Nigeria: We Have Improved NAFDAC's Performance -
Orhii
Accounting
for the performance of the country's agency for Food and Drugs Administration
and Control (NAFD AC) in the year 2010, its leadership headed by director
general, Dr. Paul Orhii, described the year as "very remarkable and busy
for the agency". According to the director general whose appointment
as the head of the 19 year-old agency has continued to receive disapproval
from the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN), "in spite of the ' numerous
challenges arising from activities of fake drug dealers and
importers, the
agency has continued
to improve on its performances to safeguard the health of Nigerians".
National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and
Control NAFDAC
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration
and Control (NAFDAC) is a Nigerian.
government
agency under the Federal .Ministry, of Health that is responsible
for regulating and controlling the manufacture, importation, exportation,
advertisement, distribution, sale and use of food. drugs, cosmetics, medical
devices, chemicals and prepackaged water. The current
Director-General of NAFDAC, Dr Paul Orhii, holds a PhD in medicine.
History of NAFDAC
The
organization was formed to checkmate illicit and counterfeit products in
Nigeria in 1 993 under the country's health and safety law Adulterated and
counterfeit drugs are a problem in Nigeria. In one 1989 incident,
over 1 50 children died as a result of paracetamol syrup containing diethylene
glycol. The problem of fake drugs was so severe that neighboring countries such
as Gfoana. and SieiraLepne officially banned the sale of drugs foods &
beverages products made in Nigeria.
Such problems led to the establishment of NAFDAC, with the
goal of eliminating counterfeit Pharmaceuticals, foods
& beverages products that are not manufactured in Nigeria and ensuring that
available medications are safe and effective.
The
formation of NAFDAC was inspired by a 1988 World Health Assembly resolution
requesting "countries' help in combating the global health
threat posed by counterfeit Pharmaceuticals.
In
December 1992, NAFDAC's first governing council was formed. The council was
chaired by Ambassador Tanimu Saulawa. In January 1993,
supporting legislation was approved as legislative Decree
No. 1 5 of 1 993. On January 1 , 1 994 NAFDAC was officially established as a
"parastatal of the Federal Ministry of Health".
NAFD
AC replaced an earlier Federal Ministry of Health body, the Directorate of Food
and Drug
and Control, which had been deemed ineffective, partially
because of lack of laws concerning rake drugs.
Structure of NAFDAC
"(NAFDAC) is headed by a chairman who presides
over a governing council appointed by the president on the recommendation of the Minister of
Health."Other council members are:
1.
The
Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health
2.
The
Director-General of NATO AC
3.
Standard
Organization of Nigeria (SON)
4.
The National
Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development (N1PRD)
5.
The
chairman of the Pharmacists' Council of Nigeria (PCN)
6.
The chairman
of the National Drug Law Enforcement Aaencv (NDLE A)
7.
A
representative each of the Pharmaceutical Group and the Food and Beverages
Group of the
Manufacturers' Association of Nigeria.
Manufacturers' Association of Nigeria.
Three people from the general
public are also represented on the council.
Several units make up NAFDAC:
•
The Legal
Unit is charged with offering legal advice on "law arising from
Employee-Employer
relationship and is the custodian of legal documents and all agreements relating to the
Agency."m
relationship and is the custodian of legal documents and all agreements relating to the
Agency."m
•
The Public
Relations Unit is headed by the Director-General's office. Its main function is
to
inform, sensitivize, enlighten and create awareness concerning the role of the Agency. The
agency is divided into eight directorates with the last two newly added.
inform, sensitivize, enlighten and create awareness concerning the role of the Agency. The
agency is divided into eight directorates with the last two newly added.
•
Internal
Audit provides a means of measuring the effectiveness of the system of internal
control
and accounting, and carries out special investigations.
and accounting, and carries out special investigations.
E-mail: -
nafdac.lagos@nafdac-ng.com or legal@nafdac-ng,com & info@nafdac-ng.com