By Lucy Anyim
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has inaugurated the Ebonyi State Task Force on “Counterfeit, Fake Drugs and Unwholesome Processed Foods”.
The inauguration which took place at IMPACT Hall, Block 5 Centenary City Abakaliki attracted key stakeholders on the taskforce comprising NAFDAC, Ebonyi State Ministry of Health, Pharmaceutical Council of Nigeria and the Nigerian Police Force.
Speaking on behalf of the Director General of NAFDAC, Prof. Mojisola Christiana Adeyeye, the NAFDAC Director South East Zone, Dr. Festus Ukadike gave an overview of the enforcement initiative as well as its objectives and urged Ebonyi State to take the lead in confronting the growing threat of counterfeit medicines and unsafe packaged foods which endanger lives, undermine healthcare outcomes, distort markets and increase health costs as well as productivity losses.
According to her “enforce standards, coordinate intelligence-driven surveillance, remove illegal products from circulation, and support legitimate manufacturers and traders by ensuring that compliant businesses are not undermined by counterfeiters and illegal operators.”
She disclosed that the task force would carry out coordinated market inspections and rapid testing where needed including transparent reporting to the Chairman Federal Taskforce on Counterfeit and Fake Drugs and Unwholesome Processed Foods.
Contributing, the Chairman of the Federal Task Force, Dr. Martin Iluyomade (FSI) who spoke through Zoom from Lagos State said that the task force derived its legal backing from an Act of the National Assembly and it supersedes any similar task force constituted by a State.
On his part, the Hon. Commissioner for Health, Dr Moses Ekuma described the circulation of harmful drugs and unhealthy foods as a serious threat to human existence stressing that the menace kills silently, weakens the healthcare systems and affects the poor and vulnerable.
While the health boss thanked the Minister of Health Prof. Ali Pate and the Director General of NAFDAC for the intervention and others like CEmONC, MAMII etc in the health sector, he expressed his readiness to provide necessary assistance to ensure that the aim of setting up the taskforce is achieved.
He enumerated the efforts made by the Ministry to curb counterfeit drugs and extolled the Governor of Ebonyi State, His Excellency Rt. Hon. Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru and his wife, Her Excellency Mrs Mary-Maudline Uzoamaka Nwifuru for prioritizing healthcare.
He said "the Ministry has started tackling the issue of fake drugs by establishng Drugs and Medical Commodities and Management Agency. The Agency that is in charge of procuring drugs directly from manufacturers and that Agency is backed by law and made it compulsory for all State owned health facilities to source their drugs from central medical store and by so doing the drugs are cheap and genuine".
Dr. Ekuma maintained that the inauguration was not a ceremonial event but a call to action and enjoined members of the task force to work assiduously to eliminate all forms of health threatening substances in the State.
On his part, the Ebonyi State NAFDAC Coordinator, Mr. Emeka Orajiaka emphasized that the fight against counterfeit drugs and unwholesome processed foods cannot be tackled by NAFDAC alone adding that with the collaborative efforts of the newly inaugurated task force, significant progress can be achieved in protecting the health and safety of Ebonyi residents.
Responding on behalf of others, the Chairman of the Taskforce, Dr. Gabriel Ajah represented by the Permanent Secretary, Dr. Lawrence Ezeogo appreciated them and promised that the taskforce would operate with professionalism, integrity, and transparency. He pledged their readiness to collaborate with relevant Agencies, manufacturers, regulatory bodies and the judiciary to dismantle networks making profit from human suffering.
The event featured administration of the oath of office to members of the Ebonyi State Task Force by NAFDAC Legal Officer, Barrister Jombo Washington Adumen.
Lucy Anyim is the Head, Public Relations Department, Ebonyi State Ministry of Health.
