Dr Betta Edu, DG of State Primary Health Care Agency
Charles Ekanem|21 August 2016
Following the alert by the the Federal Government of the two confirmed falsified versions of Quinine Sulphate in circulation. Quinine sulphate is used in the treatment of Malaria.
The Director General of the Cross River State Primary Health Care Develovement Agency (PHCDA), Dr Betta Edu has dispatched a sensitization team to the primary health care centres and community pharmacies in all the 1,113 health centre accross the state. She who herself was present yesterday at Mkpani, Nko and Ugep of Yakurr LGA as well as Apiapum of Obubra LGA went through communities sensitising the people and encouraging them to sleep under insecticide treated nets.
In A statement personally signed by the Director General of the agency and made available to the media in Calabar on Sunday, the agency states that the two falsified drugs contain zero active pharmaceutical ingredients.
The statement added that the drugs are majorly being circulated in West and Central Africa which Cross River is central being in West Africa and borders with Cameroon.
She advised phamarcies and health care givers living in the Cross River Communities to beware of such drugs and report any one selling it to security agencies, NAFDAC, CRS primary Health Care Development Agency and Ministry of Health. The Governor Sen. Ben Ayade has instructed that we step up surveillance on these drugs, and some vaccine preventable diseases like polio.
The federal government had in a statement signed by the Director, Media and Public Relations of the Ministry of Health, Boade Akinola, said one of the fake products was named Quinine Sulfate 300 mg with 1000 Tablets per container, Batch Number 10H05, expiry date 09/2018 and its date of manufacture is 09/2014.
Boade stated that the drug manufactured by Novadina Pharmaceutical Limited, London, United Kingdom was first was discovered in Cameroon.
The other version of the fake drug was Quinine Sulphate 300mg with 100 Tablets per container; batch F4387, expiry date 11/18 and its date of manufacture is 12/14.
She explained that the product was manufactured in India by CAD Pharm, and it was discovered in Bunia, Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Akinola advised Nigerians to be vigilant and report to the nearest National Agency for Food and Drug Administration office anywhere the drugs were spotted including hospitals and pharmaceutical shops. The ministry advised Nigerians to also report if they come ac the following GSM no +234-8037881120, +234-8055056727 and +234-8035902679. “If you are in possession of these products, please do not use them".
“If you have taken this falsified product or if you suffer an adverse effect following its uptake, please seek immediate advice from a qualified healthcare professional and report the incident to NAFDAC", she said.
Charles Ekanem
Is the Chief Press Secretary to the DG, PHC Agency, CRS
