By Ashemiriogwa Emmanuel
The National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has frowned at the arbitrary and illegal advertisement of herbal medicines in Kaduna State.
This action has vexed the agency, which has promised to clamp down the herbal medicine dealers in an effort to sanitise the health system, especially at a time some medical doctors have embarked on a nationwide industrial action.
Addressing the situation on Monday, the State Coordinator, Mr Nasiru Mato, disclosed that the excesses and unethical advertisement of herbal medicine products in the state were quite alarming and needed to be checked.
According to him, “Herbal medicines or traditional medicines as they are often called are as old as man himself, in recent times, however, the excesses and arbitrary advertisement of these products are quite alarming.
“NAFDAC is statutorily mandated to regulate and control their manufacture, importation, exportation, distribution, advertisement, sale and use for safety, quality, and efficacy.”
Mr Mato, thereafter, added that herbal products must be evaluated by the agency before they can be sold and consumed by users, adding that traditional medicine vendors should comply with the agency’s call on them to get registered and obtain certificates before advertising their products.
In his words, “As such, these products must undergo mandatory laboratory evaluation and subsequent certification and registration. NAFDAC is ever willing to strengthen and regularise the herbal medicine practice in conformity with its mandate of safeguarding public health.”
The coordinator then warned that NAFDAC would sanction any unethical practice detrimental to public health and safety as it is committed to safeguarding people’s lives without putting anyone out of business.
Adedapo Adesanya 
Aduragbemi Omiyale