The Nigerian Health Commissioners’ Forum (NHCF) has cautioned Nigerians to avoid the use of some cough syrups said to have led to the death of over 66 children in the Gambia.
The Chairman of the forum, who is also the Ekiti State Health Commissioner, Dr Oyebanji Filani, gave the names of the syrup as “Promethazine Oral Solution BP, Kofexmalin- Baby Cough syrup, MAKOFF Baby and MaGrip n Cold Syrup.”
He asked Nigerians to be on the lookout for the drugs.
In a statement released in Ado Ekiti under the heading, “Health commissioners’ forum warns against use of four contaminated cough syrups,” NHCF urged parents of children exhibiting symptoms including diarrhea and headache to consult a doctor.
Oyebanji claimed that the World Health Organization had ordered the medications to be taken out of circulation to stop additional damage.
He said, “WHO Director General, Dr Tedross Ghebreyasus, noted that these syrups contain two toxic products usually used as a solvent and anti-freeze agent which have been confirmed to cause acute kidney injuries among children.
“The WHO added that the toxic products are colourless and almost odourless, which makes it difficult to detect.”
He further said that the Director General of the National Agency for Food Drug Administration and Control, Prof Mojisola Adeyeye, had confirmed that the said drugs were not registered in Nigeria.
“The forum will continue to work with NAFDAC and other relevant authorities to ensure that such products if found in the country, are taken off the shelf to ensure the safety of all Nigerians,” he assured.
Oyebanji urged everyone to take personal responsibility for completely removing such harmful products from circulation if found, either from their pharmaceutical and patent medicine stores or their various homes in Nigeria. He gave participants assurances about the forum’s commitment to promoting Nigerians’ health and well-being.