By Mercy Okpe.

The National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, carried out enforcement at the popular Ogbo-Ogu Market, Bridge Head, Onitsha, in Anambra State on Monday, February 10.

During the exercise, the operatives of the agency, led by the Director, NAFDAC South East Zone, Dr Martins Iluyomade, confiscated a wide range of adulterated, substandard and expired drugs found at the various shops.

Addressing journalists, Iluyomade said the exercise was in line with the agency’s mandate of eradicating fake, banned and other spurious NAFDAC-regulated products from circulating in Nigeria and to prevent members of the unsuspecting public from falling victim.

He said the agency was working in collaboration with the market task force in the exercise that led to the seizure of the multiple fake and banned products, adding that it was a combined exercise carried out simultaneously across all the South-East states.

He said, “Today, we are commencing our enforcement at the Ogbo-Ogu market. What triggered the exercise is that over time, we have been collating data and gathering intelligence on fake and substandard drugs in the market, and we got to the tail end and discovered that people are repackaging and rebagging fake and counterfeit drugs in the market.

“The exercise is aimed at raiding the markets of fake and substandard drugs and those that are made up of spurious, counterfeited and falsified medicinal products, unwholesome processed products and several other unsafe regulated drugs.

“This is taking place simultaneously across the South-East states, and it is aimed at sanitising the drug markets and safeguarding the health of members of the unsuspecting public.

“Among the drugs are expired, banned, substandard, deflective, repackaged and recalled products. We found out that some of the drug dealers are in the habit of imitating some popular drugs and pouring it into containers of the original manufacturer in order to deceive unsuspecting members of the public.

“And these drugs are very sensitive that can lead to death or permanent disability of the consumer. The confiscation of the products would eliminate the risk of their reintroduction into the market and a proof of the agency’s resolve to safeguard the health of the people.”

He advised members of the public to patronise only licensed and registered drug outlets, adding that security operatives and the investigative team of the agency, as well as other stakeholders, are on the ground monitoring and ensuring that the enforcement goes smoothly.

However, when asked, Iluyomade, who could not give the estimated value of confiscated products in monetary terms, said it was an ongoing exercise that could only be determined at the end of it.

Among the products found in the market to have been faked and counterfeited included antibiotics, anti-hypertensive, anti-diabetic, anti-asthmatic, aphrodisiacs, antimalarial, anti-inflammatory, herbal remedies and psychoactive drugs.

Others were banned drugs such as analgin, tramadol (above 100 mg), gentamycin (280 mg), codeine and controlled substances, vaccines, alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, cosmetics, chemicals and unwholesome food, empty plastics, bags and cans, among others.

Also present at the exercise were representatives of various trade unions, market leaders, the market task force, and other critical stakeholders.

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, has advised students of Government Girls’ Secondary School, GGSS, Dutse, Abuja, to resist any form of peer pressure to abuse drugs.

The Director-General of the agency, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, gave the advice while inaugurating NAFDAC’s Consumer Safety Club, NCSC, at the school.

The club aims to engage and educate young people, spreading the message to desist from drug abuse among youths.

DG who was represented by Dr Paul Kamai, Deputy Director in charge of Narcotics in the FCT, Adeyeye said that students must remain focused to achieve their dreams and maintain a good reputation in society.

She urged the students to take only prescribed medication, concentrate on their studies, and develop their talents.

“Alcohol is the most widely used drug by adolescents, regardless of ethnicity, gender, or race.

“Alcoholism is a chronic illness with an insidious onset, which may occur at any age, and adolescent drinking behaviour has been a vital social issue in several countries.

“Alcohol is very common in our community, where it is freely sold in sachets and small-volume bottles.

“These are very dangerous for adolescents like you, and you must learn to resist the urge to engage in alcohol consumption,” the Director-General said.

According to Adeyeye, NCSC is one of the agency’s special public enlightenment strategies targeting young people in its efforts to eradicate fake and substandard regulated products and promote a culture of quality.

By Anastasia John E,Abuja

Vice President Kashim Shettima has observed that Nigeria is witnessing a surge in reverse medical tourism, with patients from the United States and other countries thronging the nation’s hospitals to seek affordable and high-quality kidney transplants. The Vice President attributed the choice of Nigeria for treatment to affordability and high-quality expertise within the country’s medical community. Speaking on Thursday during a courtesy visit by the Nigerian Association of Nephrology (NAN) at the Presidential Villa ahead of the association’s 37th Scientific Conference, VP Shettima stressed the need for further investments in specialised medical education to sustain this progress. He said, “There is reverse medical tourism these days fundamentally because of the level of care at some of our hospitals. Recently, thirteen patients from the United States came to Nigeria for kidney transplants at Zenith Medical and Kidney Centre because it is much cheaper here, and they receive the same level of expertise available anywhere in the world.” The Vice President praised Dr. Olalekan Olatise, Chief Medical Director of Zenith Medical and Kidney Centre, for his contributions to kidney care, describing him as “a very decent man who is highly altruistic” in his efforts to assist humanity. Shettima however noted the financial strain on patients, many of whom sell their homes or rely on government support to afford transplants. “While getting a kidney transplant is a significant challenge, life after a transplant presents even more difficulties. Many patients struggle with the cost of post-transplant care, including immunosuppressants, which are essential to maintaining their health,” he said. The Vice President recalled healthcare initiatives he had embarked on during his tenure as Governor of Borno State, as well as the success of ongoing free maternal care programmes he introduced. “At a hospital in my neighborhood, we provide a bag of rice and beans to every new mother.

They record about 30 births daily, more than even the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH). Over 4,000 deliveries have been recorded in less than eight months, with all medical expenses covered, including caesarean sections,” VP Shettima said. The Vice President also reiterated the need for Nigeria to build its medical workforce, noting that when he was in Borno State as Governor, he took 60 female students to study medicine in Sudan. “About 58 of them completed their education and passed the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) licensing exams. Most of them are now in their medical residency programmes. The beauty of training women in medicine is that they are more likely to stay back and serve their communities.
“We must make deliberate and targeted investments in specialised healthcare education in this country,” the Vice President said. Earlier, Dr. Olatise, who also serves as the Chairman of the Local Organising Committee (LOC) for the 37th Scientific Conference and Annual General Meeting of the Nigerian Association of Nephrology, said the conference with the theme, “Revolutionizing Kidney Care in Nigeria: Evidence-Based Innovations,” will take place in Abuja from February 19-21, 2025. The association also announced plans to honour Vice President Shettima with the Kidney Champion Award in recognition of his advocacy and direct support for kidney patients, including funding immunosuppressants and proposing the establishment of a specialised laboratory for post-transplant care.

A shocking report from Orodata Science has revealed the alarming neglect of a Primary Health Care Centre in Anguwan Dampar, Ibi Local Government Area of Taraba State, which is struggling to serve over 2,000 residents due to a severe lack of basic amenities and medical staff.

The health centre, which is crucial for the community’s well-being, is devoid of fundamental resources, including a perimeter fence, functional restrooms, and a reliable water source. The borehole that once provided water has long dried up, forcing residents to rely on costly water vendors for their daily needs.

According to the report, the facility is in a state of disrepair, with cracked walls and broken furniture. It is equipped with only six beds and lacks a pharmacy, functional restrooms, and essential medical supplies. The labour ward is equipped with just four basic tools, and critically, there are no gloves or oxygen tanks available for emergencies.

Despite these overwhelming challenges, Community Health Extension Workers (CHEWs) at the centre continue to provide basic medical care to the community. However, the absence of doctors and nurses, coupled with inadequate living quarters for health workers, severely hampers their efforts.

The report highlights the dire situation: “Referrals for cesarean sections are frequent, and the labor ward is stretched to its limit. Patients are carried on stretchers that don’t exist, relying solely on prayers for their fragile health.”

Yet, amidst the despair, there are glimmers of hope. Immunization services at the centre have been rated excellent, thanks to a solar-powered fridge that keeps vaccines safe—a testament to what is possible when systems function, even minimally.

The report calls for urgent action, stating, “Repairs to the borehole could change lives. A fence could enhance safety. Expanding the wards could mean mothers don’t have to share beds during labor. And proper staff quarters would acknowledge the sacrifice of health workers.”

Anguwan Dampar is more than just a health facility; it is a battleground where hope confronts neglect daily. The report serves as a poignant reminder that this situation reflects a broader issue within the healthcare system in Taraba State.

The report concludes with a powerful call to action for Taraba State Governor Agbu Kefas and Ibi Local Government Chairman Hon. Iliya Muhammad Ajibu: “Attend to this PHC as soon as possible before it devolves into a death trap for the communities that depend on it.”

The time for action is now. The health and lives of thousands hang in the balance.