The Director General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, has warned that the outbreak of coronavirus puts Nigeria at a grave danger of drug shortage, reason being that 70 percent of Nigeria’s medicines are imported.
Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, said on Monday in Abuja while briefing newsmen on the third African Medicine Quality Forum meeting billed to hold in Abuja from February 24. She said that India which Nigeria depends on for a greater percentage of its drug imports has already been hit by the ravaging effects of the virus as its major materials and active ingredients come from China.
She also added that, “It’s a scary thing, and I’ve been emphasizing this from day one. We need drug security. Since we import 70% of our drugs, then, we’re in trouble if such things happen.”
Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye also went further warning individuals against the use of paracetamol when cooking, She said: “When paracetamol is subjected to heat while cooking with it, it changes to para-aminophenol and benzoquine, which destroys the kidney. We have done a lot of enlightenment because the major problem of our people is ignorance and illiteracy.”
“We haven’t made any arrest because to do that, we will need to test the pots of soup containing these substances at our office. Another reason is because we are short of staff, but I think the government is doing something about this,” she added.
Prof. Adeyeye also highlighted issues on enforcement against peddlers of fake and substandard medicines, she said the agency was collaborating with the Pharmacists Council of Nigeria (PCN), especially in markets that are not approved or those known for substandard medicines, she explained that NAFDAC was also in talks with online stores, this will enable advertisers register with PCN before advertising on their platforms for sales of medicines.