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Tag: Herbal Medicines

  • NAFDAC begins nationwide mop-up of unregistered herbal medicines

    NAFDAC begins nationwide mop-up of unregistered herbal medicines

    The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) says it has started a nationwide mop-up of unregistered herbal medicines.

    The Director-General of the agency, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, disclosed this at a news conference in Abuja on Monday.

    She said that the action followed a recent discovery of sale of uncertified, unregistered herbal medicines
    by Dr Salisu Sani Nawagini, popularky knwon as Baban Aisha, and others.

    Newsmen reports that the agency had on Wednesday, June 14, raided and sealed the production factory of Baban Aisha at Tarf, on Abuja-Kaduna road.

    Newsmen also reports that during the raid, a lot of items, including production equipment and raw materials were seized at the production factory of Baban Aisha by NAFDAC, where a woman who stood in for him (Baban Aisha) was arrested.

    Adeyeye, therefore, said the agency’s nationwide crackdown is on herbal medicines, especially those not registered with NAFDAC.

    She said that Baban Aisha had in 2018 received an application from Sacra Multi-Links Ltd for the registration of Sacra Herb oral liquid for the treatment of pile and associated pains.

    The NAFDAC boss said that the registration approval for the product expired on Sept. 12, 2019, which made Baban Aisha to apply for renewal on Aug. 12, 2020 following regulatory audit of the company’s production facility.

    She added that after this, compliance directives were issued to the company for non conformers observed in the facility as at the time of visit for which the company was expected to correct.

    Adeyeye said that the company however did not correct the lapses observed, Sacra Herb registration licence was not renewed, the agency did not also receive any application for advertisement of the medicine.

    She said that instead renewal of registration of the product, the company went beyond bound prescription for the medicine to convince Nigerians that it can also treat waist pains, typhoid, ulcer, toilet infection and others.

    The director-general said that social media outburst on the nefarious activities of Sacra Multi Links prompted the
    investigation and enforcement directorate of the agency to carry out surveillance and enforcement action which led to sealing of the factory.

    She appealed to Nigerians, particularly the vulnerable group, to desist from the use of dangerous herbal preparations.

    She reiterated NAFDAC’s determination to ensure that only safe and efficacious medicines, wholesome foods and
    quality regulated products are sold and used by Nigerians.

    Adeyeye solicited the support of health practitioners, community and religious leaders, the press and other
    stakeholder to continue to educate their wards and family members to desist from patronising quacks and
    hawkers of medicine on the streets.

  • 70% of Nigerians still patronise herbal medicines – NNMDA

    70% of Nigerians still patronise herbal medicines – NNMDA

    The Nigeria Natural Medicine Development Agency (NNMDA) said that 70 per cent of Nigerians still patronise herbal medicines, saying that it is as old as mankind.

    Dr Samuel Etatuvie, Director-General of NNMDA, in an interview in Abuja said it is not undermining the practice of orthodox medicines.

    Etatuvie said that part of their mandate was to research, collect, document on herbal products that were indigenous and they already had researched 14 of such products.

    The D-G added that five of the products had been listed by the National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC), while the rest are awaiting.

    “Natural medicine practice is as old as mankind, the orthodox medicine came several decades after natural medicine which is mainly being practiced in rural communities.

    “Today in Nigeria and across the world, both natural and orthodox medicine are being practiced concurrently.

    “In Nigeria specifically, I can say that we have more than 70 per cent of Nigerians that patronise natural medicine practitioners because our rural areas do not have modern health care facilities.

    “With respect to herbal medicine, we have herbal medicine practitioners or herbal products in each community,’’ he said.

    Natural medicines apart from addressing health, Etatuvie said, were also associated with different purposes which include protection, the act of disappearance, massaging, colour management and traditional birth attendants, among others.

    He, however, said the agency is committed to researching on indigenous natural medicines which have the capacity to boost the country’s Gross Domestic Product when well harnessed.

  • Pharmacist laments soaring price of drugs in Nigeria

    Pharmacist laments soaring price of drugs in Nigeria

    Pharmacist Samuel Adamatie, a drug development expert based in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has lamented the soaring price of drugs in Nigeria.

    Pharm Adamatie disclosed that the effect of this means that substandard drugs will begin to find their way into the country.

    He stressed that Nigerians would have to rely on lifestyle modifications to stay healthy or make do with herbal medicines, which he cautioned have side effects.

    “Price of drugs are soaring high….. effect and consequences abound…this re-designing of our currency has also contributed to dollar scarcity amongst others and by extension made drug prices soar because of course we import.

    “Substandard drugs will begin to find their way into Nigeria now that the prices of drugs are soaring by the second and people will begin to get substandard drugs, rely on lifestyle modifications alone or return to herbal drugs but all these have their consequences,” Adamatie stated.

    Cautioning on the side effects of substandard drugs, the Abuja-based pharmacist stated: “You have to be cautious. Substandard drugs can lead to a whole lot. They do not give the required response i.e no complete recovery, you think you are well and after some time you are sick again.

    “A substandard drug does not deliver the appropriate quantity to curable/controllable levels. For instance, you need 500mg of a drug and the label says 500mg but its actual content is 250mg. Because it’s cheap, you buy, whereas you are not getting what is needed.

    “A substandard drug can lead to drug resistance making one spend more than even expected normally in terms of money and time to get proper treatment”.

    Adamatie disclosed that not every ailment or sickness that lifestyle modification can help maintain or cure from the onset.

    “So, if you think that since I can’t afford the drugs let me just focus on exercise or what I eat alone then you might just be doing more harm than good. Seek advice before going through that route. Not because drugs are now expensive then you decide to abstain. The consequences might be regrettable.

    “Meanwhile for those who want to return to herbal preparations due to the hike in the price of orthodox drugs, no problem but be cautious. Most kidney failures or diseases are a result of unwholesome use of herbal preparations.

    “So if you want to use one, make sure you are sure of its source, dosage and sure of its content, meaning it should be well labelled by the appropriate authorities,” Adamatie stressed.

    On how Nigerians can help themselves in this period of increase in the prices of drugs, the drug development expert advised citizens to be less prone sickness by practising good hygiene.

    “Watch what you eat. You are what you eat. Reduce junks so you won’t spend money to remove the same junks. You just have to be deliberate. If you don’t exercise then you need to. Preventive medicine is now the way forward. The mind needs to relax too. Anxiety, worries, and stress are not good for your health if not you will require medication.

    “Finally on this issue of substandard drugs, I will say as a community pharmacist that the bitterness of low quality drug remain long after the sweetness of low price is forgotten,” Adamatie advised.