Ondo South Senatorial District Representative, Prof. Dayo Faduyile has commiserated with families of not less than 24 people who lost their lives following the consumption of a suspected herbal concoction. The report says Several other people are still undergoing treatment in Several hospitals in an incident which occurred both in Odigbo and Araromi communities.
In an official statement made available to Newsmen, Senator Faduyile described the incident as sad and regrettable, noting that NAFDAC had warned and cautioned Nigerians against the consumption of unsubstantiated herbal concoctions alleged to have healing capacity for several diseases.
The professor of pathology and Forensic medicine said the ugly incident should call for attention on need for people to be extra careful with items they consume in the name of herbal cure.
Senator Faduyile maintained that apart from identifying the alleged cause of the death of the victims, there is need for a thorough investigation, including Autopsies and toxicology so as to establish primary cause to aid mass awareness campaign against the indiscriminate consumption of all manners of concoction by the people in the hinterland adding that “It is not funny how people take drugs with little or no prescription and how fixated on herbal consumption our people have become”
Prof. Faduyile consoled the chairman of Odigbo local government, Hon. Taiwo Adegoroye, prayed for the repose of the deceased and asked God to grant their families and loved ones the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss and for such a sad incident not to repeat itself.
The Odigbo tragedy raises lots of questions about enforcement, public education, consumer behaviour and the consequences of ignoring regulatory warnings.
On July 23rd this year, NAFDAC began a nationwide enforcement action by removing alcoholic beverages packaged in sachets and PET bottles below 200ml from circulation. It directed manufacturers, distributors, retailers and transporters to surrender remaining stocks while warning that continued possession, distribution or sale could attract sanctions, seizure or outright prosecution.
The Odigbo tragedy therefore reinforces the issue of enforcement which must reach all the entire supply chain, from manufacturers to retailers and outlets selling prohibited or unregistered products.
More importantly, The tragedy which allegedly claimed 24 lives raises a fundamental question which is “Of what value is a regulatory ban if prohibited or potentially dangerous products are still finding their ways freely to communities and into consumers reach” There lies the great challenge that can prevent future re-occurence of another “Odigbo tragedy”.
