The National Agency for
Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), says its decision to setup the NAFDAC consumer safety clubs in schools is to promote behavioral change through public enlightenment.
The Director General of the Agency, Dr Paul Orhill said this in Calabar, Cross River State during the annual award giving ceremony for senior and junior secondary schools in Cross River State that excelled in NAFDAC consumers safety organised competition.
Dr. Orhii who was represented by the agency’s coordinator for Cross River State, Pharm, Isaac Kolawole said that the agency was deeply concerned about the menace of adulterated products in the country, adding that NCSC was initiated to promote behavioural change through enlightenment among the youths to guide them against indulgence in such act as well as its consequences.
According to him, the activities of the club have become abiding force for NAFDAC to continue to promote it, despite the huge resources involved.
“We can only build a new Nigeria by equipping our youths who are the future of this great nation with right virtues.
“NAFDAC Consumer Safety Club is therefore promoted as a platform for affecting behavoural change through enlightenment among the populace of particular age group where they are expected to imbibe the culture of quality and propagate this value to their peers, family and the general public”.
Dr Orhii further explained that the phenomenon of fake products informed the agency’s decision to catch them young, adding that a baseline survey by pharmaco-vigilance and post marketing directorate on NCSC in 2012 to measure knowledge attitude and practice of 1238 students in secondary schools and non members of NCSC, saying “the AP of the students after 10 years of intensive enlightenment campaign shows that over 70 per cent of the students know the activities of NAFDAC.