[b]Fakery: Onitsha drug dealers want NAFDAC to procure more TSM
From NWABUEZE OKONKWO, Onitsha
Thurday, February 11 , 2010



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Members of the Onitsha Patent and Proprietory Medicine Dealers Union (OPPMDU), Onitsha drugs market have called on the National Agency for Foods and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) to expedite action in procuring more of the True Scan Machines (TSM)(fake drug detecting machine), for distribution to all the drug markets in the country.

They said the machine, if distributed to all the drug markets, would be of immense benefit to the market because of the size of the market and the numerical strength of the traders and customers who patronize the market daily.

In a press statement issued yesterday in Onitsha and jointly signed by the Chairman and Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the market, Emeka Ezeanyika and Chidi Mbah respectively, the traders observed that the machine ,which was recently introduced by NAFDAC and which its test is ongoing in major drug markets in the country, would contribute immensely towards winning the fight against fake drugs in the country.

Ezeanyika and Mbah noted that the success of the machine cannot be quantified because of its accuracy, speed, time and efficiency in detecting fake and original drugs, adding that the machine gives an instant result within three minutes.

They contended that the first test of the machine in the Onitsha drug market, which was successful, had gone a long way to prove the commitment of the present executive of the market union and the traders themselves to shun fake drugs in whatever form.

They, therefore, expressed their unalloyed support to the NAFDAC Director-General, Dr. Paul Orhii, over his success and achievement within the short period he stayed in office and called on other well meaning Nigerians and stakeholders to rally round him in the fight against fakery in the country.

They also called on relevant agencies to live up to expectation in the discharge of their duties since, according to them, Onitsha is a hinter land without any international airport or seaport and is not within the border post as to be involved in fakery as being perceived in some quarters, adding that 95 per cent of drugs sold in the market come from other states of the federation.

They stated categorically that the market was free from fake drugs, hence they called for thorough investigation from relevant agencies whenever fake drugs dealers are arrested, stressing that most often, fingers are pointed towards the market when fake products are intercepted, even without investigation, thereby casting aspersion on the market.[/b]




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