By Chukwudi Nwauba :
The National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC), has alerted Nigerians to a dangerous cough syrup in circulation.
In a Public Alert No. 013/2023, NAFDAC said the suspected substandard product, which is said to be manufactured by Fraken Group, is believed to have caused the deaths of six children under the age of five at a health facility in the health district of Fundong, in the North-West region of Cameroon.
According to the North-West Regional of Cameroon delegate for Public Health, the children showed decreased kidney function after using the cough syrup.
NAFDAC said the product is not authorised for marketing in Cameroon and was purchased from unauthorised sources.
The agency said though the product is not in its database, importers, distributors, retailers and consumers, are advised to exercise caution and vigilance within the supply chain to avoid the importation, distribution, sale and use of the substandard (contaminated) syrups, stressing that all medical products must be obtained from authorised/licenced suppliers and the products’ authenticity and physical condition carefully checked.
“It implores members of the public to desist from purchasing medicinal products from unauthorised sources such as roadside vendors and street hawkers as fake drugs are mostly smuggled into the country from neighbouring countries and distributed through such inappropriate channels.
“The alert, therefore, urged “Anyone in possession of the above-mentioned product, is advised to discontinue sale or use and submit stock to the nearest NAFDAC office. If you, or someone you know, have used these products or suffered any adverse reaction/event after use, you are advised to seek immediate medical advice from a qualified healthcare professional.
“Healthcare professionals and consumers are advised to report any suspicion of sale and use of substandard and falsified medicines to the nearest NAFDAC office, NAFDAC on 0800-162-3322 or via email: sf.alert@nafdac.gov.ng
“Similarly, healthcare professionals and patients are also encouraged to report adverse events or side effects related to the use of medicinal products to the nearest NAFDAC office, or through the use of the E-reporting platforms available on the NAFDAC website www.nafdac.gov.ng or via the Med-safety application available for download on android and IOS stores or via e-mail on pharmacovigilance@nafdac.gov.ng.”
