LMHRA Alerts Public of WHO Warnings OF Four Illegal Drugs
By: Sylvester Choloplay
Liberia: The Liberia Medicines and Health Products Regulatory Authority (LMHRA) says the World Health Organization (WHO) has warned the Liberian Government through health Authorities to be aware of four (4) illegal products of drugs.
The products, which according to LMHRA (quoting the WHO) include Promethazine Oral Solution, Kofexmalin Baby Cough Syrup, Makoff Baby Cough Syrup, and Magrip N Cold Syrup are linked to the death of 66 children.
Addressing a press conference recently in Monrovia, the Technical Advisor at LMHRA, Dr. Flomoku Miller said though there are no discoveries of these products in the country, there is a need that the public is aware of unhealthy products.
According to the BBC, the WHO has disclosed that the products were manufactured by an Indian company, Maiden Pharmaceuticals, which had failed to provide guarantees about their safety.
The World Health Organization also said these four products were detected in cases of acute kidney injury among children under the age of five in late July this year in the Gambia and now in other West African countries.
In the BBCโs October 6, 2022 online edition report, the WHO further revealed that substances were toxic, and their effects can include abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea, inability to pass urine, headache, altered mental state, and acute kidney injury which may lead to death.
But Dr. Miller said the Government of Liberia through the Liberia Medicines and Health Products Regulatory Authority and the Health Ministry is working tirelessly to prevent the importation of these illegal products into the country.
โWe already have members of the team to the various border points of the country to search, discover and be on the guide against these illegal drugs coming into Liberia. we also asking the general public to be aware and report these substances in the case of discovering themโ. Dr. Miller said.
