The National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has alerted the general public that the Ministry of Public Health in Cameroon has issued an alert regarding a suspected substandard cough syrup named NATURCOLD.
In a Public Alert No. 013/2023 issued on Sunday, NAFDAC said the suspected substandard product, which is said to be manufactured by Fraken Group, is believed to have caused the deaths of six children under the age of five at a health facility in the health district of Fundong, in the North-West region of Cameroon.
According to the North-West Regional oCameroon delegate for Public Health, the children showed a decrease in kidney function after consuming the suspected substandard cough syrup. The product is not authorized for marketing in Cameroon and was purchased from unauthorized sources.
NAFDAC said though the product is not in its database, importers, distributors, retailers, and consumers are advised to exercise caution and vigilance within the supply chain to avoid the importation, distribution, sale and use of the substandard (contaminated) syrups, stressing that all medical products must be obtained from authorized/licensed suppliers and the products’ authenticity and physical condition carefully checked.
NAFDAC implores members of the public to desist from purchasing medicinal products from unauthorized sources such as roadside vendors and street hawkers as fake drugs are mostly smuggled into the country from neighbouring countries and distributed through such inappropriate channels.
Anyone in possession of the above-mentioned product is advised to discontinue sale or use and submit stock to the nearest NAFDAC office. If you, or someone you know, have used these products, or suffered any adverse reaction/event after use, you are advised to seek immediate medical advice from a qualified healthcare professional.
Healthcare professionals and consumers are advised to report any suspicion of sale and use of substandard and falsified medicines to the nearest NAFDAC office, NAFDAC on 0800-162-3322 or via email: [email protected]
Similarly, healthcare professionals and patients are also encouraged to report adverse events or side effects related to the use of medicinal products to the nearest NAFDAC office, or through the use of the E-reporting platforms available on the NAFDAC website www.nafdac.gov.ng or via the Med-safety application available for download on android and IOS stores or via e-mail on [email protected]
