Expired drugs worth millions of naira have been destroyed in Niger, northern part of Nigeria after being intercepted by security operatives.
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The Niger State Ministry of Health and Hospital Services says it has, in collaboration with National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, destroyed expired drugs worth N11.5m.
The Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Dr. Mohammed Makunsidi, who disclosed this to journalists, explained that some of the destroyed drugs had been in the stores of various health facilities in the state for over 10 years.
According to him, the destroyed drugs included expired HIV and Tuberculosis drugs as well as hand sanitisers among others.
Makunsidi, who was represented by the Director of Pharmaceuticals, Dr. Muhammad Ndagi, said the drugs and consumables with short expiry dates were brought to the state by partners for national programmes.
He said, “As a responsible government, the expired drugs and consumables were being destroyed to safeguard public health by preventing them from falling into the wrong hands.”
The permanent secretary explained that the National Drugs Policy and the National Drug Distribution Guideline both prescribed that every state must have a drug distribution centre as a solution to the problems in the health commodities and supply chain management.
He noted that since the establishment of the Niger State Drugs and Hospital Consumables Management Agency, the activities at the central medical store had tremendously increased.
While commending the state government for its commitment to the provision of necessary funds for the smooth running of the agency, he gave the assurance that the agency would ensure the orderly and systematic supply of genuine drugs and consumables to all the health facilities across the 25 local government areas of the state.
Makunsidi also disclosed that the coming of the Logistics Management Coordination Unit which is domiciled at the Central Medical Store, would enhance data collection and information sharing among various health facilities and agencies.
The state zonal coordinator of NAFDAC, Mr. Anikoh lbrahim, admonished the management staff of the ministry and its agencies to be proactive in the discharge of their duties.
Ibrahim, who expressed dissatisfaction that the drugs were kept for a long time, queried why they were not distributed to health care facilities for the people to use.
He advised the ministry to always reject drugs and consumables with short expiry dates.