DIRECTOR-General of the National Food and Drug Adminstration Control, Dr. Paul Orhi told the international
community on Monday night that Nigeria’s all out war on counterfeit medicines must be appreciated as an effort aimed at fighting diseases, viruses and bacteria that trigger major diseases in the world.
Dr. Paul Orhi who spoke at the Madison Hall of the U.S Library of Congress after receiving the Congressional award for recognition for the ground breaking efforts in Sub-Saharan Africa in the effort at using latest available technology to detect fake medicines and other edibles before they invade markets and pharmacists.
Dr. Orhi told the world in accepting the special congressional recognition that diseases arising from viral strains, do not need visas or passports before making cross border damages. He is the second Nigerian to have ever bagged the congressional award. The governor of CBN, Mallam Lamido Sanusi was a winner of the award.
Dr. Orhi disclose that he still bore the burden of reducing drug counterfeits to zero percent but that much progress has been recorded from the time, he assumed office in 2009, when the scourge stood at 65 per cent to its present situation of a little of 20 per cent.
He didn’t say anything about well known criticisms suspected to be sponsored by elements interested in taking over from him, when his tenure ends in December 2013.
He is vast knowledge in pharmacology medicine and law, which came handy in the evolution of applicable laws that are assisting the administration In Nigeria in tackling fake drug, also got a mention and commendation for the country’s zero tolerance for such crimes. No known offender since Dr. Orhii came onboard ever gets away with the crime through light sentences. Dr Orhii, with the backing of country’s powerful President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan and resourceful Federal Lawmakers make importation, production, and circulation of fake drugs to be punishable with life sentence, forfeiture of proceeds of such illicit dealings and compensation for victims thereof.
According to the citation of the NAFDAC DG, read by Bernadette Paola, President, CEO of Africa Society of National Summit, is a man with capacity to set, pursue and
achieve goals. He always has his eyes on the ball of performance in all his
endeavors; and his dedication to higher ideals has been quite evident all throughhis trajectory in life up to his current assignment of redefining the shape andtexture of the anti-fake drug war in Nigeria.
In making the presentation Congresswoman, Janice Hanh, said it was a special congress recognition of Dr. Orhii’s effort at NAFDAC, promotion of good relationship between Nigeria and United States.