Outbreak of Sleeping Disorders: C’River Govt orders investigation of medicine vendors

 

By Kingsley Agim 

Following the recent outbreak of abnormal sleep disorders in Ebom community of Abi Local Government Area of Cross River, the State Government has ordered the investigation of all medicine sellers especially patent medicine vendors operating in Ebom and other communities of Abi Local Govt Area.

Recall that Ebom community, over a week ago, was hit with sleep disorders suspected to be due to trypanosomiasis or substance abuse leaving several residents hospitalized. The Health Commissioner, Dr Henry Egbe Ayuk and the Director General of the State Primary Health Care Development Agency, Dr Vivien Mesembe Otu, and their teams expedited swift action to arrest the situation. 

A statement signed by the State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Egbe Ayuk, and made available to journalists on Tuesday,  directed the directorates of medical and pharmaceutical services of the State Ministry of Health to institute an urgent investigation into activities of  of local patent medicine sellers in Ebom and other surrounding communities in Abi Local Government Area of the State. 

The Commissioner noted that the directive had become imperative as results from blood and urine samples collected from victims of the outbreak and analyzed at laboratories at Asi Ukpo Hospital and University of Calabar Teaching Hospital respectively have shown high levels of benzodiazepines, which are powerful sedatives and depressants.

Dr. Ayuk said the benzodiazepines are powerful and dangerous drugs with fatal outcomes that should never be dispensed without the authorization of a certified medical officer. While reaffirming the Otu-led administration's commitment to health quality and safe medicines for the citizens of the State, the Commissioner assured Cross Riverians that the State will do everything possible to bring illegal dispensers of this dangerous drugs to book.  

"The two directorates of Medical and Pharmaceutical Services will work closely with the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria and the State Health Quality and Anti Quackery Taskforce to immediately commence enquiry of stakeholders involved in the misuse of benzodiazepines and other substance abuse in the said communities," the Health Commissioner disclosed.

The terms of reference of the team, which has one week to deliver on its mandate, include the of mapping and scoping of activities of patent medicine vendors and other outlets for drug dispensing in the identified communities, their certification and staffing, suppliers of these commodities to the local vendors, any link with public health facilities, health seeking behavior of the victims of misuse of these drugs, related substance abuse by community members among others.