NAFDAC ALERTS NIGERIANS ON CONTAMINATED COUGH SYRUPS

The National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control, NAFDAC, has notified healthcare providers and the public of the death of 66 children in the Gambia following the use of four substandard cough syrups as reported by WHO in September 2022.

According to the agency, ”The four products are Promethazine Oral Solution, Kofexmalin Baby Cough Syrup, Makoff Baby Cough Syrup and Magrip N Cold Syrup.”

The alert was contained in a statement by the Director General of NAFDAC, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, which stated manufacturer of these products as Maiden Pharmaceuticals Limited (Haryana, India) adding that to date, the stated manufacturer has not provided guarantees to WHO on the safety and quality of these products.

The statement explained that, “Laboratory analysis of samples of the four products confirms that they contain unacceptable amounts of contaminants toxic to humans when consumed and can prove fatal, especially in children.

The toxic effects according to her can include abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhoea, inability to pass urine, headache, altered mental state, and acute kidney injury which may lead to death.

NAFDAC through the statement implored 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.

The agency called members of the public in possession of the above-listed products to discontinue sale or use and submit stock to the nearest NAFDAC office.