WHEN WHO SAYS ALCOHOL BASED SANITIZER

The outbreak of Covid-19 has turned most Nigerians to pharmacists and chemists - producing "hand sanitizer". This development has posed a serious risk to our society as these producers see it as an opportunity to make money the usual "Nigerian way".

What does WHO mean by alcohol? Alcohol (alkanol) is a big family that comprises of many members. The average Nigerian experimenting with production of hand sanitizer will be exposed to at least four types of alcohols.

Are all these effective for the purpose?

These alcohols are:

1. Ethanol ( going by our local names ogogoro, akaikai, ufofup): This is the most effective of all the alcohols that WHO recommend in antisepsis (sanitizing). Strangely, no one is using this because they do not want their product to look as if it is local. They do not want people to know their formulation. They want their sanitizer to appear foreign hence they avoid using ethanol which is far most effective.

2. Isopropanol (IPA): The next alcohol that is equivalent with ethanol in antisepsis (sanitizing) is IPA. Many producers at this time want a product that is formulated with IPA so as to make it look foreign and superior to those with local raw material. The challenge they however have is cost. A litre of IPA which was 1200naira three weeks ago now cost 1800naira. So this cost factor makes sanitizer makers to desire an alternate raw material, but not locally sourced.

3. Methanol: This is what a lot of sanitizer makers now use to cut cost. A litre of Methanol is only 800naira now. It appears almost same way as IPA but is not in the list of alcohols for antisepsis.

4. Glycerol: This is a tertiary class of alcohol which is in strict sense not a requirement for sanitizers but can be optionally used to serve as moisturizer. This will make the product to have nice feel.

All these Methanol based sanitizers people are parading about with is doing more harm than good. This is because someone who will naturally not shake hands will comfortably do that because he/she has sanitizer to use thereafter.

Please handwash with soap in running tap is still the best bet. Employ social distancing. Use sanitizer from only trusted producers

IT IS NOT UNTIL YOU HAVE HAND SANITIZER TO COMBAT COVID-19

The status of Coronavirus currently stands at 209,839 confirmed cases with 8,779 confirmed death globally (WHO).

Coronaviruses (CoV) are a large family of viruses that cause illness ranging from the common cold to more severe diseases such as Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS-CoV) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS-CoV). 

Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is a new strain that was discovered in 2019 and has not been previously identified in humans.

Coronaviruses are zoonotic, meaning they are transmitted between animals and people.  Detailed investigations found that SARS-CoV was transmitted from civet cats to humans and MERS-CoV from dromedary camels to humans. Several known coronaviruses are circulating in animals that have not yet infected humans. 

Common signs of infection include respiratory symptoms, fever, cough, shortness of breath and breathing difficulties. In more severe cases, infection can cause pneumonia, severe acute respiratory syndrome, kidney failure and even death. 

Standard recommendations to prevent infection spread include regular hand washing, covering mouth and nose when coughing and sneezing, thoroughly cooking meat and eggs. Avoid close contact with anyone showing symptoms of respiratory illness such as coughing and sneezing.

Up until now, the most advertised protection against contracting the disease is the use of hand sanitizer. This write-up is to let you know that not until you have hand-sanitizer that you are protected. In case you cannot see or afford to buy hand sanitizer at the pharmacist shop, the following ways are methods that can keep you protected:

1. Hand washing with soap or detergent: This is an age long method of protection against micro-organisms. Any soap can do even to the the least expensive soda soap. Wash your hands at regular intervals.

2. Alcohol: Call it ogogoro or akaikai is more effective than the commercial hand sanitizers. So, if you have access to this product you can use it to clean your hand where water and soap are not readily available. Why Isopropanol is substituted for ethanol in the formulation of antiseptics is purely based on religious bias by christian/moslem fundamentalists who demonize this product. But ethanol sure remain a gold standard in antisepsis.

3. Izal (Phenolic): since Covid-19 is not airborne, it settles on surfaces like floors, tables etc mopping your floors with phenolic based Izal would go a long you in keeping you protected.

These and others are ways you can keep your protected during this trying time that the world is going through.

You can always count on us at Odfid Tehnical Center for your environmental safety products and many more. You can get Isopropanol based hand sanitizer, chlorine based bleach, Phenol based Germicide (Izal), Liquid detergent, Bar soap, and many more at high quality and affordable prices.