By Mfonobong Ukpong
In a significant move to ensure public health and safety, community pharmacists in Akwa Ibom State have voluntarily surrendered expired drugs valued at ₦460,864,804 million(Four hundred and Sixty Million, Eight Hundred and Sixty Four Thousand, Eight Hundred and Four Naira) to the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) .
The drugs which were mopped up from various pharmaceutical outlets across the state’s three senatorial districts were handed over to NAFDAC for further destruction on Tuesday December 17, 2024 by the State Chairman, Association of Community pharmacists of Nigeria, (ACPN), Pharm. Tony Anderson at a ceremony held at the Federal Secreteriat in Uyo.
Handing over the drugs, Pharm. Anderson explained that the mop-up exercise was aimed at removing expired drugs from circulation, as they could harm consumers if used. He maintained that exercise was in furtherance of the commitment by Community Pharmacists in the State to partner NAFDAC in the fight against fake and expired drugs.
“This morning we are pleased to announce that the association has successfully mopped up expired drugs worth; four hundred and sixty million, eight hundred and sixty four thousand, eight hundred and four naira (#460,864,804) for forfeiture.
“Let this occasion mark the beginning of a coordinated effort to permanently expunge expired drugs from our communities. Together, we can build a safer pharmaceutical ecosystem that protects public health and upholds the integrity of our profession”.
“The menace of expired drugs is catastrophic, if not more so than that of counterfeit medicines. In fact, expired drugs are often a subset of counterfeit drugs, given their potential to be fraudulently reintroduced into circulation with falsified extended expiration dates.
Until the chaotic drug distribution system in Nigeria is overhauled and unauthorized drug markets are permanently closed, the repercussions of this problem will continue to plague us.”
The Akwa Ibom State branch of ACPN lamented the activities of unscrupulous individuals within the drug trade who are in the habit of recycling expired drugs, rebrand them with counterfeit expiry dates and resell to unsuspecting members of the public, thereby exposing consumers to toxic substance(s).
Pharm. Anderson, asserted that the eradication of fake and expired drugs from the society should be a matter of national urgency and collective responsibility.
“Whether directly or indirectly, we all remain vulnerable to the devastating effects of this menace” he warned.
He emphasized that the formal forfeiture of the expired drugs marks a pivotal revolution in the fight against the dangers posed by expired pharmaceutical products. He warned that the menace of expired drugs is catastrophic and can lead to organ failure, toxicity, and treatment resistance.
Receiving the expired drugs on behalf of NAFDAC, the agency’s State Coordinator, Mr. Nkachi John, applauded the community pharmacists for their efforts in ensuring that expired drugs are removed from circulation. He assured that NAFDAC would ensure the expired drugs are destroyed in accordance with the agency’s guidelines.
Representatives of the state government, pharmacists, the media and other stakeholders in the healthcare sector witnessed the handing over ceremony.
Goodwill messages were delivered by the Commissioner for Health, Prof. Augustine Umoh, represented by the Director of Pharmaceutical Services, Dr. Dr. Godwin Uban, Chairman House of Assembly Committee on Health, Hon. Moses Essien, Commissioner of Police, Akwa Ibom State Command, Mr. Joseph Eribo, represented by SP. Uba Jankaro, Etteidung Ekpoabasi Bassey, former Chairman, Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria, Akwa Ibom State chapter, Dr. Akwaowo Akpabio, as well as the Chairman, Akwa Ibom State Environmental Protection and Waste Management Agency, Prince Akpan Ikim, represented by a staff of the agency, Mr. John Effiong.
It was disclosed that the expired drugs are to be moved to Anambara State by the agency for destruction in NAFDAC’s incinerator, as the agency has no such facility yet in Akwa Ibom.
