Health
Fake, Unregistered Asthma Inhalers Flood Nigerian Markets After GSK’s Exit
A year after British pharmaceutical giant, GlaxoSmithKline, exited Nigeria, asthmatic patients who depended on its inhalers faced significant distress due to the medication’s scarcity. Investigations by PUNCH Healthwise have shown that fake and unregistered inhalers have flooded Nigerian markets.
For a 28-year-old marketer, Rose Daniel, having to deal with the side effects of an anti-asthmatic tablet was an experience she never wanted to have anymore. Every time she took the medicines, uncontrollable tremors sent shivers down her spine, making her lead a less productive life. But succour came when her consultant, eight years ago, prescribed an asthma preventer, Seretide Diskus inhaler, with zero side effects.
However, following the exit of GSK last year, and the scarcity of the inhalers, the fear of a return to the daily tremors gripped Daniel’s mind. Determined to spare no cost, the Cross River indigene reached out to notable pharmacies across the country and eventually bought three packs to last her for many months, pending when normalcy would return and the drugs become available.
Once the inhalers became available, Daniel told PUNCH Healthwise, that she ensured she got her inhalers at a registered pharmacy she was sure sold genuine and approved drugs. But one day, while at work, she saw the pack of a Seretide inhaler with a colleague and wondered why the pack looked different from hers. After a quick perusal of the pack, the truth hit her in the face. “It had no NAFDAC Registration Number!” she said.
Daniel said she was grateful that she had ensured she had only bought her inhalers and other drugs from a trusted pharmacy store. On a journey to discovery, PUNCH Healthwise embarked on a fact-finding mission to pharmacies and the drug market in Church Street, Idumota, Lagos State.
Entering into Church Street, the popular hub for wholesale and retail medicines, the tearing sounds of semitransparent adhesive tape (cellotapes) filled the atmosphere. Human load carriers bore several cartons of purchased medicines and hospital consumables on their back to deliver them to their respective buyers.
After a brief observation of the market nuances, this correspondent inquired at some shops about where to get Seretide Diskus. Then, the referrals began. A tall, dark-complexioned middle-aged man enthusiastically greeted another man and boldly said in the Yoruba language, “We’ve been in this market since the 1980s.”
This man would later become a guide as he led this correspondent to the prescription shops where the inhaler could be bought. “If I take you to the place where the other woman described, the price there is expensive, I’ll take you to this shop,” the guide responded.
Unfortunately, the woman at the shop did not sell such a product, leading to another round of referrals. At last, a young man garbed in native attire, called Nosa, was recommended. This correspondent then showed him a picture of an unregistered Seretide inhaler, with the pack content written in English and Urdu, a language mostly spoken in Pakistan and India.
In a bid to reduce the country’s planet-warming emissions, the UK government has announced a £180 million investment in solar panels for hundreds of schools and hospitals across the country.
This move is part of the government’s efforts to achieve its long-term climate goals and reduce reliance on fossil fuels.
The investment, which is the first major project from Great British Energy, the government’s new state owned energy company, is expected to provide solar panels for 200 schools and 200 hospitals.
This will not only help reduce energy bills but also cut carbon emissions and promote sustainability.
According to Energy Secretary Ed Miliband, “Great British Energy’s first major project will be to help our vital public institutions save hundreds of millions on bills to reinvest on the frontline.”
He added that the project will help reduce the financial pressure of energy bills on schools and hospitals.
The announcement has been welcomed by schools, unions, and NHS estate managers, who have long been advocating for measures to reduce energy costs.
Paul Whiteman, NAHT general secretary, said that the investment is a “step in the right direction” and will help schools manage energy bills, which have been a significant financial burden in recent years.
However, not everyone is optimistic about the investment.
Andrew Bowie, shadow energy secretary, argued that the government’s net zero plans will make the country “poorer.”
He claimed that the investment will lead to increased reliance on foreign powers like Russia.
In contrast, energy experts believe that investing in renewable energy will reduce the UK’s reliance on imports.
Jess Ralston, energy analyst at the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit, said that the investment in solar panels will improve energy security and reduce the amount of gas imported from countries like Russia.
The first solar panels are expected to be installed by the end of the summer, with a focus on areas of “highest need.”
The US Agency for International Development (USAID) has suspended health contracts worldwide, leaving critical healthcare programs and assistance in jeopardy.
The decision, part of a review aimed at aligning
foreign aid with the Trump administration’s “America First” policy, has resulted in the termination of more than 90% of global health
programs, including those addressing HIV, malaria, maternal health, and other vital services.
The sudden and widespread cuts have sparked
widespread concern among health experts and organizations, who warn that the move will have devastating consequences for millions of people worldwide.
“The US funding cuts are dismantling the system. HIV treatment is crumbling. TB services are collapsing… Lives are on the line,” said International AIDS Society President Beatriz Grinsztejn, whose organization is not directly affected by the cuts.
In South Africa, several of the largest US-funded HIV/AIDS programs have been informed that their funding will not resume, leaving vulnerable groups, including LGBT+ individuals and sex workers, without access to critical healthcare services.
A major global non-profit working on malaria and maternal and newborn health has also had most of its contracts cancelled.
The US State Department has remained tight-lipped about the criteria used for the terminations, and it remains unclear how many organizations worldwide have been affected.
However, documents reviewed by Reuters confirm that UNAIDS, the UN agency dedicated to tackling HIV and AIDS, has had its contract with USAID cancelled.
The move has sparked widespread criticism, with many arguing that the cuts will undermine global health progress and put millions of lives at risk.
“This is a devastating blow to global health efforts,” said a spokesperson for the Global Health Council. “The US has long been a leader in global health, and these cuts will have far-reaching consequences for some of
the world’s most vulnerable populations.”
CARICOM and the UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC) have partnered to strengthen biodiversity monitoring and conservation efforts across the Caribbean. This collaboration aims to enhance data collection, support sustainable ecosystem management, and protect the region’s rich biodiversity. By advancing the understanding of ecosystems and species trends, CARICOM and UNEP-WCMC are empowering Caribbean nations to make more informed environmental decisions. The initiative includes training local experts, integrating cutting-edge technologies, and fostering partnerships to promote resilience against climate change and biodiversity loss. This joint effort supports global conservation goals while preserving the Caribbean’s natural heritage for future generations. Join us in celebrating this significant step toward a healthier, more biodiverse Caribbean!
Welcome to the highly anticipated 23rd volume of Diaspora Watch, your indispensable source connecting the vibrant African diaspora around the world! This edition is packed with captivating stories and in-depth analysis.
FREE Digital View: https://www.flipsnack.com/excelglobalmedia/diaspora-watch-vol-23-nov-4-10-2024/full-view.html
Print on Demand: https://www.magcloud.com/browse/issue/2935447?__r=1069759
SUBSCRIBE TO DIASPORA WATCH NOW ON THE BELOW LINK !!!
https://diasporawatch.com/subscribe-to-diaspora-watch-newspaper/
Diaspora Diva – Aisha Bowe
Diaspora Watch – Vol. 40
UK Invests £180 Million In Solar Panels For Schools And Hospitals
Diaspora Watch 20th Edition (October 14-20, 2024): Your Trusted Source for Global News and Insights
Revolutionary mRNA Lung Cancer Vaccine Trial Offers New Hope To Thousands
