The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) in Nasarawa State says it is retrieving Oxytocin drug from pharmacies and patent medicine shops in the state.
Mr Michael Attah, state Coordinator of the agency, said this in an interview with newsmen in Lafia on Thursday.
According to Attah, NAFDAC was retrieving the drug among others, because some pharmacies and patent shops in the state failed to adhere to the storage requirements set for it.
“The drug ought to be stored under certain temperature but we noticed that it is just being displayed on their shelves. So, most of them don’t even have cool spots,” he said.
He said Oxytocin is a drug given to pregnant women and should always be stored between 4 to 8 degrees centigrade to maintain its 100 per cent potency and avert health risks.
“Oxytocin is a drug given to pregnant women, especially those having difficulty in delivering. Once they are administered with Oxytocin, it induces labour.
“ And this Oxytocin is always supposed to be stored in the temperature ranging from 4 to 8 degrees centigrade.
“But most of them do not have cool spots and they just put it on an ordinary shelve. The presumed temperature of Lafia alone is about 28 degrees centigrade and Oxytocin is not heat-friendly.
“The drug will lose its potency if it is not refrigerated or kept in cool spots.
“So, we are mopping it up because many of them cannot guarantee us that they can keep the drug under the prescribed temperature,” the coordinator said.
He said a sensitisation workshop would be held on June 15 to enlighten drug marketers on several issues relating to the right temperatures to store specific drugs, how to sell and manage drugs. (NAN)