Nigerians dump hospitals for healing water, soap as miracle competes with medicine

Due to the unregulated actions of fraudulent pastors and the abundance of churches in the nation, many Nigerians seeking spiritual healing and miracle cures are turning away from traditional medicine. They seek assistance inadvertently, from miraculous water to heavenly intervention.

Ibrahim Adeogun's preventable death still causes his loved ones great emotional suffering, even though it was more than two years ago.

His fiancee, Mary, is said to have forced him to stop taking his medication and brought him to a church for recovery, but his family still feels their son could still be alive.

When Adeogun reportedly collapsed on Tuesday night and was taken to a hospital in the Oremeta neighbourhood of Agbado, Ogun State, his life took an abrupt and dramatic change.

Adeogun, a painter who is in his early 30s was diagnosed with high blood pressure, a silent killer that had been lurking in the shadows, waiting to strike.

After spending several days in the hospital, Adeogun was discharged with a stern warning from his doctor; stick to the medication, avoid salty foods, and return for regular check-ups.

But Mary had other plans. Believing that divine intervention was the key to Adeogun’s recovery, she turned to her pastor for help.

The pastor’s solution was simple: a bottle of ‘miracle healing water’ that would cure Adeogun’s high blood pressure once and for all.

With renewed fervour, Mary replaced Adeogun’s medical regimen with the pastor’s miracle water. Hospital visits were replaced by church services, and the doctor’s instructions were cast aside in favour of faith.

Adeogun, despite his reservations, followed Mary’s lead, consuming the water daily and immersing himself in spiritual practices.

As the months went by, Adeogun's health declined but Mary's faith remained unwavering. His strength declined and his blood pressure rose to dangerous heights. Although Mary held to the hope that their religion would prevail over the health issues, it was impossible to deny the fact that Adeogun's condition was getting worse.

The preacher didn't confront the hard reality until Adeogun's condition deteriorated. He begged Mary to take Adeogun back to the hospital, expressing regret and urgency. It was too late to realise this. Adeogun's body was already nearing collapse as the ambulance sped through the streets, his organs caving down to the unrelenting pressure.

It was evident that the damage was irreparable by the time they got to the hospital. Adeogun's corpse has succumbed to unchecked high blood pressure, and despite the frantic efforts of the medical staff, he could not be saved.

Speaking, Adeogun’s sister, Kafayat insisted that his brother died due to negligence and continuous patronage of some spiritual healers rather than visiting the hospital.

Miracle Oil

“What happened to my brother has a medical solution. Blood Pressure is hereditary for us because I also have it, but his fiancee decided to ghost us and feed him with healing water and continue to take him to church rather than hospital.

“In fact, on the day he died, he was at the church, it was when they discovered that the ailment had become worse and they may end up losing him that they took him to the hospital.

“We were all at the hospital when a doctor told him what he should be doing to avoid a rise in his blood pressure. We expected his fiancee to support him and encourage regular check-ups, but, unfortunately, she took my brother to church, and his life was cut short,” she expressed in Yoruba.

Kafayat lamented that his dead brother was the breadwinner of the family and since his death, they have not been able to recover from the loss.

She stated, “My brother was supportive and his loss was a big blow to us. We are unable to move on, especially for the fact that what led to his death could have been prevented. A lot of people have high blood pressure and they don’t end up dying, so, it is painful that he died of something that can be medically managed.”

Adeogun's tragic death was only one instance in a growing trend of people shunning medical professionals and hospitals in favour of dubious cures like healing water and divine intervention.

It was found that this was not just the case for the ignorant or those living in rural areas; educated Nigerians were also looking for miracle treatments, frequently with disastrous results, even in urban areas.

In a nation where access to high-quality medical care is scarce, many people in need resorted to alternative or spiritual therapies.

Miracle healing water and other counterfeit spiritual treatments have become a big business in Nigeria. Self-styled prophets, pastors, and traditional healers assert that they have supernatural abilities to use "holy" water, oils, or other substances to cure any illness, from HIV/AIDS to cancer using “holy” water, oils, or powders.

These charlatans prey on vulnerable patients, often those who have been diagnosed with terminal illnesses or have exhausted conventional treatment options. They promise instant cures, claiming their remedies are divinely ordained and scientifically proven.

However, these remedies are often nothing more than tap water, vegetable oil, or powdered herbs, sold at exorbitant prices.

In some cases, they may contain harmful substances that can worsen the patient’s condition or interact with prescribed medications.

The false promises of these miracle healers make patients abandon conventional treatment, causing them to present late at hospitals with advanced stages of their illnesses.

This shift towards spiritual and miracle-based remedies, despite the availability of conventional medical treatments, raises significant concerns about healthcare practices and beliefs in the country.

Another avoidable death

A medical doctor identified as Evelyn, shared a troubling perspective on how faith healers can adversely impact patient care, shedding light on a controversial issue within the medical community.

While in medical school, Evelyn said she was perplexed by the hostility some professors, especially surgeons, exhibited toward religious leaders.
She added, "I used to think it was strange how the professors hated pastors."

But her medical experiences quickly made their contempt evident.

She first witnessed the negative consequences of faith-based healing in the case of a 50-year-old breast cancer patient.
As she related the heartbreaking tale, Evelyn said, "The woman sought spiritual intervention rather than medical treatment, aware of her worsening condition." A preacher took her into a church complex and told her to stay there while her cancer spread unchecked for eight months.

By the time the woman's family was unable to pay the pastor's demands for "miracle offerings," the cancer had spread to her spine, resulting in serious infections and paralysis. In the end, she was requested to exit the church and seek medical attention at a hospital. Sadly, she died a few weeks later.”

Evelyn noted that faith healers and traditional medical fraudsters can sometimes hinder proper medical treatment, leading to preventable deaths.

The medical doctor argued that this contributes to the country’s poor cancer survival rates and raises questions about the efficacy of modern miracles.

“In all my years as a doctor, I have never seen a single patient with a terminal disease get healed by a pastor,” she asserted.

The allure of miracle cures
The attraction of miracle cures, such as healing waters and spiritual interventions, lies in their promise of instant and divine relief.

For many, these remedies offer hope where conventional medicine seems slow or ineffective.

In a country where the healthcare system is often strained, and the cost of medical care can be prohibitive, the appeal of a quick, cost-free solution becomes even more compelling.

In recent times, pastor-led churches and spiritual healing centres have become increasingly popular, with numerous testimonials claiming miraculous recoveries from various ailments.

It was discovered that these places often provide an accessible and affordable alternative to the sometimes inaccessible or expensive conventional healthcare system.

The blend of faith and the promise of divine intervention creates a potent mix that draws in individuals desperate for a solution.
Recently, there have been reported cases of faith-based organisations selling miracle water, oil, and soap, among others to their members as remedies for some of their chronic diseases.

Prophet Jeremiah Fufeyin

One such is Prophet Jeremiah Fufeyin whose “miracle” water and soap recently generated widespread attention.https://healthwise.punchng.com/nafdac-shuts-down-miracle-water-factory-probes-prophet-jeremiah/

Fufeyin, the head of Delta State's Christ MercyLand Delivery Ministries, has been endorsing these goods and asserting that they can cure infertility and ensure that women would conceive twins.

However, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control issued a warning to Nigerians, advising them not to buy the prophet's advertised and sold "miracle" water, soap, perfumes, and other goods.https://healthwise.punchng.com/why-pastor-jeremiahs-miracle-
water-soap-dg-nafdac-investigating/