The Niger State Ministry of
Health and Hospital Services says it has, in collaboration with National Agency
for Food and Drug Administration and Control, destroyed expired drugs worth
N11.5m.
The Permanent Secretary in
the ministry, Dr. Mohammed Makunsidi, who disclosed this to
journalists,
explained that some of the destroyed drugs had been in the stores of various
health facilities in the state for over 10 years.
According to him, the
destroyed drugs included expired HIV and Tuberculosis drugs as well as hand
sanitisers among others.
Makunsidi, who was
represented by the Director of Pharmaceuticals, Dr. Muhammad Ndagi, said the
drugs and consumables with short expiry dates were brought to the state by
partners for national programmes.
He said, “As a responsible
government, the expired drugs and consumables were being destroyed to safeguard
public health by preventing them from falling into the wrong hands.”
The permanent secretary
explained that the National Drugs Policy and the National Drug Distribution
Guideline both prescribed that every state must have a drug distribution centre
as a solution to the problems in the health commodities and supply chain
management.
He noted that since the
establishment of the Niger State Drugs and Hospital Consumables Management
Agency, the activities at the central medical store had tremendously increased.
While commending the state
government for its commitment to the provision of necessary funds for the
smooth running of the agency, he gave the assurance that the agency would
ensure the orderly and systematic supply of genuine drugs and consumables to
all the health facilities across the 25 local government areas of the state.
Makunsidi also disclosed
that the coming of the Logistics Management Coordination Unit which is
domiciled at the Central Medical Store, would enhance data collection and information
sharing among various health facilities and agencies.
The state zonal coordinator
of NAFDAC, Mr Anikoh lbrahim, admonished the management staff of the ministry
and its agencies to be proactive in the discharge of their duties.
Ibrahim, who expressed
dissatisfaction that the drugs were kept for a long time, queried why they were
not distributed to health care facilities for the people to use.
He advised the ministry to
always reject drugs and consumables with short expiry dates.
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