MDGs Target: NAFDAC Decries Fake Drugs Proliferation

The National Agency for
Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), has said Nigeria’s attainment of the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) in the area of maternal health and disease eradication may be hampered by the continuous proliferation of fake drugs in the country.
The Director General of the Agency, Dr Paul Orhii said this while addressing members of the National Association of Patent Proprietary Medicine Dealers (NAPMED) during a seminar organised by Christabel International in conjunction with the Agency at Ughelli in Delta State.
Orhii who was represented by the Delta State Coordinator of NAFDAC, Ms Esther Aburime said that fake and counterfeit drugs are hampering the government effort to reduce maternal health as well as combat HIV/AIDS and malaria.
“Fake and counterfeit medicine  pose a great threat to the attainment of these goals as well as the overall public health.
“They caused several health problems including treatment of system failures, economic loss, sickness and death” he said.
He said that the patent medicine dealers can contribute towards the attainment of the MDG by avoiding fake products.
“You can contribute by reporting the ones you see, avoiding fake products, so that the perpetrators will not flourish in the business and buying products from authenticated sources and obtaining letter headed receipts of purchase” he said.
The NAFDAC boss also urged them to report all Adverse Drug Reactions (ADR) forms to NAFDAC office and support NAFDAC – Desk Officers in LGAs and NAFDAC – CDs Corps members groups to eradicate drug hawking.
One facilitator of the seminar, Christabel Okoye of Christabel International enjoined NAPMED members to assist NAFDAC in the fight against adulteration and faking of products for a better Nigeria.

Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State, Rear Adm. Jonah Gboribiogha (left), receiving security car keys from MTN Foundation acting Senior Manager, Sales Eastern Zone, Mr Onamari Horsfall, in Yenagoa, last Monday .