…As NAFDAC vows to combats Artificial fruit ripening
By Joyce Remi-Babayeju
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, Director General, Prof. Moji Adeyeye has warned that henceforth open market Drug hawkers who are arrested will be prosecuted and face jail terms.
Adeyeye said, “Drugs are sensitive life-saving commodities which should not be sold on the streets/motor parks or open markets just like any other article of trade.”
“I wish to warn that any Drug Hawker arrested by NAFDAC will be prosecuted, will face a jail term, and our Enforcement Officers are currently carrying out a synchronized nationwide operation. No offender will be spared from facing the full wrath of the Law.”
The NAFDAC DG gave this warning today in Abuja when she officially flagged – off of the NAFDAC Media Sensitization Workshop on Dangers of Drug Hawking and Fruit ripening with Calcium Carbide in Nigeria.
She noted that the media engagement and workshop was pertinent to stem down the prevailing nefarious activities of drug hawking and fruit ripening with Calcium Carbide by sensitizing Nigerians on the dangers of these two practices.
Adeyeye said,” The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has noticed the dangerous practice of sale and consumption of fruits artificially ripened with calcium carbide as well as illegal hawking of drugs in the open market.”
‘The menace of drug hawking poses a serious challenge to the Healthcare Delivery System in the country and this underscored NAFDAC’s resolute determination to totally eradicate the illicit trade.’
Prof. Adeyeye further warned that
most of the drugs sold by the illiterate and semi-literate Drug Hawkers are counterfeit, substandard or expired, and therefore do not meet the quality, safety and efficacy requirements of regulated medicines.
She decried the fact that Prescription drugs are also sold by that mobile Drug Hawkers who also hold consultations, recommend and prescribe medicines to their gullible “patients”.
Speaking on the dangers posed by drug hawkers in the country, the NAFDAC Director General said ,” Drug Hawkers are also the major Distributors and Suppliers of narcotic medicines to criminal networks such as Armed Bandits, Insurgents, Kidnappers and Armed Robbers. Drug Hawkers constitute a serious threat to our national security.”
According to her,NAFDAC is determined to totally eradicate the illicit trade caused by the menace of drug hawking, which poses a serious challenge to the nation’s Healthcare Delivery System in Nigeria.
Drug hawkers who are “indirectly merchants of death ”
equally expose essential medicines to harsh weather which degrades the active ingredients of the medicine and turns them to poisons, thus endangering human lives.
Also speaking on the inherent dangers of consumption of fruits ripening with Calcium Carbide has posed considerable health challenges on Nigerians.
She explained that the consumption of fruits such as mango, banana, plantain, guava, oranges, grapes, etc. or any other fruits ripened with calcium carbide is dangerous to health.
NAFDAC Director, Chemical Evaluation and Research, Dr. Patrick Omkpariola listed the dangers of consuming fruits ripened with Calcium Carbide include stomach upset, mucosal tissue damage in the stomach, disrupt intestinal function, peptic ulcers, kidney problems, affects neurological system.
“Other symptoms of poisoning include diarrhea (with or without blood), burning or tingling sensation in the abdomen and chest, difficulty in swallowing, irritation in the eyes/skin, sore throat, cough, shortness in breathing, numbness etc.”
While eating foods ripened with Calcium Carbide causes headache, dizziness, high sleeplessness, memory loss, cerebral edema, numbness of the legs and hands, general weakness, cold and damp skin, low blood pressure and seizure, Dr. Omkpariola explained.
Also speaking on the effect of artificial ripening on fruit quality, she explained include considerable loss of properties such as color, taste and feel, in addition to loss of the natural aroma and flavor to the fruits.
‘These fruits do not possess uniform color and are less juicy than when ripened naturally and have comparatively shorter shelf life.”
She disclosed that NAFDAC has also taken concrete steps to contain the menace of artificial fruit ripening.
Adeyeye announced that apart from the various ongoing sensitization campaigns and Enforcement activities, NAFDAC has commissioned a scientific study on the best approach towards mitigating the health hazards posed by ripening of fruits with carbides.
She called for collaboration with the media, particularly the Association of Health journalists to be frontliners in educating and sensitizing Nigerians through concerted efforts to eradicate the menace of drug hawking and fruit ripening with Calcium Carbide in Nigeria.
