Cameroon: North West region destroys 446 million FCFA worth of killer drugs

The municipal dumpsite in the neighbourhood of Mbelewa, Bamenda III Subdivision in Mezam Division of the North West Region, was the destination of 708 cartons of assorted medicines and drug items. Transported in four trucks from the North West Regional Fund for Health Promotion, the drugs were destroyed on March 22, 2016. The drugs were worth about 446 million FCFA. By 1 pm, the illegally imported, expired and damaged medicines, were up in flames under the supervision of the task force in charge of identifying, seizing and destroying medicines dangerous to health.

On-the-spot at the dump site, the Inspector General in the North West Governor’s Office, Ivo Makoge, and the Regional Delegate for Public Health, Dr Manjo Fon Matilda, said that illegal and expired drugs represent a serious threat to health because most of them are toxic, destroy body organs and create drug resistance. They advised the population to go for essential drugs that are sometimes cheaper and available in recognised pharmacies and hospitals. Dr Manjo Fon Matilda stressed the need to avoid clandestine drugs because their sources are doubtful and they kill.

Meanwhile, the Regional Focal Point for Pharmaco Vigilance, Valentine Chapajong Asong, revealed that the concerted efforts of the Regional Police Chief for Highways Traffic, the Bamenda Central Police Station, the Third Police District, gendarmerie posts and the Bamenda Judicial Police, all helped in seizing the drugs between August 2015 and January 2016.