By Chioma Obinna & Jennifer Aladetan

In the bid to tackle the menace of counterfeit and poor-quality medicines in the country, GSK Consumer Nigeria Plc in collaboration with the Pharmacists Council of Nigeria, PCN, have taken the campaign against counterfeit drugs to the Lagos State Medicine Dealers Association of Nigeria, LSMDA in Lagos.

The campaign,  organised under GSK’s Project Plus is aimed at fighting product counterfeiting and also to ensure that Nigerians at the grassroots have access to original drug products.

Speaking at the annual training programme for Patent Medicine Dealers and Patent Medicine Sellers in Nigeria, the Managing Director, GSK Consumer Nigeria Plc, Mr. Dayanand Thandalam Sriram, said the engagement became necessary out  of the need to constantly obtain feedback.

“All GSK products are backed by research and science hence the more they understand this science the better they can attend to consumer needs adequately.

“If Nigerians can tackle product counterfeiting, it will reduce the high death rate associated with  administration of fake medications,” he stated.

Speaking, President, LSMDA,  Kewiwson Emeka Opara, lamented the extent at which Nigerians abuse pain – killers and other over –the- counter drugs.

He said many people venture into medicine vending just for the profit with no consideration for people’s health.

The Marketing Manager, Wellness, GSK, Mr. Ogbemi Kesiena said the tripartite partnership was designed to add  value to the practice of the Patent Medicine Sellers and Vendors nationwide. “As responsible partners, we need to ensure the right things are done in terms of laws and regulations that govern the use of these drugs in Nigeria, hence the need for a programme like this to enable us educate and enlighten them,” he added.