MoH burns counterfeit drugs

The Ministry of Health thru the Nimba County Health Team along with the Pharmacy Board of Liberia has arrested and destroyed huge counterfeit and expired drugs in Ganta, Nimba County.

The fake and expired drugs, including drugs brought in by the government were arrested from drugs store owners and street venders in Ganta, Sanniquellie, Bahn and Saclepea, respectively in a vigorous sweep by health authorities.

The head of the Nimba County branch of the Pharmacy Board of Liberia, FonOlIZansi said, some of the drugs were illegally brought into the country. Mr. Zansi said drugs are only allowed to enter the country through the Freeport of Monrovia and main border entries under the watch of various agencies, including the Liberia Revenue Agency, the LRA.

He called on state security forces along with the county administration of Nimba to join the fight against those involved with the importation of fake drugs here as they pose serious harm to the population. Our Nimba correspondent said among drugs that were destroyed include those that had expired since 2013, but were still being sole to the public.

Some of the fake and expired drugs include REALIFY Extra, OSTEO, MITAKA, Ampicillin and Pain off. Others are EXDOMs, Chapvil, IDA, and Sodium Chloride, among others.

By Franklin Doloquee, Nimba-Editing by Jonathan Browne