Zamfara Government Targets Illegal Drug Sales and Hawking

The Zamfara state government is implementing measures to halt illegal drug sales and hawking, as announced by the Commissioner for Health, Dr Nafisa Muhammad Maradun, during a stakeholders’ meeting in Gusau. Maradun, represented by the Permanent Secretary, Alhaji Rilwanu Musa Zurmi, expressed concerns that investments in healthcare infrastructure could be compromised by the prevalence of fake and substandard medicines.

She highlighted the risks associated with indiscriminate drug hawking, including wrong dosages and antimicrobial resistance. The government plans to enhance regulation of the pharmaceutical supply chain, increase public awareness, and enforce laws against illegal medicine sales.

Pharmacist Mas’ud Isah, Director of Pharmaceutical Services, reiterated the existing prohibitions against unauthorized medicine distribution and called for better intelligence sharing among regulatory bodies and security forces. The meeting included representatives from various organizations, including NAFDAC and the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria, who pledged support for the initiative aimed at protecting residents from unsafe medicines.