NAFDAC Intensifies Fight Against Fake Drugs, Calls for Support

The National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has called for support from Nigerians to end the circulation of fake drugs and other substandard goods.

Director-general of the agency, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, made the call at a one-day stakeholders sensitisation event in Port Harcourt on Monday.

Adeyeye said sensitisation will educate and inform the populace of the dangers associated with bogus products.

She also stated that it is worrisome to know that Nigeria is amongst the nations with problems of fake medical and food products in the world.

The South-South zonal director of NAFDAC, Subulade Isijobe, who represented the DG said bridging the information gap is important for the agency.

She stated that “Public awareness campaign is one of the veritable regulatory mechanisms put in place by NAFDAC to promote and protect the health of our people. A well informed, sensitised and educated citizenry is the bedrock of effective regulation.

“This is why today’s event is another major milestone in our bid to protect Nigerians against the deleterious effects of unwholesome food, falsified medical products, harmful cosmetics, poor water and other substandard regulated products."

While stating the objective of the sensitisation event, she said the program "Is to intensify and expand the scope of our informal and formal behaviour change communication strategies in order to reach the vulnerable communities, especially at the grassroots. Dissemination of food and drug safety information is an important aspect of our regulatory work."

She further stated that “It is common knowledge that Nigeria has a preponderant share of the global problem of falsified medical products and unwholesome food. The advent of the Covid-19 Pandemic has aggravated the problem with the challenge posed by substandard and falsified Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs).

“The Sensitization campaigns will therefore contribute significantly to Federal Government’s concerted efforts to inform, sensitize, educate and alert the public about inherent dangers of intake and use of those spurious regulated products.

“The campaign themes are multifaceted with clear, concise, informative and educative messages aimed at arousing the awareness and consciousness of the general public about the various infractions that impact negatively on our healthcare delivery system.”

The agency had destroyed seized products worth N5billion in the past five months within the country.