NAFDAC impounds fake drugs at Delta Poly
ARAID of the Medical Centre of the Delta State Polytechnic, Ogwashi-Uku by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has uncovered a large consignment of fake and adulterated drugs.
A NAFDAC source told journalists in Asaba yesterday that 39 packs of assorted fake drugs, including Superzole, Zantac, Doxyocycline, Zocin, Hydrocortisine injections, Chroranhphenicol eye drops and vials and tetanus toxoid, were impounded.
The source wondered why a civilised community like the polytechnic would procure fake drugs for staff and students, adding that "the school's authorities will certainly help us to get to their source of supply."
NAFDAC Director in Delta, Dr. Meg Obidigbo, confirmed the raid on the polytechnic and the seizure of the fake drugs and said the matter was being investigated.
Meanwhile, the action of NAFDAC, it was learnt, has caused acute shortage of drug at the polytechnic and that the students were gearing up to protest.
A source at the polytechnic said that since the drugs were taken away, the institution's authorities refused to replenish the stock, in spite of reported cases of ailments among staff and students.
A request for funds to replace impounded drugs by the medical officer of the institution was allegedly turned down on grounds of lack of funds.
This, the source said, was drawing the irk of the students, who, at the beginning of the session in January, paid N2,000 each as medical fees and now want the school authorities to account for the money.
Records at the school showed that the 670 students in the school paid a total of N1.3 million as medical fees at N2,000 per student and that N100,000 has been spent from the fund.
When contacted, the school's rector denied knowledge of NAFDAC's visit to the school.
But when reminded of a letter dated July 7, from the institution's medical officer to him intimating him of the fake drugs in the school and his response same day, he admitted knowledge of the raid.
He, however, refused to comment on the shortage of drugs in the institution.`
