Report Cases Of Adverse Drug Reactions — Akunyili

Nigerians have been urged to always report cases of adverse drug reactions to relevant authorities in other to help the agency achieve its aims. This was disclosed as the World Health Organization (WHO) collaborating centre for International Drug Monitoring showered encomium on the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) for coordinating an effective Pharmacovigilance System in Nigeria .
 With a total of 725 Adverse Drug Reaction (ADR) cases reported to the WHO Drug Monitoring Centre in Uppsala, Sweden since inception in September, 2004, NAFDAC's Pharmacovigilance Centre is regarded by the WHO as “one of the most active and dynamic pharmacovigilance centre in Africa right now”.
 The WHO's Chief Programme Officer, Uppsala Monitoring Centre, Mr. Sten Olsson who had been visibly impressed with NAFDAC's 4-years track record of performance said Nigeria 's Pharmacovigilance (ADR Monitoring) submission will be published in the next report of Uppsala collaborating centre.
 Mr. Olsson said such publication will show case NAFDAC's Pharmacovigilance Centre as “good model” for other countries to emulate.
 He noted that in spite of the comparative successes recorded by Nigeria there are still rooms for improvement as most successful ADR Centres have taken 30-40 years to attain their present Olympian height.
 The WHO Chief implored the Agency not to be discouraged by the frustration posed by the low level ADR reporting system among Nigerian Healthcare professionals noting that is a manifestation characterizing young Pharmacovigilance Centres.
 Director-General of NAFDAC, Prof. Dora Akunyili said the WHO's commendation is “stimulating and has given the Agency the required impetus to achieve more successes in pharmacovigilance reporting next year”.
 Prof. Akunyili disclosed that the Agency will soon embark on vigorous public enlightenment campaign and advocacy visits to Hospitals, Clinics and Health Centres nationwide to increase the level of ADR reporting among Healthcare professionals.
`     She however urged the mass media to join the sensitization campaign because of the low level of public awareness on the imperative of reporting cases of Adverse Drug Reactions.