666 medicine shops shut down in Kaduna

The Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (PCN) has shut down 666 illegal medicine shops in Kaduna State for operating illegally and violating National Drug Distribution Guidelines.

The enforcement exercise, which began earlier in the week, targeted open drug markets and other locations across the state, where medicines were being sold without proper registration and supervision.

The move aims to ensure the safe and effective distribution of medicines, protect public health, and prevent the sale of harmful substances in the state.

Addressing a press conference after the end of the exercise in Kaduna on Thursday, PCN Director of Enforcement, Pharm. Stephen Esumobi said the affected premises included 47 pharmacies, 313 patent medicine shops, and 306 illegal medicine shops.

Esumobi noted that the PCN team visited 895 premises during the exercise, issuing 9 compliance directives to owners of shops found to be operating illegally.

According to him, medicine shops were sealed for offences ranging from the sale of medicines in the open drug market, operating without registration with the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria, Poor documentation, Poor storage facilities, and Stocking of Ethical products without the supervision of a pharmacist.

“The PCN will not tolerate the sale of medicines in open drug markets and other unregistered locations,” Esumobi said while adding that “we will continue to enforce the National Drug Distribution Guidelines to protect public health and prevent the sale of harmful substances.”

He added the medicine shops in open drug markets and some other locations across Kaduna state were not registered by the Pharmacy Council and are operating illegally.

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The development, he argued, posed a great danger to public health because storage conditions of medicines in such premises were at variance with manufacturers’ recommendations.

“The implication of this is that most of the medicines sold in these locations may no longer be fit for human consumption due to degradation of the active ingredients,” he said.

Esumobi warned that the PCN would not hesitate to take further action against erring medicine dealers, adding that the council would assist owners of sealed shops who were willing to comply with regulations.

He said, ”The Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (PC) is the Federal Government Parastatal charged with the responsibility of regulating and controlling the education, training and practice of pharmacy in all its aspects and ramifications in line with the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria Establishment Act 2022.

“One major obstacle militating against the quality, safety and efficacy of medicines in Nigeria is the sale of medicines in open drug markets.

“The PCN had communicated severally with the relevant stakeholders in the state including the medicine dealers in open drug markets in Zaria and Kaduna city on the need to relocate to registrable locations or a coordinated wholesale centre as their activities are in total violation of the National Drug
Distribution Guidelines.”

He added that “at the end of the enforcement exercise which began early this week, a total of eight hundred and ninety-five (895) premises were visited. This is made up of seventy-five (75) pharmacies, five hundred and fourteen (514) Patent medicine shops and three hundred and six (306) illegal premises.

“A total of six hundred and sixty-six (666) premises were sealed. The premises sealed include forty-seven (47) pharmacies, three hundred and thirteen (313) Patent medicine shops and three hundred and six (306) illegal medicine shops.

“The PC office in Kaduna will render all necessary assistance to owners of sealed shops who are willing to comply with regulations.”

666 medicine shops shut down in Kaduna

NDLEA intercepts cocaine, opioids concealed in female sanitary pads in Lagos

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, has intercepted a consignments of cocaine and pharmaceutical opioids at three courier firms in Lagos.

The NDLEA spokesperson, Femi Babafemi said in a statement on Sunday in Abuja that the drugs were concealed in ladies’ sanitary pads and hair treatment cream containers.

Mr Babafemi said that the consignments were heading to the United Kingdom, Ireland and Cyprus respectively.

According to him, in one of the logistics companies, not less than 30 parcels of cocaine weighing 1.1 kilograms were concealed in hair cream containers.

“They were recovered by NDLEA officers of the Directorate of Operations and General Investigation, (DOGI), during examination of cargoes going to Ireland on Tuesday Sept. 3

“Another consignment of 24 parcels of cocaine weighing 862 grams also hidden in hair cream containers meant for delivery in UK was equally intercepted at the same company on Friday Sept. 5.

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WHO dismisses report of link between smartphone use and brain cancer

A recent World Health Organization (WHO) analysis has found no link between smartphone use and brain cancer. Concerns over radiation from mobile devices have persisted for decades, and in 2011, the WHO’s cancer division classified this radiation as “possibly carcinogenic to humans.”

However, a new study based on several research papers dating back to 1994 found no connection between cellphone usage and cancer, even among heavy users who make frequent calls. The study concluded that the incidence of brain cancers has not increased in correlation with increased mobile phone use.

The research team of eleven specialists from ten countries, including the Australian government’s radiation protection authority, reviewed 63 studies from 1994 to 2022. They examined possible links between exposure to radio waves from wireless technology — such as televisions, baby monitors, and cellphones — and various cancers, including brain and salivary gland tumours and leukaemia.

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The study found that despite the skyrocketing use of wireless technology, the occurrence of cancers has not increased to a corresponding degree. This finding holds true even for individuals who have been using mobile phones for over a decade or frequently engage in lengthy phone conversations.

Mark Elwood, a professor of cancer epidemiology at the University of Auckland in New Zealand and a co-author of the study, stated that none of the key research questions indicated elevated risks.

This review aligns with other similar studies. The WHO and other international health organizations have previously stated that there is insufficient evidence to suggest that mobile phone radiation poses a health risk. However, they have encouraged further research.

WHO dismisses report of link between smartphone use and brain cancer