Director General of National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration Professor Mojisola Christianah Adeyeye has reaffirmed the commitment of the federal government in eradicating circulation of fake and counterfeit drugs in the markets, in all parts of the Nation aimed at saving lives and safeguarding the health status of the general populace.
Professor Mojisola Christianah Adeyeye stated this while inspecting a warehouse where fake and non registered drugs seized by the Kano consumer protection council in were kept in Kano.
She Commended the tireless efforts of Kano task force on fake and counterfeit drugs for their collaboration with federal agencies in Kano which had lead to the tremendous success achieved.
The Director General appealed to other states of the federation to Emulate what Kano state consumer protection council was doing under the leadership of Alhaji Baffa Babba Danagundi in fishing out fake and counterfeit drugs in all parts of the state,saying the success achieved so far was a great mile stone in addressing circulation of fake and counterfeit drugs in the entire Nation.
Speaking during the inspection visit the Acting Managing Director of Kano Consumer Protection council Alhaji Baffa Babba Danagundi said the council had posessed all the legal documents on the siezed items.
“We have possessed all the needed warrant and documents on the siezed items ,we are now awaiting to burn them”
He reassured the commitment of the council in fishing out fake and counterfeit drugs the state.
During the visit the Director General was accompanied by the head of federal taskforce on fake and counterfeit drugs,other senior Nafdac official and other stakeholders.
National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, has called the attention of the public to the availability of counterfeit Covid-19 Vaccines in Nigeria, with a warning that citizens to desist from the injections stored in unauthorized facilities.
The Director General of NAFDAC Prof. Mojishola Adeyeye, stated this in Awka Anambra State, during the South-South and South-East destruction of counterfeit and substandard products worth over a billion naira.
The DG of NAFDAC Prof. Mojishola Adeyeye, observed the agency had set up the Office of Investigation and Enforcement Directorate in Asaba, the Delta State capital last year to enhance its activities in the two zones, noting their operations led to the seizure of the banned products.
Prof Adeyeye represented by the Chairman Federal Taskforce on Counterfeit Drugs Mr. Kingsley Ejiofor, listed the items destroyed to include cosmetics, medical products, unwholesome food stuff and expired drugs.
The DG pointed out that the exercise was aimed at eliminating the risk of their reintroduction into the Nigerian market and to safeguard the health of the citizenry
She added that Nigerians should be on the lookout for fake COVID-19 vaccines and report suspected counterfeit Coronavirus injections to the authorities.
Meanwhile, Chairman Drug Dealers Association at the popular Ochanja Market in Anambra Mr. Boniface Eze, who spoke in Igbo, commended NAFDAC for their efforts, stressing the union was collaborating with the agency to eradicate the menace of fake drugs in the area.
Also present at the destruction exercise were representative of various security agencies including the police, Civil Defense Corps, FRSC and Drug Law Enforcement Agency.
The Thyroid Gland is located in the front part of the neck.
It produces hormones which controls the body metabolism.
Metabolism is a process whereby food is transformed into energy and used by all the body system.
However, thyroid disorder could occur when the gland functions below normal or higher than normal.
This condition requires the attention of specialists to prevent the situation from getting out of hand.
A Consultant Surgeon at the University College Hospital, UCH, Ibadan, Dr Adefemi Afolabi said anyone is at risk of having Thyroid problems either by birth, environment, pregnancy or hereditary but unfortunately many patients present late.
He explained that some people having swellings on their neck do not bother to check it out because it is painless, instead most ladies in this condition wear turtlenecks or shawls to cover up the disfigurement.
To this end, the surgeon stressed the need for regular medical checks for early detection of thyroid disorders or any other disease.
Furthermore, Dr Afolabi maintained that iodine intake was key to the function of the thyroid gland.
For instance, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, knowing the importance of this had enforced the consumption of iodized salt in the country to guard against iodine deficiency which causes preventable brain damage such as mental impairment, cretinism, stillbirth and infant mortality.
Secretary, Thyroid Care Association of Nigeria, Mrs Omotooke Gbenro- Adegbite gave an assurance that having Thyroid issue was not the end of life, but with good support system and a caring doctor, the problem was surmountable.
Mrs Gbenro-Adegbite recommended good diet, regular exercise, sticking to the drug regimen and keeping close contact with the doctor, as part of ways to cope with the condition.
The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi has unveiled an indigenous drug for the cure and prevention of viral infections.
The drug named, Verozil which is available in capsules, blisters packs, and liquid was certified by the body regulating sales and use of drugs in Nigeria, National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC).
Speaking during the launch at the Banquet Hall of Ooni’s Palace, Ile-Ife, Oba Ogunwusi said, it was a great day and privilege to unveil indigenous medicines noting that its potency had been tested and confirmed by government regulatory bodies.
The monarch hinted that the herbal medications had been administered on lots of COVID-19 patients to boost their immune system including political leaders, noting that as the world celebrates the COVID-19 vaccine, Nigeria people are also unveiling indigenous solutions.
Earlier, in the address of a prominent herbal medicine practitioner, Chief Akintunde Ayeni, who worked in conjunction with the palace on the medications revealed that the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi phoned him during the first wave of COVID-19 and inquired from him what he was doing in respect of the deadly virus.
He said Oba Adeyeye sent him some recipes that they could use in making indigenous supplement to fight COVID-19 which he studied and gave birth to what was being launched.
Also, the Senior Special Assistant, SSA, to the President on Job Creation and Youth Employment in the Office of the Vice President of Nigeria, Mr Afolabi Imoukhuede, in his goodwill messages commended Oba Adeyeye for his commitment to local contents and passion for National development.
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control NAFDAC says it has secured the conviction of one Mr. Jude Ede and his accomplice Mr. John Okonkwo who were involved in illegal revalidation of pharmaceutical products.
NAFDAC Head of Investigation and Enforcement in Delta State Dr. Christiana Esenwah, made this known after the conviction of the suspects at the Federal High Court sitting in Awka, Anambra State.
Dr. Esenwah noted the criminals were caught at a private residence by operatives of NAFDAC while changing and reprinting fresh labels and dates on medical products.
Meanwhile the State Legal Officer of NAFDAC Mr. Jombo Washington stated the suspects were prosecuted for offences including the possession of fake drugs and the intention to manipulate expired pharmaceutical products.
The criminals were later arraigned at the Federal High Court presided over by Justice Gafai Bature and were convicted after they pleaded guilty to the charges bagainst them.
National Agency for Food Drugs Administration and Control, NAFDAC says it has uncovered fake Animal drugs factory at Bichi Local Government Area of Kano state.
NAFDAC Coordinator in Kano Alhaji Shaba Mohammad stated this while briefing journalists when he led officials of the agency who raided and recovered the fake products at the illegal factory in Bichi town.
Alhaji Mohammad pointed out that NAFDAC had been trailing the culprits for the past six months when they saw the products in circulation at Sabon Gari market in Kano.
The NAFDAC boss said the alleged manufacturer of the counterfeit products named Mohammad Jamilu Sani who tagged NAFDAC registration number on his products had been on the business for the past twelve months without NAFDAC approval .
He explained that after gathering intelligence report from their personnel they were able to locate the fake factory which led to the raid.
The Coordinator said investigation was ongoing, noting that NAFDAC would conduct laboratory test on the counterfeit products to ascertain the level of damage the products had caused on Animals in the last twelve Months.
Alhaji Shaba Mohammad charged lawful Drug dealers to beware of patronizing products from manufacturers that did not have genuine NAFDAC registration number, saying the agency would not relent in fishing out illegal manufacturers of fake drugs in Kano.
Speaking to journalists shortly after the raid, the alleged manufacturer Mohammad Jamil Sani who claimed to be a higher National Diploma Holder on Animal health and production technology at Audi Bako College of Agriculture Kano said he was producing counterfeit drugs without NAFDAC registration number and had never conducted any laboratory test on the drugs and injectable he produces.
“I do not have any register neither do I conduct any laboratory test on the products I produces, I am actually guilty of what I have been, I hope authorities would be consider my ignorance” He said
Claim: A WhatsApp message which circulated recently claimed that the US’ Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) has approved a combination of Hydroxychloroquine, Azithromycin and Zinc Sulphate as treatment for Coronavirus.
A WhatsApp message claiming that the U.S. Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) has approved a combination of Hydroxychloroquine, Azithromycin and Zinc Sulphate as treatment for Coronavirus is currently in circulation among users of the app in Nigeria.
The message attributed credit for approval of the medication to one Dr Zev Zelenko.
The prescription includes the use of the Hydroxychloroquine (200mg, twice a day for five days), Azithromycin (500mg, once a day for five days) and Zinc Sulphate (220mg, once a day for five days) as a treatment for Coronavirus.
Since the outbreak of the Coronavirus pandemic, the world has been eager to find a cure for the disease which has claimed many lives world-wide. The race for a cure has consequently resulted in several prescriptions, mostly unproven.
Around mid-July, the National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control, NAFDAC, denied approving a drug, PAXHERBAL CUGZIN, as Covid-19 remedy.
However, on July 28, a WhatsApp message sprung up, claiming that the prescription of the three drugs had been approved by the FDA.
Coincidentally, the message came up the same day a video of a U.S. medical practitioner Dr. Stella Immanuel, who made a similar claim, circulated widely across social media.
Dr.Stella Immanuel’s claim on the drug combination has been condemned as unsubstantiated and unethical by individuals, agencies and governments.
Verification
On a first look, the message is riddled with red flags. For instance, the said approval was said to have been sanctioned “yesterday” without the mention of a date.
The message gave little information on the said doctor.
Although the name was mentioned, there was no information on his designation.
A search for the social media identity of Dr. Zelenko revealed the identity of a medical doctor who has thousands of followers on his social media accounts.
Dr. Zelenko has actually, through social media, been flaunting the drugs as valid treatment for Coronavirus.
However, a search through the website of the USA FDA didn’t turn up any approval of the use of the drugs as covid-19 cure.
The U.S FDA had earlier in July 2020 warned against the use of the drugs to treat COVID-19 and revoked Emergency Use Authorisation of hydroxychloroquine in certain patients, owing to a number of side effects.
Moreover, a thorough surf shows that no media organisation reported the purported FDA approval of the prescription.
Further, the World Health Organization recently removed chloroquine from clinical trials as a possible cure for covid-19.
Conclusion
The claim that the United States Food and Drug Administration, FDA, has approved a combination of Hydroxychloroquine, Azithromycin and Zinc Sulphate as treatment for Coronavirus is false.
Verification on the website of the FDA shows that the agency did not approve the prescription for the treatment of Covid-19.
Further, findings show that although Dr. Zelenko did claim the potency of the prescription, he never submitted that the treatment was FDA approved.
Adedayo Adelowo
The researcher produced this fact-check per the Dubawa 2020 Fellowship partnership with Radio Nigeria Ibadan to facilitate the ethos of “Truth” in journalism and enhance media literacy in the country.
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, says the agency has seized a large cache of unauthorized drugs estimated at several truckloads worth of goods, while efforts were underway to apprehend the perpetrators of the crime who are still at large.
NAFDAC Federal Taskforce on Counterfeit and Illicit Drugs made the arrest in Ogbunike in Oyi Local Government Area of Anambra State, where many cartons containing banned products such as Tramadol, aphrodisiacs and codeine supplements were discovered.
The Deputy Director NAFDAC Investigation and Enforcement, Dr. Christiana Esenwah, while briefing newsmen at NAFDAC regional office in Asaba, identified other drugs seized during the seizures to include a large number of Chloroquine phosphate allegedly useful for the treatment of coronavirus.
Dr. Christiana Esenwah narrated the contents were recovered from two warehouses which have been sealed and the products have been evacuated to a NAFDAC storage facility pending the completion of investigation and litigation.
She appealed to the citizenry to cooperate with NAFDAC by providing information on suspected illicit drug operations and warned merchants of unwholesome products to desist from the act due to its health danger to the populace.
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, says it has arrested a major drug syndicate with two forty feet containers and a bus loaded with fake drugs, poorly stored medicine and other injectables.
NAFDAC
Head of Investigation and Enforcement in the South-East and South-south zone,
Dr. Christiana Esenwah, while announcing the arrest in Asaba, said seven
suspects connected with the offence were in custody, while some of the drugs had
been sent to NAFDAC laboratories for further examination.
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control,
NAFDAC, says over one trillion naira worth of counterfeit products were
destroyed by the agency in the past two years, including the destruction of
goods worth one point two billion naira in December 2019.
The Director-General of NAFDAC, Professor Mojisola Adeyeye, stated this at the Government House in Asaba, whilst on a courtesy visit to the state to discuss measures to strengthen collaboration between the government and the agency.
Radio Nigeria correspondent, Oghenero Eghweree has the details.
Ajo to
nrisi ipeniye ounje atoogun nile yii, NAFDAC, ti pefun ijiya to gbopon
feniyoowo tabi ajo to ba nko ayederu ogun tabi se fayawo oogun wo orileede yi.
Oludari
agba ajo naa, Ojogbon Mojisola Adeyeye so eyi nilu Abuja.
Ojogbon
Adeyeye wa bu enu ate lu ijiya ti ko gbopon too wan le fawon to nse fayawo
oogun tramadol atawon oogun ayederu mii, to sir o eka eto idajo lati
satungbeyewo ofin ati ijiya to ro mo.
Oga agba ajo NAFDAC ohun, wa gboriyin fun ijoba apapo f’atileyin re f’ajo naa.
The Director General, National Agency For Food and
Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, Professor Mojisola Adeyeye wants state
governors to partner the agency on drugs and food security and the task of
curbing illicit drugs in the country.
Professor Adeyeye stated this when she paid a
courtesy call on the governor of Oyo state, Engineer Seyi Makinde at the
Governor’s Office, Secretariat, Ibadan.
While stressing the need to ensure food security, she
said NAFDAC could not do the task alone unless it partners with relevant
stakeholders to put an end into the influx of substandard and illicit drugs in
Nigeria.
Professor Adeyeye urged state governors to join
hands with Federal Taskforce in their respective states to prevent fake and
adulterated drugs in the journey towards having a healthy nation.
The NAFDAC boss however advocated inclusion of
NAFDAC in the National Security Council, NSC, so as to contribute meaningfully
on enhancing food security of the country.
While highlighting challenges confronting the agency
to include mismanagement of funds, herbal medicine, substandard drugs and narcotics.
Professor Adeyeye maintained that the agency was
strengthening its internal mechanism to end the menace.
Commenting, Oyo state governor, Engineer Seyi
Makinde who noted that qualitative healthcare delivery was one of the pillars
his administration rested on, said the state would support NAFDAC in its
mandate of getting rid of illicit drugs in Nigeria.
Governor Makinde maintained that NAFDAC if functional would make positive impact on drug and food security in the society.
