NAFDAC seeks collaboration with NYSC to fight fake drugs

The National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has sought partnership with the National Youth Service Corps to join the fight against fake drugs in the country.

In talks with NYSC, NAFDAC Director-General Dr Paul Orhii said the agency needed more corps members who would help in spreading the message against fake drugs to the people in the rural areas as the agency does not have enough staff carry out the message.

He said the agency has the mandate to monitor the manufacturing, distributing, advertising and sale of packed foods as well as drugs to ensure that they are safe for human consumption, but insisted on a shortage of staff to help fight fake drugs, hence the scheme could help by posting corps members to the agency who help the campaign.

He appreciated the scheme for creating a NAFDAC community development service (CDS) to educate and enlighten corps members on how to carry out the campaign hence the agency would also sign a Memorandum of Understanding to seal up the collaboration.

On his part, director-general of the NYSC, Brigadier General Johnson Olawumi appreciated the agency for its use of corps members to fight drug abuse, insisting their presence in every local government area would help their reach.