Flowerbud News

Category: General News

  • NAFDAC trains officers on quality management system global procedures

    By Flowerbud News

    July 30, 2021

    National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) on Friday conducted training  on quality management system global procedures for its staff in the North-West geopolitical zone.
    NAFDAC Coordinator in Kaduna State, Mr Nasiru Mato, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Kaduna that the training, conducted Online, was part of rebuilding process to uphold standard.
    Mato said  the training would equip officers with the necessary knowledge of Quality Management System and techniques of applying same in the workplace to ensure the  attainment of the NAFDAC’s quality objectives.
    He said Quality Management System approach was a veritable concept and tool employed by organisations in the conduct of their core activities, processes and operations for optimum, effective and efficient  service delivery.
    According to him, the goal is to safeguard the health of citizens.
    ” It is against this backdrop that NAFDAC, North West Zonal office,  conducted training. tagged: ‘NAFDAC Global QMS Procedures,’ with a view to acquainting officers on the general concept of QMS, documentation process, standard operating procedures, as well NAFDAC quality policy,” he said.
    He said they were also trained on ” quality manual, issues of risk management, key performance indicators, non – conformances, concept of business continuity plan and internal audit processes.”
    NAN

  • NAFDAC harps on exclusive breastfeeding

    By Flowerbud News

    Aug 4, 2021

    The National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) in Kaduna has advised nursing and lactating mothers to place their babies  below age five on exclusive breastfeeding.

    The Kaduna State Coordinator of the agency, Mr Nasiru Mato, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Kaduna, that exclusive breastfeeding would prepare such children for a healthy living.

    Mato also urged nursing mothers’ strict compliance to marketing Breast Milk Substitutes (BMS) to aid infant’s nutrition.

    He said that this would protect infants and young children’s feeding through promotion, protection and support for exclusive breastfeeding.

    He described breast milk as natural and God-given food that is full of nourishment for babies and a balanced diet for optimum healthy growth for infants.

    He said that exclusive breastfeeding used to begin within the first one hour after delivery by a pregnant woman and was expected to continue uninterrupted for the first six months.

    He said that research had also proven that breastfeeding used to help eradicate development of breast tumor in a lactating mother.

    “This year’s theme for the breastfeeding week celebration calls for an all-round support and encouragement of exclusive breastfeeding for greater outcomes.

    “Marketers of Breast Milk Substitutes (BMS) must ensure that they play the game by the rule so as not to violate the Code of BMS as this will attract serious sanction from NAFDAC.

    “NAFDAC will continue to sensitise, enlighten and monitor lactating mothers on exclusive breastfeeding so that they will do it right for them to get it right.

    “We must pull all our strengths together in this feat for optimal results,”Mato said.

    He urged healthcare providers, medical professionals as well as traditional institutions at all levels to continue to support NAFDAC through robust collaboration in order to achieve the desired results.

    Mato also applauded the Kaduna State Government for giving priority and importance to child nutrition.

    NAN

  • NAFDAC B oss warns youths against drug, substance abuse

    NAFDAC B oss warns youths against drug, substance abuse

     

    By Aderogba George

    Abuja: The Director-General, National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Prof Mojisola Adeyeye, has appealed to youths to shun drugs and substance abuse by cultivating positive attitudes towards enhancing Nigeria’s development.

     

    The advice is contained in a statement by the agency’s media consultant, Mr Olusayo Akintola, on Sunday in Abuja.

     

    The statement said Adeyeye stated this during the maiden Annual National Security Summit in Abuja with the theme “COVID-19, Drug Abuse, Mental Health: Implications to National Security”.

     

    It stated that the country’s future was dependent on the nature and quality of youth that it produces and warned against illicit drug intake, stressing that it was a threat to mental health and national security.

     

    The statement also indicated that children who grow under frustrating circumstances are likely to develop psychological problems and susceptible to dangerous habits.

     

    According to the statement, conditions related to COVID-19 are known to have increased economic deprivation and feelings of social isolation, factors likely to contribute to increased drug use.

     

    It disclosed that tackling the menace of national insecurity required a balanced approach touching on all aspects related to the complex relationship between lack of opportunities, drug abuse, mental health and others.

     

    ‘’Security today has gone beyond the notion of the physical safety and survival of a state from internal or external threats to include all the interlocking realms of economic self-reliance, social cohesion and political stability.

     

    ‘’Human development is about enlarging people’s choices to live a long and healthy life, to acquire knowledge and to have access to resources needed for a decent standard of living (UNDP, 1990:10).

     

    “Human development has always followed security of lives and property, which was the reason why those who drafted our constitution made security the number one responsibility the State must discharge towards its citizens,” parts of the statement read.

     

    It also said lack of opportunities, inequality, poverty, and mental health conditions were known factors that could push people into drug use.

     

    It said the 2030 agenda for Sustainable Development affirms explicitly that there could be no sustainable development without peace and no peace without sustainable development.

     

    It also warned against non-medical use of prescription drugs such as opioids and benzodiazepines and the use of amphetamines or new psychoactive substances with combination of drugs such as cocaine or heroin.

     

    It stated that the 2018 survey on drug use revealed that the highest level of drug users fell within the age groups of 25 and 39 years and regretted that the age bracket was the productive ages of any country.

     

    It said Cannabis was the most used drug, followed by opioids -which included tramadol and codeine adding that, 25 per cent of drug users were female approximately to 3.4 million of the population while 20 per cent of the drug users were dependents.

     

    It added that people who inject drugs are among the most marginalised and disadvantaged drug users and they experience poor health outcomes with a greater chance of premature death and high rates of life-threatening infectious diseases. (NAN)/ Flowerbudnews

     

  • NAFDAC unveils document to support breastfeeding code regulations

    By Aderogba George

    Abuja, The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), on Wednesday unveiled documents to support compliance to breastfeeding code implementation and Breast Milk Substitutes (BMS) regulations in the country.

     

    The unveiling ceremony was done in Abuja at the 40th Anniversary of the International Code of marketing of the BMS in Nigeria with the theme “Implementing the BMS Code in Nigeria: Progress, Challenges and Opportunities”.

     

    The Director General of NAFDAC, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, said that the BMS Code was an international health policy framework for breastfeeding protection and promotion adopted by the 3rd and 4th of the World Health Assembly (WHA) in 1981.

     

    Represented by her Special Assistant, Mr Gbenga Fajemirokun, the director general said that the Code was developed as a public health strategy.

     

    She added that it was aimed at contributing to the provision of safe and adequate nutrition for infants by protecting and promoting breastfeeding and to ensure proper use of breast-milk substitutes only when they were necessary.

     

    Adeyeye said that the code was to protect mothers from aggressive marketing of breast-milk substitutes.

     

    She further said that the code was also to ensure safe feeding and better nutrition for infants and young children as the provision of the code recommended restrictions on marketing of BMS.

     

    She added that “Nigeria, a member of the World Health Organisation (WHO) voted for code adoption in 1981 and is expected to implement all its provisions in the entirety as a minimum requirement and to translate it into national legislation, regulations and other suitable measures.

     

    “As a country, Nigeria takes her international and national obligations very serious which is why the provisions of CAP M5 Marketing BMS Act, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004 as amended by Decree 22 of  1999.

     

    “This Act designated NAFDAC as the regulatory agency to implement, monitor and enforce the code in Nigeria.

     

    “It is our collective desire as NAFDAC, the agency designated to implement and enforce this code compliance in Nigeria, to work collaboratively with all stakeholders and partners.

     

    “To contribute to achieving safe and adequate nutrition for our infants through protection and promotion of breastfeeding.”

     

    The Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire, said that the ministry remained committed to improve survival of children, especially the ones under the age of five-year and maternal child care through various policies that would promote healthy living.

     

    Represented by Dr Anas Kolo, the Director of Family Health in the ministry, said that the ministry had gone ahead to promote baby friendly hospital initiative.

     

    Ehanire maintained that the ministry would continue to promote exclusive breastfeeding and other initiatives in the same direction.

     

    The minister, therefore, encouraged mothers to continue to breastfeed their babies in spite of the COVID-19 pandemic, adding that support mechanisms were on the way to encourage mothers.

     

    In his goodwill message, the Chairman, Senate Committee on Health, Sen. Ibrahim Oloriegbe, said that discussions were on at the

    National Assembly to permit mothers to embark on six months maternity leave after delivery.

     

    He added that this would also support exclusive breastfeeding.

     

    Oloriegbe noted that Nigeria had not achieved its target as far as exclusive breastfeeding was concerned, adding that the environment had not been friendly to achieve that.

     

    “We must promote friendly environment for this initiative, a lot must be done to encourage this to meet our target,” he said.

     

    Mr Sheriff Olagunju, the NAFDAC Director of Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, said the implementation of BMS Code had earned the country improved rating in the 2020 International Code Status Report.

     

    He added that NAFDAC would not rest on its oars to continue to enforce the code.

     

    “The BMS Code spelt out roles and responsibilities of various stakeholders in ensuring that breastfeeding is promoted, supported, and protected by implementing the provisions of the BMS Code and subsequent relevant WHA resolutions in its entirety.

     

    “These stakeholders include but not limited to the government, policy makers, healthcare workers, healthcare system, the media, mothers and their families, development partners, Non-Governmental Organisations and Civil Society Organisations.

     

    “The importance of breastfeeding is also evident in its significantly positive impact on our planet.

     

    “This is because breast-milk is a natural and renewable food which requires no preparation, no packaging, no storage and no transportation.

     

    “The earth benefits when women are encouraged to breastfeed their infants and young children, therefore, the enabling environment must be created by the society at large for this to happen,” Olagunju said.(NAN) (www.nannews.ng)/ Flowerbudnews

  • NAFDAC commences campaign against unwholesome foods, substandard products in Kwara

    NAFDAC commences campaign against unwholesome foods, substandard products in Kwara

    By Flowerbud News

    Sept 9, 2021

    National Agency for Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) on Thursday in Ilorin commenced a sensitisation campaign against unwholesome foods and other products with negative health implications on the populace.

    NAFDAC Director-General, Prof Mojisola Adeyeye, in her keynote address said the public awareness campaign was one of the veritable regulatory mechanisms put in place by the agency to promote and protect the health of the masses.

    Adeyeye, represented by NAFDAC Zonal Coordinator for North Central, Mrs Bolaji Abayomi, said the first phase of the scheme would hold in eight states of the federation.

    “The event is another major milestone in our bid to protect Nigerians against the deleterious effects of unwholesome food, falsified medical products, Harmful Cosmetics, Poor Water and other substandard regulated products.

    “The key objective of this sensitization programme is to intensify and expand the scope of our informal and formal behaviour change communication strategies in order to reach the vulnerable communities especially at the grassroots.

    “Dissemination of Food and Drug safety information is an important aspect of our regulatory work,” the DG said.

    Adeyeye acknowledged that Nigeria has a preponderant share of the global problem of falsified medical products and unwholesome foods.

    “The advent of COVID-19 pandemic has aggravated the problem with the challenge posed by substandard and falsified Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs).

    “The sensitization campaigns will therefore contribute significantly to Federal Government’s concerted efforts to inform, sensitize, educate and alert the public about inherent dangers of intake and use of those spurious regulated products,” she added.

    The D-G said the campaign themes were multifaceted with clear, concise, informative and educative messages.

    This, she said was aimed at arousing the awareness and consciousness of the general public about the various infractions that impact negatively on the country’s healthcare delivery system.

    Adeyeye said the campaign would address 12 public health challenges such as dangers of buying medicines from hawkers.

    She said patients were advised to buy medicines from only licensed pharmacies and medicine stores as medicines sold by hawkers have been exposed to too extreme weather conditions.

    She listed the theme to include abuse of Codeine and self-medication especially among youths, the dangerous effects of using Kerosene tanker to load groundnut oil and dangerous practice of using potassium bromate to bake bread.

    Others, she said were: use of Azo-dyes in palm oil which causes cancer, dangers of using Sniper to preserve any type of food or to keep flies away from meat and dangers of consumption of excessive oil.

    Adeyeye listed use of formalin on food and its associated health hazards, low level of exclusive breastfeeding practice by lactating mothers and its associated health hazards as parts of the themes of the campaign.

    “I am pleased to inform you that the mass media, vibrant youth organisations and civil societies in the pilot states will be in the forefront of the sensitization campaigns.

    “The target audiences are market women and men, road transport workers and employers, community youth organisations and students.

    “It is our expectation that at the end of the campaigns, the participants and target audiences would become dependable partners and allies of NAFDAC.

    “They will be in the forefront of sustaining the public awareness campaigns by disseminating the information and messages to the Grassroots.

    “Our ultimate goal is to ensure that the various communities take ownership of the care and management of their own health,” she added.

    The DG vowed that NAFDAC under her watch would leave no stone unturned in concerted efforts to rid the country of the menace of falsified medical products, unwholesome foods, harmful cosmetics, poorly packaged water and other substandard regulated products.

    NAN

  • NAFDAC warns Nigerians against storing food in chemical containers

    By Chimezie Anaso

    Awka, The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration Control (NAFDAC) has warned Nigerians against storing food in containers formerly used for chemical products.

    Prof. Christiana Adeyeye, the Director General of NAFDAC, gave the warning on Thursday during a sensitisation campaign in Onitsha, Anambra.

    Adeyeye, who was represented by Mrs Ngozi Onuora, Director of Chemical Evaluation and Research Directorate, said such containers harboured carcinogenic substances, which would not be scrubbed by washing and could develop harmful effects for humans in the long run.

    The DG, who led the team of NAFDAC top management to the palace of HRH Igwe Alfred Achebe, the traditional ruler of Onitsha, said a well informed society would address the effects of drug abuse.

    “It is harmful to use kerosene tankers to load groundnut oil, to use potassium bromate to bake bread so as to improve the dough and to dyes to redden palm oil,” she said.

    Adeyeye called on Nigerians to stop buying medicines from hawkers, but patronise approved medicine shops which are under the agency’s regulatory purview.

    She said the awareness campaign, which would last for three days, was aimed at sensitising youths on the dangers of  consuming codeine, tramadol, and their abuse, as well as the harm caused by other dangerous drugs to their health.

    “We also advise market women to desist from using chemicals to quicken the ripening of fruits, like plantains and bananas, because it is dangerous  to health,” she said.

    She called on traditional institutions to use their reach with the grassroots to help NAFDAC achieve optimal results in the quest for a society free of drug abuse and unwholesome products.

    In his response, Igwe Achebe expressed worry over the increasing cases of drug abuse, particularly among youths in the state, saying that Onitsha had zero tolerance for drug trafficking and it employs effective community-based approaches to tackle the menace.

    Achebe said he had directed the demolition of two buildings housing illegal drug users in the past, but that there was the need for the Police and other related agencies in charge of drug control to complement these efforts.

    The traditional ruler said beyond the prevalence of drug abuse among youths on the streets, investigation had revealed that most people who used motorcycles to peddle drugs ended up in the barracks.

    “The rate at which the youths in the area engaged in the selling and consumption of illicit drugs is worrisome.

    “There is a need for the restoration of societal core values to enable the people avoid engagement in drugs abuse.

    “I believe that people engaged in meaningful activities cannot go into illicit drug consumption, that is why as a community, we are working hard to ensure that youths are trained on, skills including ICT,” he said.

    Achebe pledged to partner with the agency to ensure a drastic reduction of the sale and consumption of illicit drugs.

    The event included a lecture and  road show that took the team around the commercial city of Onitsha. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng) Flowerbudnews

     

  • NAFDAC warns against consumption of Alpha male plus male enhancer fruit chews

    By Aderogba George

    Abuja,  The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has cautioned Nigerians on the use of Alpha male plus male enhancer fruit chews, due to undeclared content of the product.

     

    The warning was contained in a public Alert No. 030/2021, which was made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday, in Abuja.

     

    The agency also warned Nigerians to be cautious against taking Alpha male plus dietary Supplement, as the US-FDA was recalling the product due to the presence of undeclared Tadalafil and Sildenafil in them.

     

    NAFDAC stated in the alert that it had been informed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (US-FDA) that Tucson, AZ, Alpha Male Plus is voluntarily recalling all lots of unexpired Alpha Male Plus male enhancer fruit chews.

     

    The agency  said that the recall had become necessary because the result of recent analysis by FDA found the product to contain undeclared tadalafil, an ingredient known as a phosphodiesterase (PDE-5) inhibitor found in FDA approved product for the treatment of male erectile dysfunction.

     

    “The presence of tadalafil in Alpha male plus male enhancer renders the product an unapproved drug for which safety and efficacy have not been established.

     

    “Alpha male plus male enhancer fruit chew is marketed as a dietary supplement for male sexual enhancement and sold online.

     

    “The possible risk is that the undeclared tadalafil ingredient may interact with nitrates found in some prescription drugs, such as nitro-glycerine, and may lower blood pressure to dangerous levels that may be life threatening.

     

    “People with diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or heart disease often take nitrates.

     

    “Consumers with underlying medical issues who take Alpha male plus male enhancer with undeclared tadalafil may experience serious health risks as the PDE-5 inhibitors may interact with nitrates found in some of their prescription drugs,’’ the alert warned.

     

    NAFDAC, therefore, implored consumers to stop the purchase and use of Alpha male plus, stressing that members of the public in possession of the product are advised to handover it to the nearest NAFDAC office.

     

    The agency also called on patients to contact their physician or healthcare provider, if they have experienced any problems that may be related to using the implicated product.

     

    NAFDAC also encouraged healthcare professionals, consumers and patients to report any noticed adverse effects related to the use of this product to the nearest NAFDAC office or contact NAFDAC PRASCOR (20543 TOLLS FREE from all networks).

     

    It added that Nigerians could also report via pharmacovigilance@nafdac.gov.ng, e-reporting platforms available on the NAFDAC website or via the Med-safety application available for download on android and IOS stores. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng) Flowerbudnews

  • NAFDAC arrests Hawkers of Sex Enhancing Herbal Drugs in Sokoto

    By Habibu Harisu

    Sokoto, NAFDAC has arrested 24 hawkers and retailers of unregistered aphrodisiacs – sex enhancing herbal medicines – in Sokoto.

    Its coordinator, Malam Garba Adamu, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday that NAFDAC also impounded six vehicles and public address systems used in selling the products and some counterfeit medicines.

     

    He said the consignment valued at about N2 million were seized in markets and on the streets of Sokoto metropolis.

     

    He noted that the items confiscated would be subjected to tests and persons involved would be sanctioned to serve as deterrent to others peddlers.

     

    Adamu said that the exercise was in line with recent pronouncements by NAFDAC’s Director-General, Prof. Moji Adeyeye, that hawking of herbal drugs under scorching sun could cause decomposition of their active ingredients risking users’ health.

     

    He enjoined members of the public to be wary of what they consumed and monitor any unregistered item; desist from patronising the products and hawkers so as to support NAFDAC in safeguarding their health.

     

    According to him, the agency’s officials intensified surveillance and inspection in Sokoto and Kebbi states to ensure quality of products and services.

     

    He added that the operations would be sustained until the sector is sanitised and appealing to herbal medicine practitioners to always abide by government’s regulations in their practice and business in the interest of their patrons.

     

    Adamu reiterated NAFDCA’s commitment to sustaining the effort in accordance with its mandates. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng) / Flowerbudnews

  • NAFDAC warns against reddening palm oil with Azo dye

    By Aderogba George

    Abuja,  The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has cautioned tanker drivers against using kerosene tankers to carry groundnut oil.

     

    The NAFDAC Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye,  who gave the warning on Tuesday in Abuja, said that the agency got information to that effect.

    Adeyeye was represented by Mrs Ngozi Onuorah, NAFDAC’s  Director of  Chemical Evaluation and Research.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that  Adeyeye spoke at the ongoing nationwide sensitisation campaign by NAFDAC against substandard foods and drugs.

    She said that  using kerosene tanker to load groundnut oil for human consumption was dangerous to public health.

    She said: “Using kerosene tankers to load groundnut oil after empting it is dangerous to public health.

    ” People do it to make money at the expense of public health; they cut corners but NAFDAC is saying no to this.

    “It is not permissible. If this is based on ignorance or it is an act of making money at the expense of Nigerians,  it must stop.

    “This is commonsensical: you don’t need a scientist to tell you that this is wrong.”

    The director-general noted that petrol and kerosene had chemical components.

    “You can’t be playing with an item that people consume.

    “Even in our various homes, we  cannot  use the container for kerosene to fetch water to drink,” she said.

    Adeyeye called on Nigerians to be vigilant and report any driver indulging in the act to relevant authorities.

    The NAFDAC boss also warned market women against using Azo-dye to make palm oil more reddish.

    She  urged attitudinal change that would promote public health

    According to her,  these illegal and criminal practices can result in cancer, liver damage, kidney failure as well as  damage to other  organs of the body.

    “We are drawing the attention of Nigerians so  that they will be careful.

     

    “When they see something that is too reddish, they must establish some level of suspicion,” Adeyeye said. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng) / Flowerbudnews