By Francis Nansak

The National Agency for Food Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has shut down a registered Water Factory caught producing five different products in Lafia, Nasarawa State.

Pharm. Anga Emmanuel, Deputy Director and Officer in charge of the Lafia office of the agency stated this to journalists on Friday in Lafia.

According to the NAFDAC Officer, the factory that was registered to produce Mainima Table Water in Lafia was caught during a routine inspection exercise by the agency.

He explained that one Mr. Christian Chukuma was arrested when the team from the agency visited the factory for an inspection of different water products.

He listed the other products that the owner of Mainima Table Water was producing illegally as Bilal Table Water, Nkonjun Table Water, Anumzi Table Water, and Agbeni Table Water.

“All the other products he was found to be producing are not from Lafia, one is even in Kaduna State.

“We also discovered that the license of the factory is expired, and the place has not met good manufactory compliance and is not supposed to produce at the moment,” he added.

Emmanuel further said that Bilal and Agbeni are companies in the Dothe ma Local Government Area, while Nkonjun is in Akwanga LGA, and Anumzi is a company in Sanga LGA of Kaduna State.

The Deputy Director further said that this kind of practice is not acceptable and urged those engaged in it to desist before they are caught.

He added that the agency would continue to go after those engaged in illegal practices to ensure that the public only consumes good and healthy products.

By OBSERVERS TIMES

Two co-wives from the Dakwa community in the Bwari Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have been hospitalized after ingesting a herbal mixture intended to sexually arouse their husband, who recently took a third wife.

The herbal remedy, known as ‘kayan mata’ in the Hausa language, is believed to enhance sexual desire in male partners.

According to reports from Daily Trust, the women, whose names have been withheld, consumed the herbs three days after their husband married a third wife from his hometown of Gusau, the capital of Zamfara State.

Musa Muhammad, the husband at the center of this incident, confirmed that his two wives were rushed to a clinic in nearby Madalla, Niger State, where they were diagnosed with organ damage allegedly caused by the herbal concoction.

He revealed that both women underwent surgery and were discharged on Monday.

Muhammad explained that the herbalist who usually supplied them with the liquid preparation had given them a powdered form this time. “I received a call from my main house that my two wives were unwell while I was staying at my new bride’s residence,” he recounted.

“When I arrived, I found them rolling on the ground in pain. Initially, I called a nurse from the community to assist, but when there was no improvement, I took them to the clinic in Madalla where they underwent tests and surgery. They were discharged after about a week.”

He also mentioned that efforts were underway to locate the herbalist for investigation to prevent others from becoming her next victims.

Dr. Taiye Anifowose, a gynecologist, has issued a warning to women about the dangers of consuming such herbs, stating they can be harmful to their organs and may affect their reproductive health in the long run. She emphasized the need for increased awareness from government agencies, families, and community leaders regarding the risks associated with these herbal remedies.

As Valentine’s Day approaches, health officials are urging the public, particularly young people, to prioritize safe sex practices, including condom use, to prevent unwanted pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections (STIs), including HIV. Data from the Ghana AIDS Commission reveals a concerning statistic: approximately 50 new HIV infections are recorded daily in Ghana. As of December 2023, 334,095 people in the country were living with HIV.
Dr. Stephen Ayisi Addo, Programme Manager of the National AIDS Control Programme at the Ghana Health Service, emphasized the importance of protection. He advised that those who choose to use condoms do so correctly, consistently, and continuously for optimal effectiveness. He also cautioned against misusing condoms and stressed that abstinence remains the safest option.
“For the youth out there, abstinence is key, and that is the safest way to save yourselves from sexually transmitted infections, from HIV in particular, from unwanted pregnancies and all the associated complications of fertility,” Dr. Ayisi Addo stated. While acknowledging the availability of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), he reiterated that condoms provide a crucial physical barrier against infection.
The National AIDS Control Programme (NACP) has ramped up its condom promotion and distribution efforts, particularly around festive occasions like Valentine’s Day. “In the past, we have had challenges with condom supply, but I’m happy to announce that this year we have a lot of condoms and as part of the promotion and activation programme, we have taken stock of over 20 million condoms,” Dr. Ayisi Addo announced. The goal is to increase distribution from five million to approximately 15 million condoms this year.
Dr. Ayisi Addo recognized the social pressures young people face, especially during celebrations like Valentine’s Day. “The frenzy around Valentine’s Day and the celebrations create an amiable environment for this. Creating an alternative such as promoting chocolates, among others, would still be pleasant and fulfilling, just like the Romans do,” he suggested.
The NACP is collaborating with civil society groups and partners to intensify its efforts. “We are going to take advantage again of all events, including Valentine’s Day come Friday. Because this is an occasion where people rebel, there’s a lot of romantic activity and sex has to be definite,” Dr. Ayisi Addo explained. “A lot of risky, unprotected sex opens the door to unwanted consequences. It is our responsibility to protect the community and Ghanaians from HIV to reduce the new infections.”
Dr. Ayisi Addo called for increased partnerships to achieve a significant reduction in new HIV infections and reach epidemic control by 2030.

By Mercy Okpe

The National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has taken decisive action against the proliferation of counterfeit medicines in Nigeria.

As part of a nationwide operation, NAFDAC officials sealed several major open drugs markets, including the popular Idumota market in Lagos.

The operation, which commenced on Sunday night, aimed to combat the widespread distribution of fake and ineffective medications. NAFDAC’s Director-General, Prof. Christianah Adeyeye, emphasized the critical need for this operation, stating, “The essence of the operation is to ensure that when we take medicines, they work.”

Prof. Adeyeye highlighted the alarming rate of unwholesome products in the market, noting that over 50,000 shops operate in open markets without proper regulation.

She stressed that NAFDAC’s goal is to control these unapproved products and ensure public safety.

NAFDAC’s Director of Investigation and Enforcement Directorate, Mr. Shaba Mohammed, underscored the urgency of the operation, pointing out that these markets supply over 80% of Nigeria’s drug needs.

He emphasized, “These markets are not just places of trade, they are places where lives are at stake.”

The operation involved a collaborative effort between NAFDAC, military personnel, the police, and representatives from the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria.

The agency’s swift action aims to protect Nigerian lives by ensuring that only approved, effective, and safe medications are sold in these markets.