Renowned Nollywood actress and producer, Mary Remmy Njoku, has voiced deep concerns about the quality of medicines sold in Nigeria.
Her outcry follows a recent health scare that occurred while she was working on a film set. The actress took to Instagram to share her experience with food poisoning and the troubling outcome that followed her use of locally purchased medication.
According to Njoku, she fell ill during filming and suffered symptoms of food poisoning, including severe stomach upset. In response, she asked a staff member to buy Imodium, a well-known anti-diarrheal medication, from a popular pharmacy chain in Nigeria. However, what should have brought quick relief only worsened her worry.
Despite taking the medication as instructed for three consecutive days, Njoku said her condition showed no sign of improvement. The symptoms lingered, making her question the effectiveness of the drug.
“I’ve used Imodium several times in the past, so I trusted it would work,” she explained in her post. “But this time, nothing changed. I kept taking it, hoping I would feel better, but I didn’t.”
It wasn’t until her husband intervened that she began to recover. He gave her a tablet of Imodium purchased abroad, and within five minutes of taking it, her symptoms reportedly subsided.
“The relief was almost immediate,” Njoku noted. “Just one small tablet and my stomach calmed down. That’s when I knew something wasn’t right with the one I bought here.”
The actress did not stop at simply narrating her experience. She called on the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) to step in and address what she described as a serious public health threat.
“This isn’t the first time I’ve noticed a difference in drugs bought locally versus those from abroad,” she warned. “So I have to ask: what exactly are we being sold in Nigeria? What’s happening to our drug supply?”
Njoku stressed that this issue goes beyond personal inconvenience; it puts lives at risk. She urged the agency to investigate thoroughly and ensure that only safe and authentic medications are available on Nigerian shelves.
Njoku’s post has sparked wide attention online, with many Nigerians expressing similar experiences in the comment section. From painkillers to antibiotics, users complained about ineffective drugs purchased from pharmacies that are supposed to be reputable.
Health experts have long warned about the dangers of counterfeit or substandard medications in the country. Such drugs not only fail to treat conditions but can also lead to serious complications or even death.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has listed Nigeria as one of the countries where fake and substandard drugs are a growing concern. From poor regulation to corruption in the supply chain, the problem remains difficult to control.
Mary Njoku’s experience, though personal, reflects a much bigger issue, one that many Nigerians face silently every day. Her boldness in speaking out may be the push needed to draw attention back to the problem.
Njoku’s message is clear: Nigerian lives matter, and the country must not treat drug quality with levity. She insists that NAFDAC must do more than respond with press releases it must act, investigate, and prosecute where necessary.
“This is a public health emergency,” she emphasised. “NAFDAC must treat it like one. Our health and safety are on the line.”
As her post continues to make rounds online, many hope the authorities will listen, not just to Njoku, but to the growing cries of a population tired of risking their lives with every dose.
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