The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) is soliciting the support of corps members in its efforts in eradicating the incidence of fake/counterfeit drugs and other unwholesome regulated products.
The Director General of NAFDAC, Dr. Paul Orhii made this known during the inauguration of Delta State’s NAFDAC NYSC Community Development Service (CDS) in Asaba, Delta
State. He urged the corps members to use the CDS platform to educate and sensitize the public on the incidence of fake, counterfeit and unwholesome products.
The Director General who was represented by the NAFDAC Coordinator in Delta State; Mrs. Esther Aburime, indentified counterfeit dugs to include: “re-labeled drugs with the intention of extending the shelf life, clones of fast moving drugs, herbal preparations fraudulently mixed with orthodox medicines and drugs without full name and address of manufacturer.”
He said that counterfeit drugs can apply to both branded and generic products adding that “NAFDAC strategies of massive public enlightenment campaigns, national and international collaborations, beefing up surveillance at port of entry, mopping up of substandard products from circulation and post marketing surveillance have contributed a great deal in curbing the menace of unwholesome products.”
The State Coordinator, Mrs Esther Aburime enjoined the corps members to take NAFDAC message to the grassroots through public enlightenment campaign and dissemination of information in their various localities.
She further implored them to carry out public enlightenment campaign in schools, hospitals, market places and community centres highlighting NAFDAC message on what to watch out for before paying for any regulated product, such as; batch number, expiry/best before date, NAFDAC reg. number and changes in physical characteristics of the product.
Meanwhile, Mrs Aburirne has called on school children in the Delta state to shun hard drugs or any form of intoxicant that will affect their mental balance, she stated this during the induction of Ufuoma Secondary School, Ughelli into NAFDAC Consumers Safety Club (NCSC).
She charged the students to take the NAFDAC’s message to their various homes by educating their family members, relatives, friends on the need to buy only NAFDAC registered products, use of iodized salt and vitamin A fortified food among others.
The leader of NAFDAC NYSC CDS group Corper Felix Okotie, thanked NAFDAC for the orientation assuring the resolve of the CDS group in carrying out its assignment. ###
