By Hassan Zaggi
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), has organized a two-day training to sensitize stakeholders on three critical initiatives including the NAFDAC Greenbook,Pharmaceutical Products Traceability Regulations, 2024 and the NAFDAC Pediatric policy.
The stakeholders were drawn from Kogi, Plateau, Nasarawa, Benue, Kwara, Niger and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Speaking while declaring the training open on Wednesday in Abuja, the Director General of NAFDAC, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, said that despite the efforts of the Agency to rid Nigeria from counterfeit and substandard products, the counterfeiters have become more sophisticated.
Represented by her Special Assistant, Dr. Gbenga Fajemirokun, the NAFDAC DG said the agency is currently leveraging modern technologies and innovative approaches to stay ahead of the counterfeiters.
Prof. Adeyeye explained that the NAFDAC Greenbook is an online resource for verifying the registration status of medical products, noting that one can just enter the product name, brand name, or registration number to confirm authenticity of the product.
The Greenbook, according to her, will ensure consumer production by empowering consumers to avoid fake and substandard products.
On Pharmaceutical Products Traceability Regulations, 2024, the NAFDAC boss noted that it “provides a legal framework for tracking drugs and related products across the supply chain using unique identifiers.”
She revealed that Nigeria is the first country in Africa and second globally to adopt this technology- Pharmaceutical Products Traceability Regulations, 2024.
“During the COVID-19 vaccine rollout this system enabled rapid identification and recall of defective batches within 24 hours,” she said, disclosing that the implementation is phased, starting with public health commodities such as ATM
products, narcotic products, and now Maternal Newborn and Child Health (MNCH) commodities.
The Greenbook, she further said, helps stakeholders detect and prevent substandard and falsified products from entering the supply chain.
On the other hand, the NAFDAC Pediatric Regulation, 2024, she said addresses the unique healthcare needs of children and ensures pediatric medicines meet the highest standards of quality, safety, and efficacy
Prof. Adeyeye, therefore called on “all stakeholders in the healthcare space to support these initiatives. Together, we can ensure that every medicine in Nigeria is safe, effective, and traceable, thereby safeguarding the health of our people.”
In a goodwill message, the Chairman, National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives (NANNM), FCT Council, Comrade Jama D Medan, commended NAFDAC for organizing the two-day sensitization workshop, noting that it is timely and that it will advance healthcare delivery, environmental sustainability, and child welfare in Nigeria.
“This workshop—focusing on the Greenhouse and Traceability Project as well as the Paediatric Policy—comes at a most timely moment. As nurses and midwives, we are at the heart of health service delivery, and our understanding of traceability, environmental health, and child-focused policies directly impacts the quality of care we provide.
“The knowledge gained here will not only strengthen our professional capacity but also promote transparency, accountability, and better health outcomes for the communities we serve,” he stressed.
Comrade Medan, therefore, urged participants at the workshop to “collectively translate the insights from this gathering into meaningful action in our workplaces and communities. Together, we can build a healthier, safer, and more sustainable future for our children and generations to come.”
Stakeholders at the training were drawn from different associations and groups in the health sector and medical and health workers from both the military and other paramilitary agencies.
