NAFDAC laments fake Covid-19 vaccine
Chima Azubuike, Gombe
National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control has warned Nigerians to be mindful of attempts by unscrupulous elements to adulterate Covid-19 vaccines.
Speaking on Saturday, at the North East site for the destruction of substandard, fake and falsely labelled medicines, expired, unwholesome and counterfeit regulated food products in Gombe, Director General of the Agency; Prof. Christianah Adeyeye, said her agency would continue to do it best in riding the country off counterfeited items.
Represented by deputy director Josephine Daliyim, she noted that the items for destruction includes;
antibiotics, antihypertensive, antimalarial, herbal remedies, psychoactive anti-diabetic. Good such as Spaghetti, vegetable oil, non alcoholic, beverages, sachet water. Creams such as creams, pomade etc and chemicals such as fake insecticides, fertilizers.
According to her, The Surveillance and enforcement systems in NAFDAC are continually being improved and strengthened. NAFDAC was ISO 9001: 2015 certified in 2019 and all processes now have Standard Operating Procedures (SOP-driven).
Adeyeye said, “While the country and indeed the world is battling with Covid-19 pandemic, it is important for me at this juncture to draw the attention of the public to the presence of counterfeit Covid-19 vaccines in the Continent.
“The public must be on the look out for these spurious and counterfeit vaccines and other regulated products. NAFDAC on it part will ensure continuous surveillance of these products and we shall continue to enforce the regulations governing these products in Nigeria.”
She added, “The items for destruction has street value of five hundred and fifteen million , seven hundred and thirty two thousand, five hundred and eighty-seven naira (515,732,587.00).”
On his part, Zonal coordinator of NAFDAC Bukar Usman, who was represented by Gombe State coordinator Pharm. Gonzuk Bedima appreciated the efforts of other agencies that assisted in controlling fake products, adding that it made their work as monitors easy.
“SON, NSCDC, police, NDLEA and other agencies for assisting us. I want to appreciate all of them, because of the enlightenment campaign of the agency some of them have submitted their expired, counterfeit drugs to NAFDAC.
“I want to further employ us all to join hands together towards eliminating the sales and distribution counterfeit drugs and food,” Usman said.
