Public cautioned against advertisements on aphrodisiacs

Winneba (C/R), Dec. 2, GNA - Dr Charles Ntiahmoah Takyi, Deputy Central Regional Director of Health Services in charge of Clinical Care, has cautioned the citizenry, particularly sexually active men and young men, against the use of various types of aphrodisiacs being advertised on radio and television and in the newspapers.

Manufacturers of such alcoholic beverages claim their products could heal impotence and give men suffering from such problem extra sexual power.

He advised men who have been lured into the use of such alcoholic beverages to be very careful because they could cause severe damage to their intestines.

Dr Takyi challenged producers of such drinks to send their =93so-called=94 herbal and roots medicines to the authorities of the Akuapim-Mampong Centre for Research into Plant Medicine for intensive scientific research and approval.

Speaking to the Ghana News Agency on the issue at Winneba after attending the 11th congregation at the University of Education, Winneba, Dr Takyi expressed regret that the intensive radio advertisement on the so-called aphrodisiacs was rapidly turning young men in the country into alcoholics.

The situation, Dr Takyi contended, did not augur well for the socio-economic and spiritual development of the nation. The Deputy Regional Health Director, also charged manufacturers of such alcoholic drinks who have erected giant billboards alongside the country's highways to add accompanying "health messages" to forewarning users of the highways, especially commercial vehicle drivers to help reduce road accidents.

He suggested such useful messages like "Please don't take in any form of alcoholic beverage while driving", "Abstain from alcoholic drinks when you decide to run a vehicle because that is the Master Key to safe driving".