Daily Independent (Lagos)
Olusola Balogun and Yinka Shokunbi
27 November 2008
Pharmacists have ordered their ranks to withdraw from the shelf all consignments of the teething powder, 'My Pickin', and surrender them to the nearest office of the National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC).
Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) President, Anthony Akhimen, told Daily Independent on Thursday that this is to prevent the further sale of the mixture which has allegedly led to the death of at least 54 children in Zaria, Ibadan and Lagos alone, although this is disputed by its manufacturer, Barewa Pharmaceuticals, Lagos.
Akhimen urged NAFDAC to go the extra mile to ascertain the source of the contaminant, saying it would be disheartening to discover that the source of the deaths is more than what has been alleged.
He said Barewa Pharmaceuticals should be punished if found culpable.
In the mean time, the Action Congress (AC) has called on the Federal Government to probe the deaths in view of the conflicting claims by NAFDAC, hospitals, and the company.
The party also urged the government to see the deaths as an urgent and timely call to action over the safety or otherwise of the variety of concoctions bearing NAFDAC registration numbers.
A statement issued in Abuja on Thursday by AC National Publicity Secretary, Lai Mohammed, noted how "NAFDAC blames the drug, 'My Pickin', for the deaths of at least 25 children in a number of teaching hospitals across the country; at least one of the teaching hospitals said no child has died of the drug in its hospital; another said there is not yet a conclusive proof that the drug was responsible for the deaths while the manufacturer said the drug is safe and approved by NAFDAC.
"It is also instructive that the Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Jide Idris, was quoted as saying that 29 children had died of acute renal failure in the state, identifying possible causes as a teething syrup, herbal concoctions, paracetamol overdose and poisoning.
"Definitely, there is a problem. The way out, therefore, is for the government to move quickly to (1): Mop up the teething mixture in question from drug stores, homes and the manufacturers; and (2): Task an independent body to probe the circumstances surrounding the deaths.
"This is because NAFDAC, though statutorily empowered to do that, has become embroiled in the controversy and cannot therefore be expected to be a judge in its own case."
Mohammed wondered how many Nigerians have died from consuming any of the myriad of concoctions peddled by local drug manufacturers.
He cited one example as the growing number of the 'bitters' brand being consumed by Nigerians because of claims that they can cure almost all diseases.
"Hobbled by poverty and with health care costs beyond their reach, Nigerians have resorted to taking all sorts of concoctions masquerading as cure-all drugs just to stay alive. Yes, most of these drugs carry NAFDAC registration numbers.
"But the questions that arise are: What does a NAFDAC registration number really mean? Does it mean a drug can do what the manufacturer claims it can?
"Does NAFDAC have a follow-up mechanism to determine if the drug is being produced to standard after it has been registered? Does the agency have the capacity to even do that, considering the country's population and size? Who checks to ensure the so-called NAFDAC numbers are not even fake in the first instance?"
There is no doubt that NAFDAC has done well so far to safeguard the lives of Nigerians from fake drugs and adulterated food items, Mohammed said, but noted that the deaths from a drug registered by NAFDAC could mean that there is a need to review how it ensures that the drugs sold to the public meet safety standards, as well as take a look at the agency's capacity and follow-up mechanism.
"After all, it has been alleged that the manufacturers of 'My Pickin' may have substituted an approved component of the teething mixture for an unapproved, dangerous one; resulting in the deaths!"
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