The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has raised an alarm over the discovery of counterfeit OHEAL Ampicillin and Cloxacillin Capsules in Onitsha, Anambra State.

Working closely with the Nigeria Police Force, NAFDAC intercepted the falsified drugs, which are typically used to treat bacterial infections affecting the lungs, throat, airways, and skin.

In a statement posted on its official Twitter handle, NAFDAC explained that genuine Ampicillin/Cloxacillin functions by inhibiting bacterial growth and effectively eliminating infection-causing bacteria.

While the counterfeit product was identified in Onitsha, there is concern it may have already entered other parts of the country through informal markets.

NAFDAC stressed the urgent need to identify and remove these falsified drugs from circulation to safeguard public health.

“Though this falsified product was identified in Onitsha, it may likely have been distributed to other parts of the country through informal markets. Consequently, it is important to identify and remove it from circulation to prevent harm to patients,” NAFDAC said.

Importers, distributors, retailers, and healthcare providers have been urged to exercise heightened caution and vigilance throughout the supply chain to prevent the importation, distribution, sale, and use of counterfeit or substandard medicinal products.

NAFDAC emphasized the importance of sourcing all medical products exclusively from authorized and licensed suppliers, with careful verification of product authenticity and condition.

Members of the public who have purchased the falsified OHEAL Ampicillin and Cloxacillin Capsules are advised to immediately cease use and contact NAFDAC for proper handling of their stock.

The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Sustainable Development Goals, Princess Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, has called for concerted efforts to provide better care for patients with Sickle Cell Disease in Nigeria.

According to her, Sickle Cell contributing to approximately 376,000 under-5 deaths annually, when compared to 34,400 deaths from other causes, highlight a pressing need for stakeholders to intensify efforts to reverse the trend.

The Presidential Adviser made this call in a statement by her Media Aide, Desmond Utomwen, to commemorate World Sickle Cell Day, with the theme: “Hope Through Progress: Advancing Sickle Cell Care Globally.”

The World Sickle Cell Day is observed on June 19 every year. It is an annual event aimed at raising awareness about sickle cell disease globally.

According to Princess Orelope-Adefulire, a Lancet Haematology publication in August 2023 revealed that globally, between 2000 and 2021, the rate of children born with sickle cell disease increased by 13.7 percent, reaching an average of up to 515,000 babies per annum.

The study also found that sickle cell-specific under-5-mortality was 11 times higher than deaths due to other causes, amounting to approximately 376,000 deaths from sickle cell disease annually, compared to 34,400 deaths from other causes.

She added that in Nigeria, approximately one in four, or 25 percent, of Nigerians carries a sickle cell gene, meaning about 50 million people can transmit the gene to their children. “We must act now to reverse this trend,” she stated.

Princess Orelope-Adefulire further noted that the OSSAP-SDGs has demonstrated commitment by delivering a fully equipped, state-of-the-art Sickle Cell Care Centre at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH).

She expressed confidence that the Sickle Cell Centre, which was recently commissioned by Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and other related interventions by OSSAP-SDGs, will contribute to achieving SDG 3.2 on “reducing under-five mortality to 25 per 1,000 live births or less by 2030” as well as other cross-cutting SDGs. This aligns with the cardinal pillars on healthcare and empowerment in the Renewed Hope Agenda of the current administration.

Lagos State is facing a devastating cholera outbreak that has tragically led to the deaths of 15 individuals, as confirmed by Commissioner for Health Professor Akin Abayomi.

The outbreak has spread across 29 wards in multiple Local Government Areas (LGAs), resulting in 350 suspected cases, of which 17 have been confirmed.

Commissioner Abayomi highlighted ongoing efforts to stem the outbreak, noting a recent decrease in new cases.

He disclose that laboratory tests have identified the cholera subtype O-1, known for its severity and associated with more severe disease outcomes.

“The situation remains dynamic with varying daily case counts across different LGAs,” Abayomi remarked during a briefing on the state’s surveillance and response efforts.

In response to the escalating crisis, the Ministry of Health has activated its Public Health Emergency Operations Centre at Mainland Hospital, Yaba, Lagos.

This move aims to coordinate efforts in managing the increasing number of severe gastroenteritis cases reported across the state.

Earlier this week, Abayomi reported about 60 hospital admissions and, tragically, five deaths linked to the outbreak. The majority of fatalities were attributed to delayed hospital presentations with severe dehydration.

Tunbosun Ogunbanwo, Director of Public Affairs at the state Ministry of Health, emphasized the government’s commitment to containing the outbreak and ensuring public health safety in Lagos State.