The National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) said that the continued existence of sub-standard and fake medicines in our markets poses a threat to the attainment of the MDGs.
Director-general of the NAFDAC, Dr Paul Orhii, said this in an address to a sensitization workshop for medicine sellers and distributors within the Bridge-Head Drug Market, Onitsha in Anambra weekend.
Represented by a director, Dr Samson Adebayo, Orhii said everybody must work with the federal government to achieve the United Nations’ MDGs targets for the benefit of all especially the most vulnerable – women and children.
Speaking on theme, “Fight against Fake and Sub-Standard Products – A Fight for All,” the DG explained that the health focus of the federal government of Nigeria is in consonant with the United Nations Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) 4, 5 and 6 which advocates for reduction in infant mortality, improvement in maternal health and combating HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases.
“Fake and counterfeit medicines pose a great threat to the attainment of these goals as well as the overall public health. They cause several health problems including treatment failure, organs and system failure, economic loss, sickness, death etc,” he said.
Orhii said that the new drug mega plaza in Onitsha, which is in line with the recently introduced state and mega drug distribution centres (SMDDCs), was meant to complement the drug market in Onitsha and exhibit required standard for places used for drug sales.
“The drug mega plaza in Onitsha would only complement the already existing Bridge-Head Drug Market as well as be a role model for all drug sales outlets in Anambra State and the entire country,” he said.
Chairman of Bridge-Head Drug Market, Onitsha, Mr Ugochukwu Nwosu, noted that the market leadership had carried out far-reaching steps to comply with NAFDAC directive to have tighter drug movement and sales monitoring.
“We have closed 52 routes into the market; thus, leaving a gate-in and gate-out access into the Market. The workshop, which was crowded with over 5,000 traders from the Bridge-Head Market, Onitsha, was organized by NAFDAC in conjunction with Christabels International.
