The Director General of the National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, has expressed the commitment of the agency to ensure pediatric medicines meet the highest standards of quality, safety, and efficacy.
She noted that the NAFDAC Pediatric Regulation, 2024, addresses the unique healthcare needs of children.
Speaking at a Two-Day Sensitisation and Awareness Workshop on Greenhouse, Traceability Project, and Paediatric Policy on Wednesday in Abuja, Adeyeye noted that Nigeria, like many other Low- and Middle-Income Countries, has faced a persistent challenge, particularly the menace of
Substandard and Falsified (SF) medical products, commonly referred to as counterfeit or fake medicines.
She stated that these products are introduced by unscrupulous actors seeking profit at the expense of public health, describing the act as one of the gravest threats to human life and dignity.
Adeyeye observed that NAFDAC has consistently deployed multiple strategies to combat SF products, including consumer safety publications and public notices in the media, adding that the agency is leveraging modern technologies and innovative approaches to stay ahead.
She explained that the workshop is designed to sensitise stakeholders and provide hands-on training on three critical initiatives, such as the NAFDAC Greenbook, Pharmaceutical Products Traceability Regulations, 2024, and the NAFDAC Paediatric Policy.
Adeyeye noted that the NAFDAC Greenbook is an online resource for verifying the registration status of medical products by entering the product name, brand name, or registration number to confirm authenticity.
She observed that the Pharmaceutical Products Traceability Regulations, 2024, provide a legal framework for tracking drugs and related products across the supply chain using unique identifiers, adding that Nigeria is the first in Africa and second globally to adopt this technology.
“During the COVID-19 vaccine rollout, this system enabled rapid identification and recall of defective batches within 24 hours. Implementation is phased, starting with public health commodities such as ATM products, narcotic products, and now MNCH commodities.”
In his goodwill message, the Chairman of the National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives (NANNM), FCT Council, Comrade Jama Medan, said that the workshop, focusing on the Greenhouse and Traceability Project as well as the Paediatric Policy, comes at a most timely moment.
He noted that nurses and midwives are at the heart of health service delivery, stressing that their understanding of traceability, environmental health, and child-focused policies directly impacts the quality of care provided.
Medan stated that knowledge gained from the workshop will not only strengthen professional capacity but also promote transparency, accountability, and better health outcomes for the communities, and commended the organisers for their foresight and commitment to advancing healthcare delivery, environmental sustainability, and child welfare in the nation.
