NAFDAC adopts fresh strategy on drug counterfeiters
"Our plan for 2008 is to work harder to strengthen our strategy and explore new areas because the drug counterfeiters are not sleeping and so, we will not also sleep even if the level of counterfeit drugs in the system is less than 10 percent at single digit level we are not going to rest because in America and Britain they have it at less than one percent and so, we want to get to that level and with the support of Nigerians we are working towards that," says Dora Akunyili, director general NAFDAC.
The agency has also in the past been creating awareness about current illegal distribution and sale of the specially made high dose Vitamin A capsules (100, 000 I.U and 200,000 I.U) donated by the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) for children under five years and breastfeeding mothers.
Other highlights of the agency’s efforts ensure the proper distribution of Vitamin A Capsules to consumers include,
.Sensitize stakeholders and inform healthcare practitioners at all levels on the availability of Vitamin A Capsules free of charge at all Primary Health Care (PHC) facilities in Nigeria.
.Increase awareness on current channels of vitamin A distribution, linked to the LGA/Community PHC system, through Immunization Plus Days (IPD), Ward Health System, Child Health Week, Mectizan distribution, or Measles Campaign.
.Alert health care practitioners that NAFDAC officers would henceforth inspect these outlets for VAC and other stolen items, trace supply to the source and sanction culprits.
Every year, Nigeria receives $2.5 million worth of vitamin A supplement, or about 100 million capsules (or 200,000 bottles). Between 1999 and 2006, Nigeria received 1,044,654 bottles from the Canadian government, while only 525,721 bottles (or 50%) have been accounted for; the remaining half is missing.
It is a matter of grave concern and morally unacceptable that these capsules donated for free administration to target groups are being stolen, diverted and sold in markets, Doctor’s Eye Clinics, Pharmacy stores and Patent Medicine Shops. Like mistletoe, some fraudulent health workers have suddenly glued to any available money-spinning government supply under the guise of ‘breaking even or making ends meet’. Must we break even or make ends meet by mortgaging the lives of future generations of Nigerian children?
It will be recalled that on August 22nd 2006 a workshop was held by the agency to warn all those involved in the nefarious act of pilfering the capsules. Zonal meetings were also held throughout the country after which NAFDAC Officers went into a nationwide raid to retrieve the capsules from illegal channels.
According to Akunyili, as we seized the vitamin A capsules, Mectizan, Coartem and other stolen drugs, we closed the shops totalling 189 in number. Each shop owner paid a fine of N100, 000 before we unsealed the shop.
She however noted that any offender caught after the recent workshop held in November last year, such person will be prosecuted without fine.
Of about 1500 outlets visited by NAFDAC officers, 3000 bottles of the high dose vitamin A capsules were recovered. Other stolen commodities recovered included about 11,130 tablets of Coartem, 10,004 tablets of Mectizan and un-estimated quantities of ORS, Albendazole and medical devices.
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