Drugs, Nigeria’s latest epidemic; another item in our basket of problems. The most popular of them of codeine, has been around for a while rotting away at our youth’s foundation; but is now just rearing it’s ugly head. In typical nigerian fashion, not much has been done about this and as usual we have waited till the last minute to do something and even at that the bare minimum has been done. It took prompting from a recent BBC investigative documentary for our government and the health sector, in particular to sit up and properly address this issue and still it has been addressed in the most lack lustre, ineffective and least productive way ever.
In response to the outrage caused by the documentary, our minister of health in conjunction with NAFDAC decided to ban all codeine production; in their infinite wisdom (like that is going to change anything or is even the right way to attack this problem). They didn’t think to properly educate people on the issue; they didn’t think to start outreach and counselling programmes to help those affected; they didn’t think of a way to cut society’s ties with drug, using employment and activities and so on to accompany this directive, instead they chose to stop production. Didn’t even think of why these companies used codeine in their cough syrup and what they would use to replace it; will it be worse? will it better? Their options weren’t weighed. In fact nothing was thought through.
This is my main issue with my country, we don’t think before we act. We rush to do things just to prove a point and end up kicking ourselves in the face. Firstly, such a rash response wasn’t needed; those in charge should have issued a statement and then taken some (much needed) time to properly assess and evaluate the problem. Banning codeine production will only increase demand for it and strengthen the black market and To keep up with this demand ( and cut costs, as they normally do) , poor quality and therefore harmful, products will be flushed into our society; worsening an already tragic situation.
Okay, apart from banning codeine production, they have also shut down major pharmaceutical companies & production lines as they refused to obey the order to stop production of codeine and haven’t cooperated with their ongoing investigations. Ideally if a body refuses to follow instructions (which was apparently the case), it is only normal to punish them but not in times like these. Our health system is failing, it’s the worst it’s ever been and on top of that the individuals holding up this system are on strike. You shut down production in a pharmaceutical company that does not only produce codeine but other vital medicines we need in Nigeria, you did not only shut down one or two, you shut down 3 major companies namely Emzor, Bioraj and Peace Standard; this is in no way, the right way to go about things. These companies produce vitamins, anti malarials and anti biotics, that are basically part of Nigeria’s fabric; every night a new mosquito lays foundation on my body and a new bacteria settles in my organs, we need these medicines as these curable viruses and diseases are still rampant in our country. By doing this, you have forced up the price of these already expensive drugs (as the supply will be low) and you have created space for a black market or actually just widened their reach.
Let’s recap, so we have no medicine and no medical personnel; essentially you have thrown your people to the dogs on top an issue that could be easily solved with the application of common sense and patience; values we lack as a nation. To top things off, there has been an Ebola outbreak in a neighbouring country, if it spreads and reaches our borders; with our public health system is this state we are doomed.
There have been talks of a meeting between the stakeholders involved in the production and regulation of codeine, to discuss recent developments; hopefully this talk will amount to something, I doubt it but let me stay hopeful. The saddest part about this is that it is mostly affecting our youth, the “leaders of tomorrow” as they say; and nothing is being done to save us, all I can say now is Jesus take the wheel.
