Fake drugs: Nigerians must be sensitive to what they consume

Times of the season have come to give reserving definitions to the gestural characters of social interfaces in Nigeria. The directional course of the working fabrics of the societal Country has largely become a course for concern. The manifestations of several untoward characters by and large speak to the negative impacts societal deformation had borne in fluttering storms of dynamic waves which do not speak well of an entity set for development. The continuous resort to illegal ventures at the expense of humane concern is one delinquent character which is largely finding expression on the wrong side as a culture of more Nigerians. It is apparent that the perforations of dehumanising enterprises aimed at securing selfish gains at the expense of the consequences of same against fellow citizens, have grown wings. The character of these disorientation has assumed a culture like syndrome with threats to both lives as well as peaceful and secured coexistence in the Country.

While several manifestations of variant forms of harmful enterprises continue to brew winds of turbulence directly and indirectly, the expanding tentacles of these escapades call for optimum attention. Clusters of mind boggling phenomena continue to surface with enlarging angles from time to time. The expanding wings of these escapades have most recently been a topical issue of discourse with considerations given to the mammoth number of persons diverting interest to diabolical enterprises which inflict scathing injuries on fellow citizens. The desperation of the perpetrators of some of these acts without humane feeling to what the victims who are fellow citizens will suffer, calls for a reorientation. One of such inhumane enterprise with dangers to human lives is that of the merchandise of fake drugs. The damaging impacts of the enterprise by and large constitute strains which defectively affect the health system in the Country. The misadventure has broadened its wings across the Country with increasing Nigerians consuming toxics unawares.

Last weekend, the Kano State Task Force committee on Fake, Counterfeit Drugs and Unwholesome Foods had disclosed that it seized and destroyed fake and counterfeit drugs worth N6 billion in the past nine years. The Chairman of the Committee, Gali Sule, who disclosed this during an interactive session last Saturday with the Kano state chapter of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), had raised points of concern that before the inauguration of the committee, the government was spending a lot of money on malaria, yet the sicknesses persists because fake and counterfeit malaria drugs normally brings about drug resistance. According to him, the committee’s efforts had helped in sanitising the society, the nation and many African Countries from engaging in sales of fake and counterfeit drugs. He was quoted: “If you sanitise Kano of fake drugs, you are sanitising many countries in the region of Africa of substandard drugs because countries like Niger, Chad, even Sudan among others buy their drugs from Kano. We have destroyed all the seized drugs, 20 destruction exercises for the seized drugs have been held since 2012, mostly witnessed by the executive governor of the state, Dr Abdullahi Ganduje. Drug hawkers in Kano have been drastically reduced, before they were everywhere but they are no more, they have relocated to neighbouring states. Just three days ago we confiscated fake and adulterated antimalarial drugs, which if left undetected would have affected many, especially pregnant women. The logo on the drug is for a partnership programme between Kano state and some international donors on antimalarial drugs. The partnership had terminated three years ago, but these people are still using the logo to manufacture the fake drug.”

The need for Nigerians to be actively sensitive to the dynamics of societal formations at hand is much alarming. Nigerians need to come to acquaintance with new socio-economic developments and the corresponding circumstances to give appropriate responses that follow suit per time. In this light, giving utmost attention to trend as they unfold becomes essential. Since citizens cannot totally rely on the Government for their own individual safety, it is imperative that every Nigerian come to the position of enlightened exposition to societal trends as they unfold and act appropriately with sensitivity to avoid being a victim of circumstances. It is glaring that several citizens who are largely insensitive to the escapades of propellers of mischievous enterprises have had to suffer scathing losses and injuries some of which may be difficult to remediate.

Therefore, in as much as the citizens cannot depend fully to entrust the safety of their lives and properties to the Government, particularly in Nigeria where such trust is tantamount to ticket to danger, it is demanding that citizens in their capacity gather more intelligence for their own safety and security. The prevailing situation of the Country calls for individual sensitivity to safety matters. Nigerians should hence, expose themselves to practical realities ovulating preponderantly in the Country in order to be acquainted with lawful measures to guide themselves against falling prey to these mischievous enterprises.

Enterprise of fake drugs is one which portends grave threats before the Country. The danger of such enterprise to human life calls for reason why sensitivity to consumption of drugs have to be taken with caution. It is therefore important for Nigerians to always ascertain the sources of drugs they purchase for consumption by patronising licensed pharmacies. More importantly, the need for public enlightenment is imperative to sensitise citizens on hints of recognising fake drugs backed with a report system where on identification of such case, intelligence can be channeled to the appropriate authority for actions. Such enlightenment with responsive report system, will strategically decentralize intelligence gathering against fake drugs when larger percentage of citizens are acquainted with hints on identifying them with a system of reporting same. Such modality is strategic to broaden the scope of operations in clamping down on the networks of fake drug fake enterprises.