NAFDAC Debunks Fake Drug Claims, Cites Kidney Injury in Corper’s Death

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has debunked reports linking the death of a National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member at the orientation camp in Agwu, Enugu State, to fake or substandard medicines.

The agency said preliminary findings pointed to acute kidney injury suspected to have resulted from severe dehydration and shock, while investigations into the incident continued.

In a statement issued on Sunday, NAFDAC Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Christianah Adeyeye, said the agency had visited the camp clinic, interviewed medical personnel and collected samples of the medicines administered to the deceased for laboratory analysis.

The corps member was reportedly brought to the clinic on Wednesday, October 7, at about 9pm by two fellow corps members. He presented symptoms suggestive of severe malaria and had a known history of peptic ulcer disease.

According to NAFDAC, medical personnel stabilised him with an intramuscular antimalarial drug and other supportive medications administered intravenously. He remained under observation overnight before being discharged on Thursday morning with oral medications.

He returned to the clinic on Saturday, October 10, complaining of pain in his right thigh. The medical team advised him to consult a physiotherapist.

However, his profuse sweating prompted the attending doctor to check his blood pressure, which stood at 80/40mmHg.

The doctor administered intravenous normal saline, but subsequent monitoring showed repeated episodes of low blood pressure. His urine output also remained poor despite fluid replacement.

These developments prompted the medical team to refer him to the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH), Ituku-Ozalla, Enugu State, in an ambulance accompanied by another doctor.

NAFDAC said the corps member fell into a coma around the time he arrived at the hospital. Efforts to resuscitate him were unsuccessful.

The agency added that a friend of the deceased later told the camp clinic doctor that the corps member had been vomiting for two days after his initial admission. The doctor was reportedly unaware of the vomiting before the information emerged.

Addressing concerns over the medicines used in the treatment, NAFDAC said other patients at the camp had received the same medications and recovered.

“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.

Despite this, the agency said it had begun further investigations to establish the quality of the medicines administered to the deceased.

NAFDAC officers have visited the clinic, interviewed the doctors and other staff, and taken samples of the medicines for laboratory tests and other necessary action.

The agency did not announce the results of the tests, meaning the preliminary assessment has yet to establish conclusively whether the medicines played any role in the death.

Adeyeye expressed condolences to the family of the deceased and urged the public to remain calm while investigations continued.

NAFDAC reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring that medicines available in Nigeria are safe, of good quality and effective.

The agency advised consumers to direct complaints and enquiries to its call centre on 0800-1-623322 or 0700-1-623322, or email reforms@nafdac.gov.ng.