Those found culpable to face sanctions – Govt
The Plateau State Government has cautioned residents against buying unregistered, substandard or unsafe food, water, drugs, cosmetics and other regulated products, urging them to verify the authenticity and registration status of such products before purchase.
The government said an information and verification centre had been established at the Plateau State Drugs and Medical Commodities Management Agency (PS-DMCMA), where residents could verify products and make enquiries about their registration with the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC).
The Director-General of PS-DMCMA, Pharm. Kim Jerry Bot who spoke to newsmen on Thursday, said the initiative was part of the agency’s commitment to protecting public health and ensuring that residents had access to quality-assured medicines and other regulated products.
He urged residents to remain vigilant when purchasing such products, particularly where there were doubts about their authenticity or registration status.
According to him, “the protection of public health is a collective responsibility, and members of the public have an important role to play by ensuring that the products they purchase are safe, genuine and duly registered.”
Bot said residents should not hesitate to seek verification whenever they were uncertain about the authenticity or registration status of any product.
He said the information and verification centre could be contacted on 08129999249 for product verification and enquiries.
The government warned that individuals found culpable of producing, distributing or selling unsafe or unregistered products would face sanctions under relevant regulations.
It said the measures were necessary to protect residents from unscrupulous individuals who might compromise the quality and safety of products offered to the public.
The government said Governor Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang had continued to emphasise the importance of protecting the health and wellbeing of citizens while promoting measures to guarantee access to safe and quality products across the state.
It therefore urged residents to verify products before purchase, remain vigilant and promptly report suspected unregistered, substandard or unsafe products to the appropriate authorities.
The government stressed that protecting public health remained a collective responsibility.