NAFDAC Nabs Importer Of Fake Ebola Kits
Two men have been apprehended in Lagos, western Nigeria for selling unapproved Ebola Virus test kits and expired hand sanitizers, this is according to the National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control, NAFDAC.
Disclosing this to journalists on Tuesday, 16 Septem ber, 2014, was the Director General of NAFDAC, Dr Paul Orhii, at the agency’s branch in Oshodi, Lagos.
According to Orhii, the arrested suspects were caught importing all sorts of products including expired hand sanitisers in other to cash in on the unfortunate Ebola incidence in the country.
“We wonder how some people can be so callous to make money out of this situation. The most troubling is the case of Mr James Nnaji of 116, Oguta road, Onitsha, who imported expired brands of hand sanitisers through NAHCO Lagos,” Orhii said.
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According to the NAFDAC boss, products such as, a Soft care natural, Soft care lemon, Soft care lavender, Soft care apple, all of which expired in December 29, 2012, two years ago, “but yet found their way into the country.”
Orhii also informed that the agency recently detected the sale of unevaluated and untested ‘Rapid Response Ebola Virus test kits’ being marketed by one Mr John Ojewale of Multi Profucts Medical Supply Company Limited.
It was gathered that after the suspect was apprehended, he confessed that one Lateef Bamisedun supplied him the kits, which were allegedly imported from Canada.
“Lateef Bamisedun was arrested and he confessed to have imported the kits from Canada. The danger associated with the use of substandard hand sanitisers and untested Ebola Test kits is indeed grave and could derail all efforts put in place to contain the spread of the Ebola Virus Disease in the country,” the NAFDAC boss stated.
Orhii informed that the agency has seized at least 106 brands that were illegally imported into the country without NAFDAC certification.
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He added that NAFDAC officers have been placed at the country's entry points which include the seaports, airports and land borders to check the ugly trend.
Orhii also urged members of the public to report any suspected case of fake and unregistered products, as well as not to patronise such ‘test kits’.
He commended the effort of health minister, Professor Onyebuchi Chukwu and other health workers for waging war against the deadly Ebola virus in Nigeria.
The Ebola Virus Disease, EVD, according to the health ministry, has killed no fewer than seven people in Nigeria while 19 others have been infected with the virus since the late Patrick Sawyer brought the disease into Lagos on 20 July, 2014.
Source: Legit.ng
