BENIN – The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) in Edo has urged secondary school students to join in the fight against the counterfeit drugs in Nigeria.
The Unit Head of NAFDAC in Edo, Mr David West, made the call during the NAFDAC Consumer Safety Club (NCSC) Prize Giving and Varieties Day for selected schools held in Benin.
West said that the need for young students to be involved in the fight against counterfeit drugs and other products had become imperative considering their closeness to the people.
He said that the harmful effect of counterfeit drugs had led to untimely deaths of citizens, which called for more collaboration to eradicate the hazard.
West said that efforts were on by the agency to combat the menace and urged students to always educate their peers, parents and relatives on the dangers of counterfeit drugs and other products.
He also urged members of NCSC in the state to conceptualize programmes that would help the organisation to protect the health of Nigerians.
Also, the Edo Coordinator of NCSC, Mrs Olohitai Azubuike, said that 50 schools in the state had NCSC.
She said that the clubs were established in schools so that students would be educated and sensitised to the dangers of drug abuse, counterfeit drugs.
She also stressed the need to check for expiration date on drugs and other products.
Reports say that during the programme, prizes were presented to winners of the 2013 NCSC essay writing competition.
Prizes were also presented to the schools that won in the drama, debate and dance competitions.
The University of Benin Demonstration Secondary School came first in the Debate, Edokpolor Grammar School emerged first in the Dance competition, while Western Boys High school came first in the Drama competition.
Dr. Paul B. Orhii, DG of NAFDAC
