The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has begun investigating the death of a National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member at the orientation camp in Agwu, Enugu State, following allegations that substandard or falsified medicines caused his death.
The agency said preliminary findings suggested that the corps member died from acute kidney injury linked to severe dehydration and shock, but laboratory analysis of medicines administered to him was still pending.
In a public alert issued on Sunday, October 18, NAFDAC said its officers had visited the camp clinic, interviewed medical personnel and collected samples of the medicines for laboratory analysis and further investigation.
The agency’s clarification followed reports linking the corps member’s death to the effects of substandard or falsified medicines.
According to NAFDAC, the deceased was taken to the camp clinic at about 9pm on Wednesday, October 7, by two fellow corps members with symptoms suggestive of severe malaria. He was also reportedly a known peptic ulcer patient.
He was stabilised with an intramuscular antimalarial and other supportive medications administered intravenously before being placed on bed rest for observation. He was discharged the following morning with oral medications.
NAFDAC said he returned to the clinic on Saturday, October 10, complaining of pain in his right thigh and was advised to see a physiotherapist.
However, a doctor reportedly became concerned after noticing that the corps member was sweating profusely. A blood pressure check showed a reading of 80/40mmHg, indicating dangerously low blood pressure.
He was given intravenous normal saline to stabilise his condition, but subsequent monitoring revealed repeated episodes of low blood pressure.
His poor urine output, despite receiving fluids, further raised concerns, prompting his referral to the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH), Ituku-Ozalla, Enugu State, in an ambulance accompanied by another doctor.
NAFDAC said the corps member slipped into a coma around the time he arrived at the teaching hospital, where efforts to resuscitate him were unsuccessful.
The agency added that a friend of the deceased later informed the camp clinic doctor that the corps member had been vomiting for two days after his initial admission. The doctor, however, was reportedly unaware of the vomiting before the information was disclosed.
To support its position that the medicines might not have been responsible for the death, NAFDAC said other patients at the camp had received the same medications and recovered after treatment.
It added that medical doctors, pharmacists and other healthcare workers at the clinic had also prescribed and personally used the medicines at different times.
However, the agency did not announce any laboratory findings establishing the quality of the medicines or confirming the cause of death.
NAFDAC expressed condolences to the family of the deceased and urged the public to remain calm while investigations continued.
It reiterated its commitment to ensuring that medicines available to Nigerians are safe, of good quality and effective.