The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has launched a new app, the Greenbook, designed to help Nigerians identify and verify fake drugs. The app aims to play a crucial role in the agency’s ongoing battle against counterfeit medical products in the country.
At a two-day sensitization workshop in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, NAFDAC’s Director General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, emphasized that the app would engage the public in combating the growing issue of counterfeit drugs. Prof. Adeyeye, who was represented by Fraden Bitrus, Director of Post-Marketing Surveillance at NAFDAC, said the workshop focused on raising awareness of the Greenbook, as well as other traceability initiatives and pediatric policies.
The Greenbook app is a comprehensive online database that lists all drug products officially registered by NAFDAC in Nigeria. Users can enter a product’s name, brand, or registration number to verify its authenticity. If the product is registered in the Greenbook, it is confirmed as authentic and safe for use. This tool will help Nigerians avoid substandard and potentially harmful drugs circulating in the market.
“The rise of counterfeiters using more advanced tactics has made it necessary for NAFDAC to adopt modern technologies to combat this threat,” said Prof. Adeyeye. “The Greenbook is part of our strategy to stay ahead of counterfeiters and protect public health.”
Nigeria is the first African country to introduce this technology, and the second worldwide, according to NAFDAC. The agency is calling on stakeholders in the healthcare sector to support this initiative to ensure the delivery of safe and effective medical products.
Rivers State Health Commissioner Adaeze Oreh, represented by Pharm. Quanta Dappa, expressed full support for the initiative, stating that the state is committed to collaborating with NAFDAC to fight fake drugs. “We have a task force focused on counterfeit and substandard drugs, and NAFDAC is a key partner in this effort,” Oreh added.
Oligbu Chukwuma, NAFDAC’s Director for the South-South Zone, assured that necessary measures are in place to ensure that state coordinators implement strategies to curb the spread of fake drugs across the region.
With the launch of the Greenbook, NAFDAC aims to empower Nigerians to make safer choices and help rid the country of unsafe medical products.
