NAFDAC, ANSEC unite to protect public health from fake, expired medicines

Stanley Ihedigbo

Anambra State Executive Council (ANSEC) has thrown its weight behind the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) in its quest to eliminate counterfeit and expired medications from the state.

The commitment was made during ANSEC’s fourth meeting, where the council commended Governor Charles Soludo’s proactive approach to tackling the issue, including his visit to the closed drug market in Onitsha.

ANSEC at its fourth meeting held in the Council Chamber on February 24, 2025, asserted its commitment to the eradication of counterfeit drugs in Anambra and its backing for the NAFDAC scheme.

A statement by the State’s Commissioner for Information, Law Mefor, ANSEC commended Governor Charles Soludo, who visited the closed drug market in Onitsha and urged NAFDAC to expedite inspection and verification of the drugs being sold and manufactured in the state to ascertain their genuineness, while promising support.

To combat fake drugs, the Council completed the Anambra State Pharmaceutical Hub, called ‘Coordinated Wholesale Drug Centre (CWC), at Oba, in Idemili South Local Government Area in Anambra State.

As part of Governor Soludo’s drive to ensure an enduring legacy in the healthcare sector, he recently built a new general hospital with modern facilities for the Okpoko community in Ogbaru Local Government Area of Anambra State, in fulfillment of the promise made before coming into office.

Dr. Chinasa Eze, from the Ophthalmologist Unit of the Okpoko General Hospital, affirmed that the governor has equipped the eyecare division with facilities to improve the sight of the people in the community. Additionally, free antenatal services for pregnant women have been approved for the women of the community.

This comes on the heels of Governor Soludo’s award as the best-performing governor in primary healthcare delivery in the Southeast and Nigeria overall.

The prestigious awards were presented by the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the Aliko Dangote Foundation, the Federal Ministry of Health, and the United Nations Children and Education Fund (UNICEF).

Soludo has also upgraded primary healthcare centers and constructed five new general hospitals, equipping them with first-rate facilities and skilled personnel for efficient, affordable, and quality healthcare services, with the employment of 1,000 health workers.