A doctor, Olusina Ajidahun, has spoken on claims by the daughters of veteran Yoruba actor, Taiwo Hassan, popularly known as Ogogo, that hospitals have refused to continue treating their father, who is battling stage-four cancer.
The doctor, identified on X as The Bearded Dr Sina, said the daughters’ description of their father’s treatment could be misunderstood, particularly their claim that hospitals had refused to treat him.
Reacting to the development on Monday, he explained that patients with stage-four cancer may be moved to palliative care after chemotherapy and other available therapies have been explored.
He wrote, “They don’t want to treat my father again. This is a dangerous statement and can set the tide against the medical team treating her Dad.
“When patients have stage 4 cancer and chemo and/or other therapies have been explored. There is a form of care called PALLIATIVE CARE.. which is end-of-life care and care for terminal diseases because at the point of the disease you cannot treat it, but you can manage associated symptoms and give the person a good quality of life before death.”
According to him, describing the situation as hospitals refusing to treat the actor could create a negative perception of healthcare workers and potentially trigger hostility against medical professionals.
“Saying they don’t want to treat my father makes it look like they are intentionally rejecting him, and in the context of recent happenings in the health sector, it can trigger an insurrection and put a bad label on health care workers,” he said.
The doctor also cautioned the public against recommending herbal remedies for stage-four cancer, warning that unverified concoctions could cause further complications.
He said, “IF YOU HAVE HERBS that treat cancer. Don’t do this.. There are no herbs that will treat a stage 4 cancer. These concoctions will end up damaging more organs and causing more complications. You’d end up wasting money and causing more problems.”
He further explained that stage-four cancer meant that the disease had spread beyond the organ where it initially developed.
“People need to understand that Stage 4 cancer means the cancer has left the primary organ and gone to other sites. Your Doctor knows what’s best, and it is good you work hand in hand with the team to give the best productivity,” he said.
He also expressed sympathy for Ogogo’s family and said he hoped they would work closely with the medical team treating the actor.
“I do hope Ogogo’s daughter and family see this. Wishing the family all the best throughout the trying times,” he added.
The doctor clarified that he was not involved in Ogogo’s medical care and was commenting independently on the daughters’ videos.
PUNCH Online had reported that Ogogo’s daughters, Lima and Kira Taiwo, separately appealed for help on Instagram over their father’s health condition.
In a video posted on her Instagram page on Monday, Lima said the actor’s condition had deteriorated and claimed that hospitals had refused to treat him.
“Hello everybody, good evening. I’m here to ask for help from my daddy. He has cancer and it’s really, really bad.
“And the hospitals are refusing to treat him. At least, please, give this man a chance. Nobody wants to do anything,” she said.
Lima said the family only discovered the extent of the actor’s condition about three weeks earlier, adding that his outward appearance had not reflected the severity of his illness.
“You see him, you can’t even know that. Something is wrong that bad. It’s just starting to show. We didn’t even know until like three weeks ago,” she said.
She reiterated that the family was seeking medical assistance and not financial donations, appealing to anyone with connections to healthcare providers who could take on her father’s case.
“Please, I’m begging you. If you know somebody that knows somebody that will be willing to treat him, anything, we’re willing to try anything. We’re not here to ask for money. Nobody’s here to ask for money,” she said.
Lima also acknowledged the support the family had received from a relative during the crisis.
“My big uncle has helped a lot. He has been of great help. Like, nobody even knew that he would show up for us this way,” she said.
The actress’ daughter ended her video with an emotional appeal, saying she could not bear to watch her father die.
“But if he’s willing to do anything, please, if you know somebody that knows somebody that will be willing to treat him, would you really appreciate it? Please, I can’t watch my daddy die. I can’t. I can’t. Please. Please, I’m begging you. Please. Please,” she said.
In a separate Instagram video, Kira also appealed for help, disclosing that her father’s cancer was at stage four.
“Hello everyone, I’m here for my daddy. He has cancer and is in stage 4. The hospital is saying that they cannot treat him again, like they can’t give him chemo again,” she said.
Kira appealed to anyone who could provide cancer treatment for the actor, including chemotherapy, to contact the family.
She stressed that the family was not seeking money but medical intervention that could give their father another chance.
“What I’m here for, what I’m here for is that if you can treat my daddy, if you can start chemo for him, whether it’s medical or herbs, please, I’m begging you, guys, I’m begging you, any help, anything, anybody that you know that can treat cancer, please, please, I’m begging you,” she said.
She urged anyone who knew a medical professional or facility capable of treating cancer to contact her, her sister or the actor directly.
“Please, please, if you can treat my daddy, please send me a DM. I’ll be checking my phone. Please, I don’t want my daddy to die,” Kira said.
She became emotional while speaking about her father’s condition, saying she had never seen him in such pain.
“God, give me strength. I’m suffering so bad. There’s no money, but if you know anybody that can treat my daddy, Andrew, please,” she said.
Kira added that her father had expressed his fear of dying.
“He’s saying that he doesn’t want to die. Please, I’ve never seen my daddy in that kind of pain before,” she said.
Hassan, 66, is a veteran of the Nigerian film industry whose career spans more than four decades. He has featured in more than 300 films and is one of the most recognisable faces in Yoruba cinema.
(Punch)
