough to say that the diagnosis of President Buhari’s illness is anaemia.
“You cannot be transfused if you don’t have anaemia.”
“The negative clinical findings on the president that was published in The Nation on Feb 26, 2017 has been confirmed by the disclosure that the President was transfused with whole blood.
“In a previous photo of his hands prior to transfusion his nail beds were very pale indicative of clinical anaemia. The subsequent photograph of his hands that was analyzed showed that he was no longer clinically anaemic.
“The clinical history given by Mr. President that for the past 18 months he had been lethargic and feeling tired prior to his vacation is consistent with tiredness due to anaemia.
“Regaining his strength after transfusions that facilitated his return home suggests that the anaemia had been corrected successfully.
“There is therefore a preliminary diagnosis of anaemia meaning insufficient blood in the circulation.
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“When this happens many organs including the brain, heart, liver, kidneys and lungs are starved of oxygen that is carried by blood to all parts of the body for efficient functioning of the person. “Sudden loss of blood as in road traffic accidents could be fatal. In this case the anaemia has been insidious and gradual over time.”
Continuing, Prof Williams said: “The question that arises in the absence of information, which is understandable, is the cause of the anaemia.
“The only information that can be gleaned from the Presidents history on arrival is his admonition against self medication. By so doing is he giving us some more relevant information that he had been told in London?
“This is the first time that a President advises that all citizens should trust their doctors and refrain from self medication. Is it possible that his anaemia is drug induced or drug related and that investigations in London revealed this? We do not know. If this is true common pain relieving drugs like Panadol may cause kidney damage and give rise to anaemia for which he received transfusions.
“Alternatively certain drugs also cause liver damage and anaemia but this is unlikely in his case since he was not jaundiced.”
“There are so many other causes of anaemia that cannot be dealt with here.”
“Of relevance to our last observation is the possibility that this may be anaemia related to some type of cancer that must be ruled out. Looking at the photos on arrival there is one suspicious positive finding and that his loss of muscle mass on the face in the area of the zygomatic arch below the ears.
“This is either due to some cancer somewhere or due to aging.”
The professor noted that the president’s disclosure might be a wake-up call to Nigerians to avoid over the counter medication.
“Protection of privacy is an extremely important feature in a democracy,” he said, adding: “however we, the people, have elected the President and are paying his salary and upkeep.
“We are therefore entitled to be concerned and to know that he has a sound mind in a sound body to govern us appropriately and effectively.
“There is really no need for secrecy because we are all mortals destined for the departure lounge en route to the other side called Heaven.
“The unfortunate aspect of the Nigerian life and society is that any health challenge can be exploited for political reasons, and may be used and abused by aspirants to high office. This is an unhealthy trend that must be discouraged in our national polity.”
“Protection of privacy is an extremely important feature in a democracy, however we, the people, have elected the President and are paying his salary and upkeep.
“We are therefore entitled to be concerned and to know that he has a sound mind in a sound body to govern us appropriately and effectively.
“There is really no need for secrecy because we are all mortals destined for the departure lounge en route to the other side called Heaven.
“The unfortunate aspect of the Nigerian life and society is that any health challenge can be exploited for political reasons, and may be used and abused by aspirants to high office. This is an unhealthy trend that must be discouraged in our national polity.”
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