The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has issued a warning about the alarming prevalence of counterfeit and substandard drugs in Nigeria.
Its Director General, Professor Mojisola Adeyeye gave this warning while speaking at a one-day awareness campaign at Ibadan Business School, Oyo State.
Adeyeye, represented by the agency’s Zonal Director, Roselyn Ajayi disclosed the severe health risks posed by these illicit products.
She outlined NAFDAC’s strategy to combat this menace, which includes an aggressive awareness campaign targeting various stakeholders, especially those involved in the distribution of healthcare products.
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She said:
“Our survey indicates a high prevalence of substandard and falsified products nationwide.
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“This necessitates the need for engagement with healthcare providers to discuss ways to reduce the incidence of these dangerous medicines.”
According to her, counterfeiters are becoming increasingly sophisticated, leveraging technological advancements to evade detection.
Participants were briefed on NAFDAC’s findings and the agency’s concerns, with plans for further advocacy visits to religious and community leaders to discourage the purchase of fake products.
Adeyeye said:
“This is just the beginning.
“We have involved pharmacists in the distribution chain to educate them on identifying and addressing these issues.”
Adebayo Gbadamosi, Chairman of the Oyo State Association of Community Pharmacists, urged Nigerians to buy medicines only from registered pharmacists to ensure authenticity.
Gbadamosi said:
“Some drugs have scratch-off labels to verify their authenticity. Informed consumers can help deter counterfeiters.”
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