The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has debunked insinuations that the death of a corps member in Enugu State was due to substandard medicines.

This is contained in a statement by the Director-General of the agency, Prof Mojisola Adeyeye, in Abuja on Friday.

The statement noted that the deceased corps member previously at NYSC Orientation Camp, Awgu in Enugu State, did not die of what people insinuated.

According to the statement, preliminary investigations revealed that the corps member was brought to the Camp clinic aided by two other corps members on Wednesday, October 7, at about 9:00 p.m with symptoms suggestive of severe malaria, and a known peptic ulcer disease patient.

The statement stated that the deceased
was however, stabilised with intramuscular antimalarial and other supportive medications given intravenously.

It stated that the deceased was placed on bed rest for observation till October 8 morning when he was discharged with oral medications.

It added, “He came back unaided on Saturday, October 10, with complaints of right thigh pain for which he was asked to see a physiotherapist. His profuse sweating caught the attention of the medical doctor who measured his blood pressure and found it to be low (80/40mmHg). He was stabilised with intravenous normal saline.

“Serial monitoring showed recurrent episodes of hypertension. This development, coupled with poor urine output despite adequate fluid resuscitations prompted his referral to the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH), 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. 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.

“It is instructive to note that 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.

It stated that NAFDAC officers visited the clinic, interviewed the doctors and other staff and took samples of the medications for further necessary actions which included laboratory analysis.

The NAFDAC commiserates with the family of the late youth corps member and prays that God grants the family the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.

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

It advised the public to call the NAFDAC Call Centre on the following lines: 0800-1-623322, 0700-1-623322 for complaints and enquiry.

The agency also advised the general public to email: reforms@nafdac.gov.ng.

 (NAN)