NAFDAC Clarifies Circumstances Surrounding Enugu Corps Member's Death

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has officially addressed the recent controversy surrounding the death of a National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member in Enugu State, clarifying that it was not caused by substandard or falsified medications. This statement was made by NAFDAC’s Director-General, Prof Mojisola Adeyeye, in Abuja, following widespread public concern and misinformation related to the incident.

According to NAFDAC, preliminary investigations indicated that the Corps member, who had previously been stationed at the NYSC Orientation Camp in Awgu, was admitted to the camp clinic on October 7 with symptoms indicative of severe malaria and a known history of peptic ulcer disease. The agency emphasized that the deceased was initially stabilized with appropriate medical interventions, including intramuscular antimalarial drugs and intravenous fluids.

NAFDAC's report detailed the timeline of medical care received by the Corps member, stating that after being discharged on October 8 with oral medications, he returned to the clinic on October 10, presenting with new symptoms including severe pain in his right thigh. Upon examination, medical staff noted significant hypotension and profuse sweating, which raised concerns about his condition.

“His blood pressure was measured at a dangerously low 80/40 mmHg, and despite adequate fluid resuscitation, he exhibited recurrent episodes of hypertension and poor urine output,”

the statement read, underscoring the serious nature of his health decline. NAFDAC maintains that these medical findings do not support claims linking his death to the quality of medications administered at the camp.

This clarification aims to quell the public outcry and restore confidence in the healthcare services provided to Corps members, as well as mitigate the spread of misinformation regarding the safety of pharmaceuticals in Nigeria.