By Omotlewa Quadri
The Federal Ministry of Health has banned the production and importation of codeine as active pharmaceutical ingredient for cough preparations to check substance abuse among Nigerians.
The Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole, made the decision known in a statement issued by Assistant Director of Information in the ministry, Olajide Oshundun, in Abuja on Tuesday.
The ban came as the wife of the President, Aisha Buhari, expressed concern about the addiction rate to the drug, especially in northern Nigeria.
On her Instagram page, she asked for action from the authorities.
“I call on all security agencies, lawmakers, judiciary, drug manufacturers, civil society, regulators, teachers, parents, neighbours and you to take this as a personal war and halt the menace,” she stated.
Aisha said her NGO, Future Assured has also recently launched a campaign against substance abuse.
“Simultaneously, the wives of Northern governors are working tirelessly on the issue. They have recently renovated and commissioned a rehab centre in Kogi and Kebbi state, while similar efforts are ongoing in other states,” she stated.
Her comments may have spurred government intervention, especially as it coincided with revelations that a pharmaceutical company in Lagos sold 60 bottles of the syrup to an undercover reporter in one fell swoop.
The company, Emzor Pharmaceuticals has sacked the sales executive, while it said it has also shut down the production of the codeine-based cough syrup.
In the statement issued Tuesday, the Minister of Health directed the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) to ban the issuance of permits for the importation of codeine as active pharmaceutical ingredient for cough preparations.
He also directed the Pharmaceutical Council of Nigeria (PCN) and NAFDAC to supervise the recall for labelling and audit trailing of all codeine containing cough syrups nationwide.
Adewole said government had also banned the sale of codeine containing cough syrup without prescription.
He said the directive became necessary due to the gross abuse of codeine in the country.
In this regard, the minister said PCN had been directed to continue enforcement activities on pharmacies, patent and proprietary medicine vendors shops and outlets throughout the country.
He also directed NAFDAC to carry out its functions in compliance with the new directives.
The minister said cough syrups containing codeine should be replaced with dextromethorphan, which is less addictive.
Dextromethorphan is a cough suppressant and a drug of the morphinan class with sedative, dissociative, and stimulant properties.
Adewole said the ministry would ensure collaboration among regulatory agencies for effective implementation of extant laws, regulations, policies and guidelines on codeine control and usage.
He said the regulatory agencies included NAFDAC, PCN, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN).
“These agencies shall work together to increase pharmacovigilance around codeine, tramadol and other related substances of abuse,’’ Adewole said.
Adewole said the ministry would partner the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), football celebrities and other celebrities to drive the national campaign against drug abuse.
“The ministry shall ensure that drug treatment intervention for victims of substances abuse shall be undertaken across the spectrum of health care delivery system in the country,’’ he said.
The minister said Civil Society Organisations would be strengthened to deliver effective sensitisation, prevention, treatment and rehabilitation services.
He renewed the commitment of government to ensure the full implementation of the National Drug Distribution Guideline (NDDG) by January 1, 2019.
He added that the NDDG would also ensure the closure of all open drug markets penultimate the implementation date of the NDDG that is, December 31, 2018.
It is estimated that as many as three million bottles of codeine syrup are drunk every day in just two states – Kano and Jigawa.
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