Enugu State co-ordinator of the National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) Mr. Ikechukwu Okoye, has said use of unregistered and unverified drugs may be responsible for rising cases of kidney and liver diseases in the country.
Okoye said this in an interview session with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), yesterday, in Enugu.
Okoye said it is dangerous to take drugs not approved pharmacologically by the agency.
He said kidney and liver diseases were on the increase in Nigeria without any clear change in human life-styles except for wrong drug products people take.
“You find out that there is no empirical studies yet, but, I am just guessing, there is an increase in liver and kidney challenges if you go to hospitals now.
“I am thinking (it is) because of the type of unregistered drugs that people consume.
“People should be very careful with the drug they buy; make sure it has NAFDAC registration number on it before consumption.
“Even those with NAFDAC registration number, if there is any reaction as to the drug you’ve taken, please make do and go to our office anywhere in the federation.
“We have a pharmaco-vigilance section. If you have any reaction as regards any drug, come and we will take details and send to our pharmaco-vigilance unit so that they would note it and now try to investigate more,’ Okoye said.
He also added that the agency’s offices across the country open during working hours to receive any complaint from the public concerning NAFDAC regulated products.
The Federal Government has mandated NAFDAC to register and verify the efficacy of all drugs, cosmetics and food products meant for public consumption.
Unregistered drugs likely cause of kidney, liver diseases –NAFDAC
