The Director General of the National Food Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Prof. Dora Akunyili has described the establishment of a wholesale drug distribution market by the Ekiti State Government as a national benchmark that must be emulated by all the states of the federation.
She commended Governor Oni for blazing the trail with the establishment of the first mega drug depot in Nigeria adding that her agency had made proposal for the setting up of such outlets all over Nigeria since 2001.
Prof. Akunyili who said she was highly impressed by the achievements recorded by Governor Oni in the health sector and all human endeavours since he came to office last year urged the governor not to relent on his efforts aimed at transforming Ekiti State to the number one position in the country.
Her words; “I am excited by your vision and your seal to work for the development of your state. It is not because there is too much money here. It is because you are committed to doing it right. “Your achievements in education, agriculture and most importantly in the health sector are unprecedented. These achievements make it look like you are five years in the saddle.
“Your administration’s Emergency Drug Ordering System is the first in Nigeria . Your Wholesale Drug Distribution Center where genuine drugs would be stored at ideal temperatures is also the first and in the entire West Africa sub-region. “Your Health Intervention Programme under which several thousands of people have undergone free surgery and medical attention is also second to none in Nigeria .”
Speaking further, Akunyili said that the rate of development already witnessed in the state had rekindled the hope of having a good and dependable health delivery system in Ekiti State in particular and Nigeria in general.
She commended Governor Oni for allowing non-indigenes to benefit from health intervention programmes of his administration, adding that this would further strengthen the unity of Nigerian nation.
Responding, Governor Oni said the establishment of the drug mart was part of efforts of his administration to provide health care delivery that is comparable only to that of other decent society of the world
He explained that development in any sector was all about thinking and ability to make things happen.
Governor Oni who enumerated other programmes of his administration to boast the health sector, said over 400,000 people had benefited from the monthly health intervention programme.
The Ekiti State Wholesale Drug Distribution Centre, which is the first of its kind in Nigeria , is currently being managed by four pharmacists, with NAFDAC promising to deploy more pharmacists to the centre to certify and register all drugs that would be supplied to the mega drug depot.
“The inauguration today, of the drug mart is expected to stem the tide of sale of fake and unwholesome drugs in the state,” Governor Oni said.