AFRO-NETS> Fake drugs, weapon of terrorism - says Nigeria's Drug control Czar

[A Odutola <chpss_abo@yahoo.com>]

Fake drugs, weapon of terrorism - says Nigeria's Drug control Czar
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In the prevailing fashion of the times, Nigeria's Food and Drugs con-
trol Czar has described drug faking as the highest weapon of terror-
ism against public health. Read more about it below:

Fake drugs, weapon of terrorism: 
http://www.datelinehealth-africa.net/news/detailnews.asp?news_id=4888

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The Director-General National Agency for Food and Drug Administration 
and Control (NAFDAC), Dr. Dora Akunyili, on Tuesday, described drug 
faking as the highest weapon of terrorism against public health and 
an act of economic sabotage.

She made this declaration in Abuja at a workshop organized by the In-
ternational Trade Centre (ITC), Geneva, Switzerland, for Nigerian 
women entrepreneurs.

The NAFDAC boss, who presented a paper on ?The role of regulation in 
promoting export potentials for women entrepreneurs,? said fake drugs 
had embarrassed the health care providers and eroded the confidence 
of the public in the country?s health care delivery system.

?This development has led to treatment failures, worsening of many 
disease conditions and the death of many Nigerians. The situation was 
so bad that even when patients were treated with genuine antibiotics, 
they no longer responded positively due to resistance induced by pre-
vious intake of fake antibiotics.

?Fake drugs; unwholesome fruit juices and other unregulated products 
are implicated in kidney failure; liver damage; heart failure and 
other organ dysfunctions, as well as in worsening of chronic disease 
conditions, such as hypertension and diabetes? she said. 

She, therefore, stressed the need for an affective regulation to pro-
tect the health of the citizens and the economy.

?NAFDAC is determined to ensure effective regulation because fake and 
substandard drugs and other unregulated products have far reaching 
negative consequences on our health and economy,? she added.

She also expressed the desire of the agency to encourage Nigerian en-
trepreneurs and restore confidence of consumers in the quality of 
food; drugs; cosmetics; chemicals/detergents; medical devices and all 
drinks that are manufactured, imported, exported, distributed, adver-
tised, sold and used in the country.

Source: 
Punch, Wednesday, February 12, 2003. Pg: 10. By. Oluyinka Akintunde.

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A. Odutola 
mailto:chpss_abo@yahoo.com

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