The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has called Nigeria food product consumers to embrace taking expiration framework of product seriously.
The call was made on Friday during a training with Journalists on Dangers of Drug Hawking and Ripening of Fruits with Carbide held at the House of Chiefs, Secretariat, Agodi, Ibadan,the capital of Oyo State.
In an opening remark, Director general of NAFDAC,Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye ably represented by Director,Chemical Evaluation and Research, NAFDAC, Dr.Partick Omokpariola said essence of the programme was to make a clarion call to Nigerians on the need to take stringent regulatory actions to stem the dangerous tide of Drug Hawking and Ripening of Fruits with Calcium Carbide.
“Since 2019, we immediately took some decisive steps such as sensitization of the public through different media outlets, enforcement through intelligence and raids in fruit markets that have resulted in seizures and destruction of violative products”
“The flag – off for this sensitization workshop today is again a fulfilment of my promise to sustain and strengthen NAFDAC’s existing collaboration with Association of Health Journalists in Nigeria towards mobilizing, educating, sensitizing, and conscientizing Nigerian Journalists to play frontline role in our concerted efforts to eradicate the menace of Drug Hawking and Ripening of Fruits with Calcium Carbide in Nigeria.”
” It is gratifying to announce that apart from sensitization campaigns and Enforcement activities, NAFDAC has commissioned a scientific study on the best approach towards mitigating the health hazards posed by ripening of fruits with carbides. I have mandated some of my directors and support staff to take these campaigns to the nooks and crannies of this country. We are confident of winning the war against these two hydra-headed public health menaces”, Adeyeye said.
In a lecture delivered titled ” Menace of Drug Hawking” by a director of Pharmacy, NAFDAC, Francis Ononiwu presented by a deputy Director, Mr Afolabi noted that continued patronage of street drug vendors should be discouraged as effects have been alarming to the health of the nation.
Dr. Francis added that the way forward is to purchase drugs from registered pharmaceuticals while consumers should read the expiration of any product as this enables safety and quality which greatly would guarantee a better performing healthy nation.
Earlier in his public delivery, Dr. Patrick Omokpariola stressed that alternative ripening of fruits should be adopted including using apple as ripening of banana and in an airtight container as to help to maintain nutrients and naturalness of the fruits.
Dr. Patrick who regarded it inimical for anyone to present unhealthy product for consumption in any society, urged Nigeria fruit sellers to desist from ripening fruits with calcium carbide which trigger health challenges in the country including irregular heart attack, ingestion, diarrhea, hypotension among others as the chemical substance contains poisons and burning atoms and thereby subject the victims to body inflammation and undue debts over treatment.
The President, Association of Nigeria Health Journalists, Abuja ,Mr Hazan applauded NAFDAC for its continued improvement and harmonization with the media in the country.
Meanwhile, Deputy Director, Public Affairs, NAFDAC Lagos, Mrs Christiana Obiazikwor implored every media house to increase its sensitization in partnership with NAFDAC even on digital media as to further educate the nation on need to embrace healthy living and its rules for a behavioural change of Nigerians.
It would be recalled that NAFDAC recently organised similar sensitization workshops in eight cities across the country to raise awareness on the dangers of using bleaching creams. This was in line to intensify and widen the scope of its publicity and public awareness campaigns for a transformative programme in the country.
