The Zamfara State Ministry of Health has held a high-level stakeholders’ meeting to address the growing problem of illegal drug hawking and sales in selected Local Government Areas of the state.
The meeting was chaired by the Commissioner for Health, Nafisa Muhammad Maradun, and brought together key players in the health sector and relevant enforcement agencies to agree on strategies for effective action.
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Speaking at the meeting, Dr. Maradun thanked participants for making time to attend despite their busy schedules, describing their presence as a strong indication of their shared commitment to safeguarding the health of Zamfara residents.
She recalled that stakeholders had met about two weeks earlier for a roadmap review session, which she said helped align the responsibilities of different agencies toward a common goal.
According to her, the roadmap agreed upon during the earlier meeting clearly outlined the way forward, and the latest gathering was convened to move from planning to actual implementation.
The Commissioner explained that the main focus of the meeting was to jointly identify and validate hotspots where illegal drug sales and hawking are prevalent across the affected Local Government Areas.
She noted that developing a unified and actionable list of these locations would guide enforcement efforts and determine the timeline for operations such as raids and confiscation of illegal medicines.
Dr. Maradun added that enforcement could either begin immediately or be delayed until after the fasting period, depending on collective agreement and operational readiness.
The Commissioner was represented at the meeting by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Malam Bashir Sirajo Gusau, who is also a NIPSS Ambassador of Integrity and Leadership.
Also speaking, the Director of Pharmaceutical Services, Pharm. Mas’ud Isah, said the meeting was aimed at validating identified hotspots and agreeing on the timing and methods for enforcement to ensure maximum impact.
He stressed that coordinated action among all stakeholders was critical to curbing the illegal sale of medicines and protecting public health in the state.