Following the death of 66 children in The Gambia for the use of four substandard cough syrups as reported by WHO in September 2022, the National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has alerted the healthcare providers and Nigerians to be wary.
The four products are Promethazine Oral Solution, Kofexmalin Baby Cough Syrup, Makoff Baby Cough Syrup, and Magrip N Cold Syrup.
NAFDAC, in a statement on Sunday, said laboratory analysis of samples of the products confirms that they contain unacceptable amounts of diethylene glycol and ethylene glycol as contaminants.
According to NAFDAC, Diethylene glycol and ethylene glycol are toxic and their effects can include abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea, inability to pass urine, headache, altered mental state, and acute kidney injury which may lead to death.
The statement reads in part: “The substandard products in this alert are unsafe and their use, especially in children, may result in serious injury or death. The products are not registered by NAFDAC, therefore should not be in circulation. To date, these four products have been identified in The Gambia, but may have been distributed, through informal markets, to other countries or regions.
“The stated manufacturer of these products is Maiden Pharmaceuticals Limited (Haryana, India). To date, the stated manufacturer has not provided guarantees to WHO on the safety and quality of these products.
“NAFDAC implores importers, distributors, retailers, and consumers to exercise caution and vigilance within the supply chain to avoid the importation, distribution, sale, and use of substandard cough syrups. All medical products must be obtained from authorised/licensed suppliers.
“The products’ authenticity and physical condition should be carefully checked. Members of the public in possession of the above-listed products are advised to discontinue sale or use and submit stock to the nearest NAFDAC office.
“If you have these substandard products, please DO NOT use them. If you, or someone you know, have used these products or suffered any adverse reaction/event after use, you are advised to seek immediate medical advice from a qualified healthcare professional”.
- LG Elections: PDP Sweeps In Oyo, APC Won In Gombe - April 29, 2024
- Perpetrators Of Female Circumcision Risk Four-Year Jail Term-NAPTIP - April 29, 2024
- Illegal Mining: NSCDC Arrest Four Chinese Nationals - April 27, 2024
