The Bayelsa Government warns that the influx of fake drugs, drinks, and cosmetics in markets is fuelling liver, kidney, and lung diseases.
The Commissioner for Information, Orientation, and Strategy, Mr Ebiuwou Koku-Obiyai, described the situation as a “serious emergency” requiring urgent attention from both government and residents.
She spoke in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria on Sunday in Yenagoa.
According to her, several government agencies are already working to tackle the menace.
Especially the Ministry of Environment, the Ministry of Health, Environmental Sanitation Authority, and the Consumer Protection Unit of the Ministry of Trade and Investment.
She disclosed that some offenders had been arrested and prosecuted, while confiscated goods were being destroyed to safeguard public health.
“Environmental Sanitation Authority is already in court with some of the people who are selling these fake drugs, fake drinks and other fake items and those fake goods were confiscated.
“The Ministry of Environment they went out for their normal checks. When they got to Swali market, they saw soft drinks, body cream, hair relaxer that are all fake and expired.
“For us as a government, we want the people of Bayelsa to remain healthy. Anything we can prevent, we start to prevent it and we believe that joining hands with all of the agencies that are in charge of these.
“We will be able to stop the influx of those kinds of things. The ones we have seen, we have confiscated, they are even being arrested,” she said.
Drawing from her experience as a trained nurse, Koku-Obiyai linked the rise in chronic health conditions to the consumption and use of substandard products.
She said, “I have my worries because I am a nurse. If you were to visit the Federal Medical Centre or any of these health facilities, you would see the number of kidney and liver diseases.
“Some of these harmful chemicals that are injected or added to fake drugs, soft drinks, or wine have direct effects on the liver, kidneys, and even the lungs.
“The creams we use, once applied to the skin, are absorbed directly into the bloodstream. We need to alert our people and enlighten them on the need to be sure of what they are buying,” she said
