The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), said it has undergone internal restructuring to reposition it better in the fight against fake and counterfeit drugs and other regulated products by increasing the number of its Directorates to thirteen, with six zonal offices, Federal Capital Territory office and additional three laboratories.
The Director General of NAFDAC, Dr. Paul Orhil stated this in Asaba, Delta State, during the inauguration of NAFDAC Local Government Desk officers. The Director General, who was represented by NAFDAC Coordinator in Delta State; Ms. Esther Aburime said that “the Agency is determined to wipe out in its entirety, drug counterfeiting, faking and all other offences relating to the importation, exportation, manufacture, distribution, advertisement, sale and use of regulated products in Nigeria”.
He said that the agency is seeking collaboration with the local government councils in the use of public address systems and town criers in disseminating regulatory information in their various dialects. Such as dangers of drugs hawking and illegal advertisement of herbal drugs.
Dr. Orhil observed that NAFDAC’s collaboration with Local and International Agencies such as; SON, NDLEA, CPC, PCN, NCS, WHO, DEID, UNODC, WADRAN, IMPACT, GAINS, was to ensure that its mandate is achieved. He used that pharmaceutical counterfeits in Nigeria are estimated to be approximately 17% and they are mostly imported.
He noted that operations of the agency has been adequately reviewed and documented into Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) while guidelines are developed for the benefits of stakeholders and the general public.
He therefore, solicited the support of the newly inaugurated Local Government Health Officers in ensuring that the health of the people was not compromised.
The State Coordinator, Ms Esther Aburime on her part urged the Desk Officers to enlighten their various constituencies against the menace of drug hawking, Adverse Drug Reaction (ADR) and report incident of fake/unwholesome regulated products to NAFDAC. She said that part of their roles also include educating the public to always look out for date markings of products.
Aburime charged them to be good ambassadors of their various LGAs and see themselves as partners with NAFDAC in the fight against fake and substandard regulated products, especially in the rural areas.
Speaking on behalf of his colleagues, the NAFDAC Local Government Desk Officer of Aniocha North LGA; Mr. Stephen Oliseafiana, thanked NAFDAC for giving them the opportunity to contribute their quota in the fight against fake and unwholesome products and pledged to carry out their assignment creditably. ####
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