Agency Collaborates With Media In Combating Drug Hawking, Fruit Poisoning

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), has collaborated with the media in the fight against drug hawking and fruit poisoning. The agency held a one day media sensitization workshop on dangers of drug hawking and ripening of fruits with calcium carbide for Association of Nigeria Health Journalists in the Southeast zone.

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Addressing the participants, the Director General of NAFDAC, Professor Mojisola Christianah Adeyeye, represented by the Director, Chemical Evaluation and Research of the Agency, Dr. Leonard Omokpariola who eulogized their late former Director General, Prof. Dora Akunyili for her efforts in repositioning the agency, said that NAFDAC has been waging war against drug hawking and ripening of fruits with calcium carbide through different media channels to safeguard Nigerians from eating poisonous foods that can lead to death.

“Many drug hawkers 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 this endangering human lives.

“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.I wish to warn that any hawker arrested by NAFDAC will be prosecuted, will face a jail term and our enforcement officers are currently carrying out synchronized nationwide operations.

“No offender will be spared from facing the full wrath of the law.In this regard we solicit the cooperative and support of all other law enforcement agencies, Nigerian journalists and well meaning Nigerians in riding the country of this harmful and shameful practice,” she said.

Professor Adeyeye emphasized that consumption of fruits ripened with calcium carbide may cause cancer, heart, kidney and liver failure, frequent thirst, weakness,skin ulcer, permanent skin damage, irritation in mouth and nose and so forth.

Speaking on the way forward, she said, “It is gratifying to announce that apart from sensitization campaigns and enforcement activities, NAFDAC has commissioned a scientific study on the best approach towards mitigating the health hazards posed by ripening of fruits with calcium carbides. I have mandated some of my directors and support staff to take these campaigns to the books and crannies of this country. We are confident of winning the war against these two hydra-headed public health menaces.”

Professor Adeyeye further advised Nigerians to quit buying milk, tea, corn flakes among other beverages that are being measured with cups or plates and sold in markets,to prevent the risk of taking contaminated,substandard, expired and adulterated food or food fraud with grave health implications.

In a welcome address, the Acting Director, South East Zone of the Agency, Mr. Collins Ogedengbe who shared their mission and vision said that NAFDAC regulates and controls the manufacture, importation, exportation, sale and use of food, drugs, cosmetics, chemicals among others, as well as ensures availability of quality and safe foods and drugs.

On his part, the Director of Public Affairs of NAFDAC, Dr. Abubakar Jimoh, emphasized that the media is very critical in their desire and quest to rid the country of drug hawking and ripening of fruits with calcium carbide.He also noted that NAFDAC had already trained over 800 journalists on the dangers of bleaching cream this year and appealed to the media to help sensitize the general public in order to save lives.

Earlier, the Anambra state Commissioner for Health, Dr. Afam Obidike represented by the Director of Pharmaceutical Services of the Ministry, Mr. Obum Madike, appreciated NAFDAC for the great job they are doing and assured that Anambra state government will continue to partner with them to end the menace of drug hawking and ripening of fruits with calcium carbide.

Presentations were also made on “Food Safety Concerns,” Good Distribution Practices and Surveillance Activities Towards Prevention and Curbing of Substandard and Falsified Medicines in Nigeria”, and “Influence of Mass Media Campaign on Health Behavioral Change”.

The President, Association of Health Journalists of Nigeria, Mr. Hassan Zaggi,Mr.Onyishi Ogbonna, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA Commander, Anambra State, Ebonyi, Anambra States Nigeria Union of Journalists,NUJ,Chairmen, representatives of National Youth Service Corps NYSC, among others, attended the workshop.

The event which also featured technical and interactive sessions with the media practitioners, attracted health reporters from the five South East states as well as Delta state,was held in Awka, Anambra State.