Ayodeji Ake
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has commenced an investigation into the loss of life of a National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member on the orientation camp in Agwu, Enugu State, dismissing claims that the deceased died from the consequences of substandard or falsified medicines.
The company mentioned preliminary findings prompt that the trigger of loss of life was acute kidney damage secondary to extreme dehydration and shock, whereas samples of medicines administered to the deceased had been collected for laboratory evaluation.
In a press release issued by its Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Christianah Adeyeye, NAFDAC mentioned its officers had visited the camp clinic, interviewed medical doctors and different healthcare personnel, and brought samples of the medicines utilized in treating the deceased for additional investigation.
According to the company, the corps member was delivered to the clinic at about 9 p.m. on Wednesday, October 7, 2026, by two fellow corps members, with signs suggestive of extreme malaria. He was additionally identified to have peptic ulcer illness.
NAFDAC mentioned he was stabilised with intramuscular antimalarial treatment and different supportive therapies administered intravenously earlier than being positioned on mattress relaxation for remark.
He was discharged on Thursday morning with oral medicines.
The company, nonetheless, mentioned the corps member returned to the clinic unaided on Saturday, October 10, complaining of ache in his proper thigh. He was suggested to see a physiotherapist.
His situation subsequently raised concern when the attending physician seen that he was sweating profusely and checked his blood stress, which was discovered to be critically low at 80/40mmHg.
NAFDAC mentioned he was stabilised with intravenous regular saline, however repeated monitoring revealed recurrent episodes of low blood stress.
His poor urine output, regardless of satisfactory fluid resuscitation, prompted the medical workforce to refer him to the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH), Ituku-Ozalla, Enugu State, in an ambulance accompanied by one other physician.
The corps member reportedly slipped right into a coma across the time he arrived on the educating hospital, and efforts to resuscitate him had been unsuccessful.
The company additional disclosed {that a} pal of the deceased later knowledgeable the camp clinic physician that the corps member had been vomiting for 2 days following his preliminary admission. The physician was reportedly unaware of the event earlier than the data was offered.
NAFDAC mentioned the identical medicines administered to the deceased had additionally been given to a number of different sufferers on the camp clinic, who recovered after remedy.
It added that the medical doctors, pharmacists and different healthcare staff on the clinic had not solely prescribed the medicines however had additionally used them themselves at completely different instances.
The company, nonetheless, mentioned its investigation was ongoing, with laboratory evaluation of the collected samples anticipated to assist set up the standard and security of the medicines concerned.
NAFDAC urged members of the general public to stay calm whereas it undertakes the mandatory investigations, reiterating its dedication to making sure that medicines out there within the nation are secure, of good high quality and efficient.
The company additionally expressed condolences to the household of the deceased corps member, praying for power for them to bear the loss.
