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THE GUARDIAN, Thursday, April 25, 2013
SCIENCE & HEALTH
How to ensure safe drugs, better health, by Ukah Managing Director of Kuka Pharmaceuticals Limited, Chris Ukah, in this interview with WOLE OYEBADE, x-rays the health sector in Nigeria, calling for improved funding and awareness on non-communicable diseases like hypertension. Excerpts OMING from the pharmaC ceutical sector, what are the challenges facing the health sector in your view? Besides the lack of awareness among our people, the main challenge before the health sector of this country is gross underfunding and it is scandalous. If the health sector were adequately funded, a greater percentage of Nigerians who are poor and dying will not be in that condition. There is no amount of money expended on ensuring a qualitative health care delivery system in Nigeria that should be too much. What is the life expectancy in Nigeria? Official reports indicate that life expectancy in Nigeria is between 45 and 50 years whereas it is above 75 years in some countries of the world. A wealthy nation, more often than not, is measured by the average health of the citizenry. For me, it is a question of how do we prioritise our needs in this country? Government needs to increase its budgetary allocations for the health sector - in terms of service and support for the practitioners - to enable it function effectively and efficiently. The Director General of NAFDAC, Dr. Paul Orhii, in his ingenuity has initiate a proposal for N200 billion intervention fund to the Federal Government to aid pharmaceutical companies operating in Nigeria to access loans for the manufacture of drug products. That is the way to go because accessing loans from deposit money banks for the operators could be frustrating because of high interest rate and impossible collateral requirements. You must understand that manufacturers are not humanitarian organisations. They are businessmen and women who must necessarily factor in their expenses during the manufacturing process and add a percentage profit element before arriving at the price of the product. On health awareness There is still poor awareness on important health issues like hypertension. I know
that the alarming rate at which hypertension is rising in Nigeria and other countries of the world, particularly African countries is frightening. According to the 2012 World Health Organisation report, about 40 to 50 per cent of adults worldwide are estimated to be living with hypertension. Hospital statistics have shown that in Nigeria hypertension related admission accounts for the significant proportion of admissions at the emergency departments. The disturbing dimension of the reports is that hypertension is said to have started killing young Nigerians between the ages of 30 and 40 years. That is frightening. This ailment is generally regarded as a silent killer because sometimes it does come without symptoms. Undiagnosed and untreated hypertension results to complications like heart attack, stroke, kidney failure or sudden death. Most of these deaths resulting from complications of hypertension could be avoided if the awareness about the ailment among Nigerians were high. If properly managed, especially if the patient complies with doctor’s prescriptions in taking his medication; the patient can live with the ailment for a long time. As it stands, majority of Nigerians affected by hypertension are ignorant of it. In some cases, they buy the wrong medications. On the other hand, people die of hypertension because of socio-cultural beliefs. We must teach our people that hypertension is not caused by evil arrow sent by an unknown enemy or that old witch in the village. Experts have told us that excess intake of salt, fatty foods, lack of exercise and inadequate intake of vegetables and fruits are among the factors responsible for the prevalence of hypertension. However, early detection and proper management of hypertension especially with the right medications would save lives of millions of Nigerians. For us at Kuka Pharmaceuticals Limited, we
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have taken cognisance of the prevalence of this ailment and decided to respond to it in a unique way. After an extensive research spanning over five years, we have come up with finest ingredients of Amlodipine Besilate for the effective management of hypertension. It would be introduced into the Nigerian market in the coming weeks and it will bear the MAS Label. The difference between Norapine and other anti-hypertensive medicines in circulation in Nigeria today is that it is very effective and also affordable. You would agree that safe medicine is still an issue in the industry, especially with activities of the counterfeiters? Yes, I would say that a lot is currently done to discourage the manufacture, importation and marketing of unsafe medicines in Nigeria, however, a lot also needs to be done especially in the area of the distribution network of medicines in Nigeria because the current state of distribution of medicines in Nigeria cannot support any meaningful effort aimed at bringing the health sector into international best practices. Obviously, the drug distribution network in Nigeria is in a state of chaos because it consists of open markets, patent
medicine stores, community pharmacies and others manned and controlled by unqualified persons. Something needs to be done and urgently too, to the distribution system of medicines in Nigeria if our dream of joining the increasing league of nations around the world operating healthcare system of international repute must be realized. There should be a drug distribution system designed with the aim of putting the distribution of drugs in the hands of pharmacists. Pharmacists should be empowered to take charge of drug distribution in Nigeria because statutorily, they are the custodians of drugs. Having said that, let me also add that it is high time authorities in government focused more on the health sector, especially in the area of funding. If we must get it right with effective and efficient distribution system of medicines in Nigeria that will guarantee safe medicines and by extension safety of the lives of our people, we need to establish standard drug marts in the 36 states capitals of the federation. This will of course help in streamlining drug distribution and also frustrate the activities of counterfeit drug dealers.
IPAN harps on ethical lab operations in beverage manufacturing By Tony Nwanne ORRIED by the increasing rate of infiltration of quarks in laboratory operations in the country, public analyst has continued to maintain its stand that for the laboratory sector to meet up with the world standard, there is the need to be analytical in the food, drug and related industries. The analysts, under the umbrella of Institute of Public Analyst of Nigeria, IPAN, explained that food, beverages, pharmaceutical and other groups of manufacturing sector have a lot to gain from engaging public analyst in their operations, adding that time and material will be saved when the right steps are taken based on the expertise of a public analysts. Speaking at the opening of the 17th Mandatory training of the Institute of Public Analysts of Nigeria, IPAN, the president of the institute, Balogun Sanni, envisaged that the intention of government and proponents of IPAN was to set up a cadre of well trained professional scientists who would set up analytical laboratories to support government’s regulatory efforts in the administration and control of consumer products and other scientific regulatory, research and development efforts for the national industrial development. “It is indeed imperative to continually go into full professional practices as public analysts to take up the challenge of setting up analytical laboratories so that the policy of government and the dream of our pioneer public analyst for our members to fast-track
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industrial revolution in Nigeria would not be a mirage”. The analysts, who emerged to chart the way forward with the theme; The role of public analysts in the manufacturing industry, reiterated its readiness to maintain its role now, as Nigeria takes steps to transform into industrial and economical giant. Sanni added that, “it will interest us to know that a large number of players in the manufacturing sector do not fully understand the role of the public analyst in the production chain. I urge the institute to have more interactions with the manufacturing industry to foster better working relationship and promote the concept of total quality”. The institute, since inception, has been committed to the determination of appropriate standards for safety and quality, and has participated in the work of technical organisations and provided input to legislative bodies at local, national and international levels. Meanwhile, in his submission, the Chairman of IPAN, Prof. Fola Tayo, said that as the quality and standards determines experts, the public analysts have a vital role to play in the production of wholesome and standard consumables, urging stakeholders to be more aggressive in pursuit of the professional mandate. “As analyst, our responsibilities is to ensure the safety and sanctity of lives, ensuring the safety that quality should be the watch word, and there is the need to resist every attempt to be lured into compromise”, he noted.
Nigerite, NGO, donate drugs for asthma patients STHMA patients in Lagos A State can now heave a sigh of relief as Stacey Okparavero Art Exhibition for Life, supported by Nigerite Limited, donated drugs worth millions of Naira to them at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) in Lagos. The materials, which were bought out of the proceeds from the Art Exhibition tagged, “Art for life” in memory of Stacey’s only sister who died of asthma last year were received by the Chief Medical Director of LASUTH, Prof. Adewale Oke. Speaking at the event, Prof. Oke said the drugs donated will go a long way in alleviating the suffering of asthma patients because they are essential drugs needed for the treatment of the patients. In his words: “You can never imagine how much you are going to touch people’s lives
with these drugs because these are the drugs that determine life in an asthma patient. “You have really done us a great favour at LASUTH. On behalf of the management and patients we say thank you.” In her response, the convener of the Art Exhibition for Life, Stacey Okparavero, said she is glad that the project was successful and was able to use the proceeds to procure drugs that can save people’s lives. She added that: “My appreciation goes to the management of Nigerite Limited for its contribution to the initiative by donating these life-saving drugs.” According to the representative of Nigerite Limited, Engr. Chris Adegbile, the company decided to solely sponsor the exhibition because it deals with life.
Nigeria maintains zero case of guinea worm, ready for global certification From Emeka Anuforo, Abuja TATISTICS released from the Ministry of Health have indicated that Nigeria has maintained a zero case of guinea worm for the past four years, and as such, qualifies for international certification. A team World Health Organisation (WHO) is expected in June to confirm the nation’s status and possible issue an international certification. The National Certification Committee on Guinea Worm Eradication, which reeled out a status report in Abuja, stressed that the last guinea worm case was recorded in the year 2008. The committee said a total of
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653,620 guinea worm cases were identified in 5,879 villages throughout Nigeria in 1988; while the last case of the disease was reported on November 11, 2008. Nigeria was at one point in time rated as the most endemic guinea worm country in the world. And to make assurance doubly sure, the Ministry of Health has launched an incentive package for anybody who reports any guinea worm case in the country. A package of N25,000 for a confirmed case awaits such a person. Guinea worm disease otherwise known as Dracunculiasis is a water-borne disease, which affects human beings. It has an incubation period of
about 12 months and manifests through the formation of blisters on any part of the body, inflicting pain on its victims who are in most cases, immobilised during the peak period of attack. According to the WHO, infection occurs when a person drinks water contaminated with water flea or Cyclops, which contains the worm larvae. The water flea is digested while the guinea worm larvae is set free; it penetrates the digestive tract and moves through the body during nine to 12 months until it emerges from any part of the body. All age groups are susceptible to Guinea Worm infection. There is no treatment for Guinea worm disease, the only pre-
vention is to avoid it. Chairman of the National Certification Committee on Guinea Worm Eradication, Prof. Olukayode Oyediran, who spoke at a parley to mark this year’s World’s Guinea Worm Eradication Day, stressed that an International Certification Team on the elimination of guinea worm would be visiting Nigeria next June. His words: “In 2008, a total of 38 guinea worm disease cases were reported in Nigeria from Ekerigwe, Abakaliki, Ebonyi local government area of Ebonyi State, Ezza Nkwubor and Utamazi of Enugu East local government and Owachi-Ubahu of Nkanu East
local government in Enugu State. “No case of guinea worm disease has been reported till date. From 2009 till date, we have received 545 rumour cases of guinea worm disease. All guinea worm disease rumours from the general public are investigated within 24 hours.” Minister of State for Health, Ali Pate, said in a remark that the Federal Government would focus on surveillance. He said: “We are going to ensure there is a good surveillance system working with states and local governments to ensure that whenever there are rumours, they are investigated and they are reported. This thing is done in an inte-
grated manner; integrating with other programmes like the immunisation plus days so that the surveillance system also taps into mass of people that are going in addition with collaboration with other stakeholders.” He went on: “The presence of an Independent Certification Committee which is at the national level is led by our own experts, also with the Global Certification Committee lends credibility to the progress that we’ve made. If it is the ministry saying this has happened, I don’t think people will believe it, but having independent experts from domestic and also international areas coming in gives credence to this.