The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has debunked reports claiming that a corps member who died in Enugu State died from the effects of substandard and falsified medicines.
This is contained in a statement issued by the agency’s Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, in Abuja on Friday.
The statement noted that the deceased corps member, who was at the NYSC orientation camp in Awgu, Enugu State, did not die from the causes being speculated about by members of the public.
According to the statement, preliminary investigations revealed that the corps member was brought to the camp clinic by two other corps members on Wednesday, Oct. 7, at about 9 p.m., with symptoms suggestive of severe malaria. He was also a known peptic ulcer disease patient.
The statement said the deceased was stabilised with intramuscular antimalarial medication and other supportive medications administered intravenously.
It added that he was placed on bed rest for observation until the morning of Oct. 8, when he was discharged with oral medications.
“He returned unaided on Saturday, Oct. 10, complaining of pain in his right thigh, for which he was advised to see a physiotherapist.
“His profuse sweating caught the attention of the medical doctor, who measured his blood pressure and found it to be low at 80/40 mmHg. He was stabilised with intravenous normal saline.
“Serial monitoring showed recurrent episodes of hypotension. This development, coupled with poor urine output despite adequate fluid resuscitation, prompted his referral to the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH), Ituku-Ozalla, Enugu State, in an ambulance accompanied by another doctor.
“He went into a coma around the time he arrived at UNTH. All efforts to resuscitate him failed.
“His friend later informed the camp clinic doctor that the deceased had been vomiting for two days after his initial admission to the camp. The doctor was unaware of this development.
“It is instructive to note that the same medications given to the deceased were also administered to several other patients at the camp, who recovered after receiving treatment.
“The medical doctors, pharmacists and other healthcare workers at the camp clinic not only prescribed the medications but also used them themselves at different times,” the statement said.
According to the statement, the doctors believed that the cause of death was acute kidney injury secondary to severe dehydration and shock, pending further investigation.
It stated that NAFDAC officers had visited the clinic, interviewed the doctors and other staff members, and collected samples of the medications for further necessary action, including laboratory analysis.
NAFDAC commiserated with the family of the deceased corps member and prayed that God would grant them the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.
The agency, however, urged the public to remain calm, assuring them that it was taking all necessary steps to ensure that medicines available to the public were safe, of good quality and effective.
It advised members of the public to call the NAFDAC Call Centre on 0800-1-623322 or 0700-1-623322 to lodge complaints or make enquiries.
The agency also advised the public to send emails to reforms@nafdac.gov.ng.
