Rivers Plans New Law On Counterfeit Drugs

As part of measures to check the swelling level of counterfeit and fake drugs in Rivers State, Governor Chibuike Amaechi has disclosed government’s plans to back the fight with new law.

He made the disclosure while playing host to the leadership of Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria led by its National Chairperson,Mrs. Ejiro Foyibo in Government House, Port Harcourt, yesterday.

Amaechi remarked that,”I think the proper thing to do is to ensure that there is a law that regulates the establishment of pharmaceutical shops and ensure that any qualified pharmacists can establish, or if you are not, you should, at least, have a qualified pharmacist working in the shop’’.

Aside that, he submitted that government would intensify check on local drug marketing by strengthening the task force to curb the trend, especially the unathorised setting up of pharmaceutical shops in the state.

Earlier, Chairperson of the body, Mrs. Foyibo intimated the governor that they were in the state for their annual conference tagged,” Garden City 2012’’.

She appealed to the governor to strengthen the states task force on fake drugs in order to curb activities of quacks.

Foyibo held that,” we know that you are doing so much in the health sector in River State, but those commendable efforts must not be rubbished by unqualified drug dealers operating in the open drugs market.

“ We have so many people having no business with drugs, yet giving drugs to the public’’, she said.

Similarly,the President of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria(PSN), Mr. Azubike Okwor commended Governor Amaechi for the new model primary and secondary schools in the state, adding “you are starting a transformation that will move this country forward…You are starting from the source and education is the key’’.

Earlier, Chairman of Ogbum-Nu-Abali Community Council, Prince Theophilus Owhonda, speaking through Ogbam Ojimah, felicitated with the governor over his landmark achievements and sterling leadership in moving the state forward.

The traditional ruler said Amaechi’s accomplishments in security, infrastructure, health and education rank him high among those who have governed the state before.