NAFDAC Denies Substandard Medicines Caused Enugu Corps Member’s Death

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control has debunked reports linking the death of a National Youth Service Corps member in Enugu State to substandard or falsified medicines.

In a statement issued in Abuja on Friday by the Director-General of NAFDAC, Prof Mojisola Adeyeye, the agency said preliminary investigations showed the deceased did not die from the causes being speculated.

The corps member, previously at the NYSC Orientation Camp in Awgu, Enugu State, was brought to the camp clinic by two other corps members on Wednesday, October 7, at about 9pm with symptoms suggestive of severe malaria. He was also a known peptic ulcer patient.

According to the statement, he was stabilised with intramuscular antimalarial and other supportive medications given intravenously. He was placed on bed rest for observation until October 8 morning when he was discharged with oral medications.

“He came back unaided on Saturday, Oct. 10, with complaints of right thigh pain for which he was asked to see a physiotherapist,” the statement said.

“His profuse sweating caught the attention of the medical doctor, who measured his blood pressure and found it to be low (80/40 mmHg). He was stabilised with intravenous Normal Saline.”

The statement noted that serial monitoring showed recurrent episodes of hypotension. This development, coupled with poor urine output despite adequate fluid resuscitation, prompted his referral to the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Ituku-Ozalla, Enugu State, in an ambulance accompanied by another doctor.

“He went into a coma at about the time of arriving at the UNTH. All efforts at resuscitating him failed,” NAFDAC said.

“His friend later informed the Camp clinic doctor that his deceased friend was vomiting for two days after the initial admission at the camp. The doctor was not aware of this development.”

The agency emphasised that the same medications given to the deceased were also administered to several other patients in the camp who got well after receiving their treatments.

“The medical doctors, pharmacists, and other healthcare workers at the camp clinic not only prescribed but also used the medications by themselves at different times,” the statement said.

According to the statement, the doctors believed that the cause of death was acute kidney injury secondary to severe dehydration and shock in the meantime.

NAFDAC stated that its officers had visited the clinic, interviewed the doctors and other staff and taken samples of the medications for further necessary actions, including laboratory analysis.

The agency commiserated with the family of the late corps member and prayed that God grants them the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.

NAFDAC enjoined the public to remain calm as the agency was taking all necessary steps to ensure that all medicines made available to the public were safe, of good quality and efficacious.

It advised the public to call the NAFDAC Call Centre on 0800-1-623322 or 0700-1-623322 for complaints and enquiries, or email reforms@nafdac.gov.ng.