On Tuesday, the Kwara State House of Assembly urged Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq to instruct the state's Ministries of Health and Environment to use all available legal resources to combat the problem of hawking and open sales of drugs, medicines, and other related goods in the state's markets.
The House also requested the governor to instruct the state Ministry of Communication to launch extensive public awareness campaigns on the risks associated with exposing pharmaceuticals, medicines, and other related items to the sun, as well as the negative impact such exposure has on human health.
The legislative arm additionally encouraged the governor to revive the state's drug rotation program so that residents would always have access to safe, effective medications in all state-run medical institutions.
These were included in the resolution passed by the House in response to a motion by Hon. Bello Yunusa Oniboki (Afon Constituency) to draw attention to the need to stop the state's careless handling and indiscriminate exhibition of medications, medicines, and other similar products.
In any form, pills, syrups, and ointments, among others, have their potent temperatures and as a result lose potency if exposed unnecessarily to sunlight, as is frequently done in the market within and throughout the state, Bello expressed concern that medicines have lost some of their potency or may go bad before the expiration date.
The house member also voiced concerns that indigestion or the use of false or subpar drugs might cause poisoning, illnesses, failed medical treatments, and early death.
Another development is that the governor's list of commissioner nominations, which was submitted before the recent vacation, has been scheduled for viewing by the House Speaker, Engr. Yakubu Danladi-Salihu.
The screening process will begin on Wednesday, August 16, 2023, and continue through Monday, August 21, 2023.
