The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has warned that drugs that are being sold in open market are poisonous and dangerous to human health.
Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, Director-General (DG) of NAFDAC gave the warning at the North-Central Media sensitisation workshop on the dangers of drug hawking and ripening of fruits with calcium carbide on Monday in Lafia, Nasarawa State.
The DG who was represented by Dr Leonard Omokpariola, also explained that ripening of fruits with calcium carbide is poisonous and dangerous to the health of those who consume such fruits.
“The menace of drug hawking poses serious challenge to healthcare delivery system in the country and this underscored NAFDAC’s resolute determination to totally eradicate the illicit trade.
“Many drug hawkers are knowingly or unknowingly merchants of death who expose essential and life saving medicines to the vagaries of inclement weather, which degrade the active ingredients of the medicine and turn them to poisons thus endangering human lives.
“Most of the drugs sold by the illiterate and semi-literate drug hawkers are counterfeit, substandard or expired, and therefore do not meet the quality, safety and efficacy requirement of regulated medicines.
“Prescription drugs are also sold by the itinerant drug hawkers who also hold consultation, recommend and prescribe medicines to their gullible “patients, the DG added.
The NAFDAC DG also explained that the drug hawkers are also the major distributors and suppliers of narcotic medicines to criminal networks such as Armed Bandits, Insurgents, Kidnappers and Armed Robbers.
She also said that drug hawkers constitute serious threat to our national security and must be tackle to curtail insecurity in the country.
Adeyeye further said that drugs are sensitive life-saving commodities which should not be sold on the streets/motor parks or open markets just like any other article of trade.
The DG emphasised the need for people to use natural method of ripening mature fruits such as the use of paper bags, flour/rice, decomposing apple and banana peels among others.
She, therefore, warned that the agency would prosecute any drug hawkers or person caught using calcium carbide to ripe fruits.
On his part, Nasarawa State Coordinator of NAFDAC, Pharm. Omoyeni Babatunji, welcomed the media practitioners to the sensitization workshop.
The Nasarawa State Coordinator added that the media is a versatile communication tool and has been helping in the deliveries of information to aid behavioral change and development.
“NAFDAC believes that timely dissemination of quality information would bridge the gap on public ignorance around prevailing and emerging issues of sub-standard goods and use of harmful chemicals, hence this collaborative workshop,” he said.
In his goodwill message, Pharm. Okpalaeke Nwora, Nasarawa State Coordinator of Pharmaceutical Council of Nigeria (PCN) said the public should know that when they see them going after those selling drugs illegally is because of its danger to the health.
The Coordinator of Pharmaceutical Council of Nigeria added that it is illegal for a licensed drug dealer to sale drugs to unlicensed persons for the purpose of reselling them.
He therefore said that even licensed practitioners caught selling to unlicensed persons would be arrested and made to face the law.
Similarly, Mr. Hassan Zaggi, President, Association of Nigeria Health Journalists lauded NAFDAC for the partnership and promised that the media practitioners at the event would disseminate the information to the targeted audience.
The workshop had in attendance journalists from prints, electronic and new media from the six states of the North-Central zone including Abuja, Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
The highlights of the training includes; paper presentations and questions and answers. (NAN).