The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control says it is commencing pharmacovigilance assessment of health facilities in Kwara.
NAFDAC’s coordinator in Kwara, Mariam Issa-Onilu, said this on Monday in Ilorin during a courtesy visit to the permanent secretary of the Kwara State Ministry of Health.
Pharmacovigilance is the science and activities relating to the detection, assessment, understanding, and prevention of adverse effects or other medicine- or vaccine-related problems.
Ms Issa-Onilu stated that the Agency remains committed to embedding robust pharmacovigilance principles and practices across the healthcare system. According to her, this is in line with the Nigerian National Pharmacovigilance Policy and Implementation Framework 2020.
“The assessment would focus on the structure and functionality of Pharmacovigilance Committees, reporting channels for Adverse Drug Reactions, risk management and signal detection processes, as well as collaboration between PVC units and other stakeholders,” she said.
The ministry’s permanent secretary, Taoheed Abdullahi, commended NAFDAC for its commitment to safeguarding Nigerians’ health through its various regulatory and public health programmes.
He restated the need to strengthen Pharmacovigilance Committees in health facilities.
Mr Abdullahi also called on NAFDAC to intensify public awareness on pharmacovigilance through the media, stakeholder sensitisation programmes, community outreach activities and the distribution of educational materials such as flyers and posters.
Mr Abdullahi further assured NAFDAC of the ministry’s support and pledged to facilitate the agency’s participation in the Health Gist programme to promote greater public understanding of medicine safety and adverse drug reaction reporting.