The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, has Launched a sensitization campaign against falsified Medical products, unwholesome food, harmful cosmetics, poor water, and other substandard regulated products.
At the Flagg-off in Abuja, The Director-General of NAFDAC Professor Mojisola Adeyeye who noted that the campaign was targeted at those in the grassroots said the first phase of the sensitization would begin in some selected states across the country.
According to her, the objective of the campaign was to intensify and expand the scope of the Agency’s informal and formal behavior change Communication strategies to reach the vulnerable communities.
‘’It is common knowledge that Nigeria has a preponderant share of the global problem of falsified medical products and unwholesome food.
The advent of the COVID-19 Pandemic has aggravated the problem with the challenge posed by substandard and falsified Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs).
The Sensitization campaigns will therefore contribute significantly to Federal Government’s concerted efforts to inform, sensitize, educate and alert the public about the inherent danger of intake and use of those spurious regulated products.”
Professor Adeyeye said the campaign themes are intended to address notable public health issues such as patronizing street Medicine hawkers, abuse of codeine, self-medication, use of potassium bromate to bake bread, and use of Azo-dyes in Palm oil.
Others are; use of sniper as preservatives, consumption of excessive oil, wrong use of chemicals, pesticides, and insecticides as well as low level of exclusive breastfeeding Practice by lactating mothers.
The NAFDAC DG also outlined market women and men, road transport workers, employers, Community youth organizations, and students as their target audience.
RN