NAFDAC Cautions Nigerians Against Patronizing Drug Hawkers

IBADAN - The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has called on food products and drugs consumers in Nigeria not to take with levity expiration framework of products in a bid for them to avoid preventable negative consequences.

The call was made on Friday during a one-day training for Association of Nigeria Health Journalists on Dangers of Drug Hawking and Ripening of Fruits with Carbide held at the House of Chiefs, Secretariat, Agodi, Ibadan, the capital of Oyo State.

In her opening remark, Director General of NAFDAC, Professor Mojisola Adeyeye ably represented by Director, Chemical Evaluation and Research, NAFDAC, Dr. Partick Omokpariola, stressed that the

essence of the programme was to make a clarion call to Nigerians on the need to take stringent regulatory actions to stem the dangerous tide of Drug Hawking and Ripening of Fruits with Calcium Carbide.

She said, "Since 2019, we immediately took some decisive steps such as sensitization of the public through different media outlets, enforcement through intelligence and raids in fruit markets that have resulted in seizures and destruction of violative products.

"The flag-off for this sensitization workshop today is again a fulfilment of my promise to sustain and strengthen NAFDAC's existing collaboration with Association of Health Journalists in Nigeria towards mobilizing, educating, sensitizing, and conscientizing Nigerian Journalists to play frontline role in our concerted efforts to eradicate the menace of Drug Hawking and Ripening of Fruits with Calcium Carbide in Nigeria.

"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 carbides. I have mandated some of my directors and support staff to take these campaigns to the nooks and crannies of this country. We are confident of winning the war against these two hydra-headed public health menaces," Adeyeye said.

While speaking on the hazard associated with ripening of fruits with calcium carbide, Dr. Patrick Omokpariola noted that fruit ripening with carbide are unhealthy for consumption in any society.

Dr. Patrick stressed that alternative ripening of fruits should be adopted including using apple as ripening of banana and in an airtight container as to help to maintain nutrients and naturalness of the fruits.

He, however, urged Nigeria fruit sellers to desist from ripening fruits with calcium carbide which are capable of causing health challenges such as irregular heart attack, ingestion, diarrhea, hypotension among others.

Patrick noted that calcium carbide has chemical substance that contain poisons and burning atoms and thereby subject the victims to body inflammation and undue debts over treatment.

In a lecture delivered titled "Menace of Drug Hawking" by a director of Pharmacy, NAFDAC, Francis Ononiwu presented by a deputy Director, Mr Afolabi noted that continued patronage of street drug vendors should be discouraged as effects have been alarming to the health of the nation.

Dr. Francis added that the way forward is to purchase drugs from registered pharmaceuticals while consumers should read the expiration of any product as this enables safety and quality which greatly would guarantee a better performing healthy nation.

The President, Association of Nigeria Health Journalists, Abuja, Mr Hazan applauded NAFDAC for it's continued improvement and harmonization with the media in the country.

Meanwhile, Deputy Director, Public Affairs, NAFDAC Lagos, Mrs Christiana Obiazikwor implored every media house to increase its sensitization in partnership with NAFDAC even on digital media as to further educate the nation on need to embrace healthy living and its rules for a behavioural change of Nigerians.

It would be recalled that NAFDAC recently organised similar sensitization workshops in eight cities across the country to raise awareness on the dangers of using bleaching creams. This was in line to intensify and widen the scope of its publicity and public awareness campaigns for a transformative programme in the country.