The House of Representatives, has directed its committee on HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria Control to conduct a swift baseline survey across the six geo-political zones, focusing on counterfeit anti-malaria drugs.
According to The PUNCH, the House aims for a report of the baseline report across the six geopolitical zones within four weeks.
This decision followed the adoption of a motion presented by the representatives of Orhionmwon/Uhunmwode and Arochukwu/Ohafia Federal Constituencies of Edo and Abia states, respectively, Billy Osawaru and Osonwa Ibe.
The bill was titled: “Motion on the Urgent Need to conduct a national baseline survey on fake anti-malaria medicines in Nigeria.”
Speaking on its significance, Osawaru said, “The use of these fake drugs is crucial and brings complications in treatment and eventually increases the risk of death. Counterfeiting of drugs was almost ignored or at least largely underestimated but it has now clearly emerged as one of the most crucial public health problems in Nigeria. Although important efforts have been made to fight against this criminal traffic by NAFDAC, much more needs to be done.”
He added, “The baseline survey is an important activity that must be urgently done in order to determine the before and after situations of the project ‘fight against low-quality anti-malaria medicines in Nigeria’.
“The survey will provide the ‘fight’ with useful information that will be used to determine the methodology to be adopted to reduce the number of deaths from the use of fake malaria drugs in Nigeria.”
