PH:
In its bid to rid the markets of fake and unwholesome products, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) in Rivers State has intensified its Enforcement and surveillance activities and these have led to the impounding of counterfeit, fake and unwholesome products worth millions of naira.
The agency recently carried out raids in markets, supermarkets and stores in Port Harcourt and its environs where different variety of fake NAFDAC regulated products worth millions of naira were impounded. Some of the items impounded includes: Eva toilet soap, Gold custard powder, Goya olive oil, and other unregistered imported super market products such as beverage, diary and cereal products.
NAFDAC Coordinator in Rivers State, Mrs. Mercy Ndukwe implore the cooperation of the public in the fight against the menace of counterfeiters adding that the agency will not relent until the markets are rid of unwholesome and spurious products.
“This exercise is a continuous one and NAFDAC will continue to mop up and confiscate these fake, unwholesome and counterfeit products where they are found in the state, I therefore urge the public to always shun unregistered products and report incidence of faking to the agency”, she posited.
Ndukwe also said that pharmacies and patent medicine stores were also visited where expired, unregistered and ethical drugs were removed and the culprits’ sanctioned.
Meanwhile, NAFDAC/NYSC CDS Group in Rivers State has received commendation from NAFDAC, Zonal Head, South-South; Mr. Benson Kine for championing the agency’s course. The Zonal head who addressed the corps members during their weekly Community Development Service (CDS) was impressed with their zeal and dedication in sensitizing the public on NAFDAC activities.
He urged them to educate the public in their areas of primary assignment to patronize only NAFDAC registered products and fortified foods. “Reject any drug, food, cosmetics, medical devices, drink or packaged water that does not have NAFDAC number, manufacturers name, address and expiry date”, Kine said.
The Zonal Head urged the corps members to educate the public to avail themselves of the text message system recently introduced by NAFDAC on some designated drugs by scratching the gold panel at the point of purchase and texting the revealed pin to 38353 and await a response which certifies the drug as genuine or fake.
He further told them to insist and educate people on buying only iodized salt, Vitamin A fortified vegetable oil, margarine, flour and sugar which can be identified with map of Nigeria and eye logos respectively.
The leader of the NAFDAC/NYSC CDS Group, Mr. Christopher Effiong said that the CDS Group have been promoting and creating awareness on NAFDAC activities in the communities and also embarking on sensitization rally on various schools.
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