NAFDAC Decries Incessant Circulation Of Fake Drugs

The National Agency for Food  and Drug  Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has expressed concern over the continued circulation of fake drugs in the country.
The Director General of the agency, Dr Paul Orhii said this in Calabar, Cross River State, during the Annual Award giving ceremony for senior and junior secondary schools in Cross River State that excelled in the NAFDAC Consumers Safety (NCSCCLUS) organised competition.
Dr Orhii who was represented by the agency’s Coordinator in Cross River State, Pharm. Isaac Kolawole said that the Agency is deeply concerned about the menace of fake drugs in the country adding that the NCSC was initiated to promote behavioural change through enlightenment among the youth to guide them against the indulgence in such act as well as its consequences.
According to him, the activities of the club have become a driving force for NAFDAC  to continue to promote it despite the huge resources involved.
“We can only build a new Nigeria by equipping our youth who are the future of this great nation with the right virtues.
“NAFDAC consumer safety club is therefore promoted as a platform for affecting behavioural change through enlightenment  among the populace at a particular age group where they are expected to imbibe the culture of quality and propagate this value to their peers, family and the general public”.
Dr Orhii further explained that the phenomenon of fake products which posed the greatest challenge to NAFDAC informed the Agency’s decision to catch them young, adding that a baseline survey by pharmaco-vigilance and post marketing (PV/PMs) Directorate on NCSC in 2012 to measure knowledge Attitude and Practice (KAP) of 1238 Students in secondary schools in Nigeria for both members and non-members of NCSC, saying  “the KAP of the students after 10 years of intensive enlightenment campaign showed that over 70 per cent of the students know the activities of NAFDAC.
He reaffirmed the commitment of the agency towards promoting NCSC activities as part of her corporate social responsibility by organising the annual competition/ award in state, zonal and national levels.