The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control on Friday said that at least 51 children had so far died after allegedly taking a contaminated baby teething mixture, My Pikin.
The Acting Director -General of the agency, Mrs. Doris Amlai, who disclosed this during a news conference in Lagos, stated that NAFDAC was still conducting investigations into the incident.
She stated that 5,334 bottles of the product had been mopped up from circulation, adding that as soon as the investigations were concluded, those who were found culpable would be prosecuted.
NAFDAC’s immediate past Director-General, Prof. Dora Akunyili, had raised the alarm about the contaminated teething mixture on November 25 last year at a news conference. She had initially put the number of children that died at 25, which later increased to 36. However, there have been conflicting claims on the actual number of deaths, with the Lagos State Government putting the number of deaths in the state alone at 29.
But on Friday, the acting DG said, “At the last count, about two weeks ago, it was 51. Since then we have not had further reports.” At the news conference attended by directors of the agency, she said, “When a crime is committed, the first thing we do is to refer the matter to the enforcement arm of the agency. The arm has a police corps. All they have to do is to interrogate the suspects and take the necessary samples.
“After that, they will package the case file for the legal department to vet. After vetting, if in our opinion a prima facie case is established, all we do is to file a charge at the Federal High Court. At the moment, we are still investigating. As soon as the files are ready, you trust that NAFDAC will get cracking.”
Amlai stated that after laboratory analysis, three batches of the product - Batches 2008, 1708 and 1908 – were discovered to contain diethylene glycol, which was suspected to have caused the deaths of the children. According to her, Barewa Pharmaceutical Limited, the manufacturer of the contaminated product remains shut.
She said, “Products containing paracetamol BP 120mg and diphenhydramine Hcl BP 6.25mg/5ml for children’s use that are marketed in Nigeria have been deregistered,” she stated. Amlai said the agency had insisted that all controlled chemicals must be analysed and found to be of good quality before being imported into the country.
Amlai added that the agency, as part of efforts to forestall recurrence, would streamline drug distribution systems in the country in collaboration with other relevant agencies. She also said that NAFDAC would ensure effective self regulation by manufacturers to prevent incidents similar to My Pikin issue.
source:the punch news paper
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