Business
NAFDAC To Establish Mobile Courts For Hawkers
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) says it is collaborating with various state governments to establish mobile courts to try drug hawkers.
The Director-General, Dr. Paul Orhii, stated this during a sensitisation seminar in Benin City for the newly appointed NAFDAC Local Government Desk Officers in Edo State.
Orhii, who was represented by the zonal head, South-South zone; Mrs. Lillian Duru, said the agency was re-strategising in its task of wiping out counterfeit and fake drugs from the country in the understanding that criminals that engage in the unlawful practice are un-repenting and always changing their tactics.
He said the meeting with all local government areas newly appointed NAFDAC Desk officers is intended to solicit their collaboration in communicating information to rural dwellers on the ill effects of drug hawking and assist NAFDAC in controlling illegal advertisement of herbal medicines.
The NAFDAC boss stated that the sustained war against fake drugs has led to the increase in production capacities of local pharmaceutical industries, drop in circulation of counterfeit drugs to 16.7% from 40 to 70% in 2011, upward movement in the share prices of pharmaceutical companies quoted in Nigeria Stock Exchange (NSE) as well as the confidence level of ‘made-in-Nigeria’ drugs, among others.
Orhii further disclosed that NAFDAC has increased collaboration with local and international organisations such as SON, NDLEA, PCN, NCS, CPC, WHO, DFID, UNODC, USFDA, USAID, GAIN, UNICEF, IMPACT, etc.
He said the agency is faced with numerous challenges which includes under funding, under-staffing, chaotic drug distribution (open drug market) and inadequate legislation (weak penalty for offenders).
He told the desk officers in the 18 local government areas of Edo State to see this as an enlistment into the crusade to promote and safeguard the health of Nigerians.
The NAFDAC co-ordinator in the state, David West reminded the desk officers that their roles in the local government areas were that of whistle blowing, by alerting NAFDAC on the incidence of unwholesome NAFDAC regulated products.