NAFDAC Destroys 189 Truckloads Of Fake Drugs, Products Nearly N3bn

Expired, substandard and falsified medical products before and during destruction weekend by National Agency for Food Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC) in Ogun State

Chioma Umeha

The National Agency for Food Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC) recorded what it considers as a major breakthrough weekend, for destroying 189 truckloads of expired, substandard and falsified medical products valued at N2.7 billion at the Oke-diya dumpsite in Sagamu, Ogun State.
Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, Director-General of the agency told journalists during the destruction exercise that 189 trucks conveyed the unsafe and unwholesome drugs – the highest ever recorded by NAFDAC – to the destruction venue.
Some of the products destroyed were either seized by NAFDAC from manufacturers, importers and distributors or voluntarily handed over to the agency by compliant companies, nongovernmental organisations (NGOs) and Trade Unions.
According to Prof Adeyeye, Tramadol worth N283.5 million, which could have destroyed many young lives and families, were involved in the destruction exercise.
Tramadol, she explained, is a ‘deceiver’ drugs which makes the individual feel good during consumption, while it fries the brain as well as destroy different organs of the body.
The Director-General said; “This destruction exercise, which is in line with our strategy, is aimed at eradicating the re-introduction of expired, substandard and Falsified (SFs) medical products, as well as unsafe and unwholesome NAFDAC regulated products into circulation in the country.
“The products being destroyed today are products seized by the agency from manufacturers, importers and distributors.
“Also up for destruction are expired products voluntarily handed over to the agency by compliant companies, Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) and Trade Unions.
“The estimated street value of the products scheduled for destruction today is N2, 675,896,538.20,’’ she said.
The DG said that NAFDAC had been given the mandate by the government of President Muhammadu Buhari to ensure that the health of Nigerians is safeguarded.
“In line with this mandate, the agency stepped up its prevention, detection and response activities towards the elimination of SFs, unwholesome foods and counterfeiting of all NAFDAC regulated products in the preceding year by training and retraining of relevant NAFDAC staff.’
Adeyeye appealed to the judiciary to take sterner view of counterfeiting and apply stiffer sanctions to deter counterfeiters, because of the danger they continue to pose to the society of their dangerous products.
She also pleaded with the National Assembly to pass the Counterfeit Medical Products Bill that will strengthen the Agency’s fight against counterfeiting in Nigeria the country.
In his remarks, the Director, Investigation and Enforcement, Barrister Kingsley Ejiofor linked the high number of truckloads of products to hard work, intensified activity and strong collaboration with other stakeholders.
The representatives of the National Drug and Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Custom and the Police at the destruction exercise reiterated their commitment and support for NFDAC in reducing the quantity of fake, expired and adulterated drugs in the country.



Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Insurgency: Nigerian Army Clears 25 More Children Of Links With Armed Groups, Says UNICEF

Image
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has said Thursday that 25 more children had been freed from Nigerian Army administrative custody having been cleared of suspected links with armed groups. With this number, a total of 44 children had been released this year, bringing the number to 1,627 children since 2016, that is four years now, the UN agency for children has said. UNICEF which announced this in a press statement signed by its Communication Specialist, Dr. Geoffrey Njoku, specifically said, “Twenty-three boys and two girls were released today from Nigerian Army administrative custody after being cleared of suspected ties with armed groups. This brings the number of children released this year to 44,” it added. It bemoaned the discrimination, deprivation and cruelty which the children have suffered. “These are children taken away from their families and communities, deprived of their childhood, education, health-care, and of the chance to grow up in a safe and enabling envir
Read more

Limited Information Frustrates Young Women From Using Family Planning

Image
BY CHIOMA UMEHA, Awareness and proper understanding of family planning has been recognised to reduce maternal death among young women of reproductive age between 15 and 49. Data on Sexual Reproductive Health outcomes in Nigeria stresses the importance of focusing on adolescents. At 576 maternal death per 1,000 live births, Nigeria accounts for 14 percent of the global burden of maternal mortality (NDHS 2013/WHO 2014). Global evidence shows that young girls bear a higher burden of maternal mortality and morbidity. Data shows that the average age at sexual debut is roughly 15 years of age among adolescent mothers in Nigeria. (NDHS 2003, 2008, 2013). The National adolescent fertility rate in Nigeria is 122 births per 1,000 women aged 15 to 19 years. In the North Western States, it is as high as 171 births per 1,000 women aged 15 to 19 years. To stem this, the government of Lagos State with support from partners and other donor agencies has put in place youth-friendly he
Read more

PSN President Commissions ACPN National Secretariat

Image
Chioma Umeha History was made among the community pharmacists recently, as the national body of the Association of Community Pharmacists (ACPN) inaugurated its National Secretariat at Ikeja, Lagos State. The event was graced by many notable personalities in the pharmaceutical sector including, Pharm. Ahmed Yakasai, the president of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) who commissioned the befitting edifice. Other notable guests at the event were – Dr. UNO Uwaga, the Chairman of the Board of Trustees for ACPN; Pharm. Bukky George, the Managing Director of Healthplus, among many former presidents of different pharmaceutical bodies. Pharm. Yakasai stated that it was a thing of joy for him to see this development come to light. He said that he is ‘a proud father’ as the inauguration of the building was a “testimony of when you have a proud son who can carry out directives.” He described the secretariat as “A home for all pharmacists across board.”
Read more