Florence Udoh, Adelani Ashamu and Ofoka Yobolisa
30 November 2007
Abuja — National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and its development partners, yesterday in Abuja accused government stores in the country of aiding and abetting pilfering and diversion of donated high dose Vitamin A capsules. This accusation was made following recent findings and experiences of the agency in its nationwide raid on illegal retail outlets in the country.
At a press conference on the outcome of the agency's nationwide raid and retrieval of high dose Vitamin A capsules, coartem and mectizan, the NAFDAC boss vent its anger on the vitamin A supplementation offenders and said it would henceforth prosecute offenders.
"We are digging beneath the rubbles of smokes and ashes to fish out those involved in this dastardly act by tracing from the sales outlets to source. We shall no longer accept fines. Henceforth, we shall apprehend and prosecute offenders accordingly", she said.
Akunyili said that NAFDAC findings into where, how and who were behind vitamin A theft in Nigeria, showed that other essential items, "are also being stolen from government stores".
According to her, donated drugs and other commodities being diverted and stolen to private outlets for cash included mectizan tablets, coartem, oral dehydration salt (ORS) and vaccine carriers and cold boxes used in carrying and maintaining vaccines at between +20C to 80C until needed for immunization.
Akuniyili said that presently, UNICEF and other donors no longer feel comfortable to store their items in government stores because of the ugly incidences of stealing and illegal diversion of the essential commodities.
She, however, noted that "sometimes, the health workers do not initiate actions to deliberately divert and sell donated items but patent medicine dealers do visit government stores to ask unwary storekeepers if they have items like vitamin A, Albendazole, mectizan, coartem, ORS, cold boxes, vaccine carriers and the likes with a promise to offer them good prices.
The deal is finalized with such items moved out of the store either very early in the morning before other members of staff resume office or after the close of work."
Akunyili, advised government supervising officers to closely monitor storekeepers who either resume too early or close too late.
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