The Kano state Task force committee on Fake and Counterfeit Drugs says the state’s ranking on the consumption of fake and substandard drugs has improved as it drops from number one to six in a recent rating.
The Chairman of the committee, Pharmacist Ghali Sule in a Media briefing organized by the Kano state council of the Nigeria Union of Journalist, NUJ, said Kano state used to be ranked number one in the consumption of unwholesome drugs but has now dropped to the sixth position due to hard work and commitment of the committee and other related agencies.
“As a result of high intake of fake and counterfeit drugs, Kano was number one on the chat.
“However, activities of our committee have improved our ranking as we are now number six on the chat” Sule said.
According to him, since the inception of the committee in 2012, over N6 billion naira worth of fake and counterfeit drugs have been siezed, stressing that it has helped in sanitizing the society, the country and Africa as a whole.
“If you sanitize Kano of fake drugs you are sanitizing many countries in the region of Africa of substandard drugs because countries like Niger, Chad, even Sudan among others buy their drugs from Kano.
“We have destroyed all the siezed drugs. 20 destruction exercises of seized drugs have been held since 2012, mostly witnessed by the executive governor of the state,” Mr. Sule explained.
He said most drug hawkers on the streets of Kano have been driven away because of the activities of the committee, which has NAFDAC, NDLEA, security agencies, Karota, vigilantes among others as members.
“Drug hawkers in Kano have been drastically reduced, before they were everywhere but they are no more, they have relocated to neghbouring states.
‘”Just three days ago we confiscated fake and adulterated anti malaria drugs, which if left undetected would have affected many, especially pregnant women.
“The logo on the drug is for a partnership programme between Kano state and some international donors on antimalarial drugs. The partnership had terminated three years ago but this people are still using the logo to manufacture the fake drugs,” Sule said.
Collaboration with Federal government
He said more measures are still being taken in collaboration with the Federal Government to stem the tide of the menace, as a site is being built, where all drug marketers, especially wholesalers in Kano will be relocated to.
“All the drug regulatory agencies will be there, including NAFDAC, Pharmaceutical Association of Nigeria to ensure that fake drugs are not bought in and distributed. Kano Governor approved the site and it is almost 80 percent complete”.
He Commended the general public for volunteering information and security agencies for their efforts, all which have assisted the agency in their crack down of hawkers, even as jingles are played by the media to sensitize the people.
Emmanuel Ukoh
