The National Agency for Food Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has cautioned Nigerians against the purchase and consumption of four-killer baby cough syrups from India.
According to the national health body, the four cough syrups have been linked to acute kidney diseases and the deaths of many children in The Gambia.
Recall that a few days ago, the World Health Organisation (WHO) listed the four drugs as Promethazine Oral Solution, Kofexmalin Baby Cough Syrup, Makoff Baby Cough Syrup, and Magrip N Cold Syrup.
According to the WHO report, laboratory analysis of samples of the four products confirms that they contain unacceptable amounts of diethylene glycol and ethylene glycol as contaminants.
Addressing journalists on the situation, the director-general of NAFDAC, Professor Mojisola Adeyeye, accused the manufacturer of the products, Maiden Pharmaceuticals of failing to provide a guarantee of the drugs.
Adeyeye said that NAFDAC has put appropriate measures in place to prevent the entry of these spurious products from the various ports of entry and has activated its internal surveillance mechanisms to “mop up” the products from the supply chain pipeline if they are ever found.