Adebayo Adenrele
A Professor of Medical Sociology at Ekiti State University, Ado-Ekiti (EKSU), Professor Christopher Oluwadare has advocated death penalty for all confirmed Importers, Manufacturers and Agents of Counterfeited Medicine and Drugs.
Professor Oluwadare described the imported and locally made fake medicine as more dangerous than terrorism, as a result of the calamity it has caused human the economy of the country.
He also called on the federal government to make borders, air and land effective with the use of technology to search for chemicals, reagents and medicines related to counterfeiting medicines before entering into Nigerian markets.
Oluwadare made this call while delivering the 93rd Inaugural Lecture of the University titled: “What Is Really Wrong With You? I Don’t Know! A Sociological Diagnosis Without End”.
His words, “The only intervention left undone to stamp down counterfeited medicines in Nigeria is for the Military to take over the leadership (Director General) and operation of NAFDAC It is already declared that the menace of imported or locally made fake medicine is more serious than Boko Haram and ISWAP since it is ubiquitous in every corner of Nigeria.
“While the Federal Government does this, our borders sea, air and land, should be effective, with the use of technology to search for chemicals, reagents and medicines related to counterfeiting medicines before entry into Nigerian markets. The penalty for culprits of counterfeited medicines should be death sentence”.
He also called on governments at all levels to honour the freely signed international agreement of 2001 by committing at least 15% of annual budget to health.
“The umbrella recommendation which speaks about the national integrity and the global status of Nigeria as a nation that does not obey international treaties, obligations and conventions is the inability of Federal Government to implement the minimum of 15 percent annual budgetary allocation to health agreed to with other African Heads of State since 2001.
“Until this is done, Nigeria will only be giving political lip service to prioritising the wellbeing, healthiness and survival of her citizens”.
