No medicinal value in cow-skin consumption – Expert

The Medical Consultant, Ultra Modern Clinic, Government House, Awka, Dr Sunny Ekwunife, has debunked claims that consumption of cow-skin (ponmo) is healthy for the elderly.

Ekwunife told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Awka that animal skin does not have any proven medical value, but rather it is unhealthy.

“There is no truth in believing that cow skin (ponmo) is good for the elderly.

“How can a damaged motor-trye that has chemical components added to it while producing, add anything good to a cow skin which undergoes a process of roasting with its flame add to the human body?” he asked.

Ekwunife advised that rather than consuming that which has no nutritional value, it should be used to create wealth.

“It is mere waste of the cow skin for our people to be consuming it by eating which is a waste on its own.

“It will be more beneficial to the economy to use it to produce lasting products as belts, shoes, so as to improve our living standard and generate funds for the benefit of the nation,” he said.

However, the consultant observed that with the false information the people are feed with, it would be hard to stop the consumption of leather by some communities.