The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control has introduced cutting-edge mobile technologies to fight the illegal drug trade in northeast Nigeria.
It was reported that at a two-day sensitisation workshop in Gombe, stakeholders from various healthcare sectors were introduced to the “Scan 2 Verify” and “Green Book App” tools designed to authenticate medicines and ensure public safety.
Speaking on Wednesday, NAFDAC’s Director-General, Professor Mojisola Adeyeye, who was represented by the Director of Post-Marketing Surveillance, Bitrus Fraden, reassured participants that all drugs registered by NAFDAC are safe and available only through legitimate outlets.
Adeyeye further revealed that the Green Book App serves as a digital registry listing certified medicines approved by the agency.
“Users can quickly verify a drug’s authenticity, with any product not listed being deemed counterfeit,” Adeyeye stated.
The workshop, which targeted key stakeholders, including pharmaceutical vendors, medical doctors, and healthcare professionals, harped on the need to adopt the technologies to ensure only genuine medicines reach consumers.
Dealers of patent medications and store owners were among the participants who commended NAFDAC for the prompt initiative.
Workshop attendees, Yakubu Yusuf and Hauwa Musa characterised the training as a major step in addressing the problems associated with counterfeit medications.
NAFDAC also emphasised its ongoing efforts to shut down counterfeit drug markets in Lagos, Onitsha, and other parts of the country, reaffirming its commitment to public health and safety.
The organisation emphasised the value of raising public awareness in the battle against counterfeit medications, advising people to check medications before taking them and to make informed health decisions.
