CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
Background of the Study
National agency for food and drug administration and control
(NAFDAC) is a federal agency under the Federal Ministry of Health that is
responsible for regulating and controlling the manufacture, importation,
exportation, advertisement, distribution, sales and use of food, drugs,
cosmetics, medical devices, chemicals and packaged water in
Nigeria(http://www.nafdac.gov.ng).
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 (Ikhilae, 4). National Agency for
food and drug administration and control (NAFDAC) replaced an earlier Federal
Ministry of Health body, the Directorate of Food and Drug Administration and
Control, which had been deemed ineffective, particularly because of lack of
laws concerning fake drugs (Arya, 5).
The organization is formed to checkmate illicit and
counterfeit products in Nigeria in 1993, under the country’s health and safety
law. Adulterated and counterfeit drugs are a problem in Nigeria. In 1989
incident, over 150 children died as a result of paracetamol syrup containing
diethylene glycol. The problem of fake drugs was so severe that neighbouring
countries such as Ghana and Sierra Leone officially banned the sale of drugs,
food and beverages products made in Nigeria (Oyeniyi, 3). The importance of
food and drugs to man and animal particularly is very obvious. They need food
in order to grow and sustain life, while life goes on and because of the
inherent deposition to illness, the organ of the body may not always function
properly. This situation of ill health provided the compelling need for drugs
in order to modify functioning of the body and restore it to normal. To be
acceptable, the drugs must not be detterous to the body but should rather
produce a positive effect, which leads to restoration of normal life. In like
manner, cosmetics should have no harmful effect on the bodyto whichto which
they are applied (King, 1-2).
It is the duty of governments to protect the health of the
citizens. The challenge in this regard, apart from providing treatment
facilities to the sick, there is the prevention of hazard from unwholesome
foods, ineffective substandard and adulterated drugs, toxic cosmetics and
chemicals, as well as contaminated water.
1.2 Statement of Research Problem
The problem of fake drugs have embarrassed our healthcare
producers and denied the confidence of the public on the nation’s healthcare
delivery system. The result of fake drug proliferation has led to treatment
failure, organ dysfunction or damage, worsening of chronic disease conditions
and the death of many Nigerians. The situation became so bad that even when
patients were treated with genuine drugs, there is no response due to resistance
caused by precious intake of fake drugs. This and other issues constitute the
research problem.