The number of children dying from the consumption of My Pikin, an infant syrup from the stable of Paracetamol brand has risen to 84 even as the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) saysit would ensure that the maximum penalty of 15 years jail term for those found culpable, is enforced. This was disclosed by the Director-General of NAFDAC, Mr. Paul Orhii at a press conference held in Lagos.
While addressing newsmen, Mr. Orhii said: “Under the Counterfeit/ Fake Drugs and Unwholesome Foods (Misc. Provisions Act of 1999), the maximum penalty is 15 years imprisonment or a fine not exceeding N500,000.00 for offenders. We are seeking the maximum penalty of 15 years in this case.”
My Pikin saga burst out on the 19th of November, 2008, when NAFDAC received a text message from a pharmacist that the drug was suspected to have caused the deaths of some children at ABUTH, Shika in Zaria. The agency dispatched a team of its officials to investigate the report. Samples received from ABUTH and those collected from many retail outlets in Kaduna and Lagos were sent to NAFDAC for a proper analysis. A poisonous chemical, Diethelene Glycol, was identified as the source of the contamination, and most likely must have caused renal failure and death in those infant that took My Pikin.
Chemical experts say Diethele Glycol is a poisonous liquid found in break fluids, antifreeze and fuel additives. It is also used to retain moisture in the industrial processing of many products. When ingested, they say, the liquid could cause renal failure and death.
Parents who lost their children to My Piken have continued to ask for justice while NAFDAC has intensified its bid to recall all packets of the drug from the market.
It would be recalled that some months ago, a Chinese court sitting in Beijing sentenced 40 year old Zhan Yuyin and his colleague to death for causing the deaths of consumers through the production of 776 tonnes of an additive poisonous powder identified as melamine. The substance was added to raw milk and sold to Sanlu Group, a multinational.
While addressing newsmen, Mr. Orhii said: “Under the Counterfeit/ Fake Drugs and Unwholesome Foods (Misc. Provisions Act of 1999), the maximum penalty is 15 years imprisonment or a fine not exceeding N500,000.00 for offenders. We are seeking the maximum penalty of 15 years in this case.”
My Pikin saga burst out on the 19th of November, 2008, when NAFDAC received a text message from a pharmacist that the drug was suspected to have caused the deaths of some children at ABUTH, Shika in Zaria. The agency dispatched a team of its officials to investigate the report. Samples received from ABUTH and those collected from many retail outlets in Kaduna and Lagos were sent to NAFDAC for a proper analysis. A poisonous chemical, Diethelene Glycol, was identified as the source of the contamination, and most likely must have caused renal failure and death in those infant that took My Pikin.
Chemical experts say Diethele Glycol is a poisonous liquid found in break fluids, antifreeze and fuel additives. It is also used to retain moisture in the industrial processing of many products. When ingested, they say, the liquid could cause renal failure and death.
Parents who lost their children to My Piken have continued to ask for justice while NAFDAC has intensified its bid to recall all packets of the drug from the market.
It would be recalled that some months ago, a Chinese court sitting in Beijing sentenced 40 year old Zhan Yuyin and his colleague to death for causing the deaths of consumers through the production of 776 tonnes of an additive poisonous powder identified as melamine. The substance was added to raw milk and sold to Sanlu Group, a multinational.
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