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Report unexpected adverse drug reactions to FDA or health centres – Acting E/R FDA boss
The Acting Eastern Regional Head of the Food and Drugs Authority(FDA), Madam Anita Owusu Kuffour has advised the general public to quickly report issues of unexpected adverse drug reactions to the FDA or health centres and pharmacies where the medicines were supplied.
She said reporting the adverse drug reactions would enable her outfit to assess the safety of the drug products and ensure medicinal products were registered, wholesome and meet the prescribed standards.
“The general public is advised to quickly report adverse effects of drugs that are unexpected and they can report to our offices, clinics, or can use the MED Safety app to report so that we can ensure that all products found on the market are safe for consumption,” she stated.
Madam Kuffour gave the advice during a public engagement organised in Koforidua to educate the general public on the need to report such issues and educate medicine sellers on how to properly handle medicines.
The sensitization was also aimed at enabling the FDA reach out to people in low-income levels of society who patronize such medicinal products and increase their awareness of medicine safety and improve reporting of adverse drug reactions.
Madam Kuffour revealed that over the years, her outfit had engaged in active promotion of public health and safety through effective regulation and the utilization of various communication strategies and tools to create the needed awareness among consumers about the safety of regulated products.
She said during active surveillance of adverse events following immunization (AEFIs) from COVID-19 vaccines in 2021 and 2022 which was implemented with the help of Promoting Quality of Medicines Plus Programme (PQM+), they identified that most issues on AEFIs were reported under active surveillance which was costly and difficult to sustain.
She stated that improving spontaneous reporting would reduce the need for active surveillance and save limited resources, hence the need to encourage the public to report such issues at the clinics, CHPS zones, health centres and her outfit where such reporting was low.
“Some drugs products can get into trade in the country as a result of our porous borders and is the FDA’s duty to make sure products on the market are wholesome, registered and meet the prescribed standard. This will help to retrieve them from the market, hence this education,” she added.
Madam Kuffour advised importers, distributors and whole sellers to make sure that the products offered for sale have been duly registered, adding that the FDA was committed to offering help to register their products and give them the technical know-how to bring the products into law.
She also advised drug sellers to desist from selling drugs in buses and making claims about products that were not approved, and advised them to use appropriate ventures to sell or sell at designated placed. She further advised the general public to desist from buying such drugs.
For his part, a Senior Regulatory Officer at the FDA, Peter Alordji advised medicine sellers to ensure proper handling of products and see to its safety, efficacy, as well as the quality of all medicinal products.
He also charged the public to report immediately symptoms that were unexpected after taking drugs to FDA or supplier of the medicine to ensure proper regulatory action and prevent people from consuming substandard medicines.
From Ama Tekyiwaa Ampadu Agyeman, Koforidua
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ASWIM lauds Prof Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang
The Association of Women in the Media, (ASWIM) has congratulated Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang on her historic achievement as Ghana’s first female Vice President.
The association said her trailblazing journey with sterling accomplishments from academia to politics, is undoubtedly, a vivid inspiration to countless women and girls across Ghana and Africa.
This was contained in a statement signed by its president, Mrs Mavis Kitcher, and copied to The Spectator on Tuesday in Accra.
“ASWIM celebrates your remarkable career, marked by numerous firsts, including the first female Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cape Coast, (UCC), and the first female to hold a professional chair in Ghana, (UCC),” the statement said.
It said the accomplishments of Prof Opoku- Agyemang were clear testament to the brilliance, resilience and resourceful nature of the complete beautiful African woman.
“As she takes on this new role, ASWIM proudly lauds her commitment to education, women’s empowerment, distinguished public service and patriotism and is very confident that her pursuit of excellence, love for humanity, humility, decency, modesty and commitment to the welfare of the vulnerable will characterise Ghana’s political leadership and public service,” the statement added.
By Jemima Esinam Kuatsinu
Entertainment
Demolition of Fantasy Dome unfair — Mark Okraku-Mantey
Months after the Fantasy Dome was dismantled to make way for construction at the Ghana International Trade Fair site, the Deputy Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Mr Mark Okraku-Mantey, has expressed concern over the manner the facility was destroyed.
In an interview on Daybreak Hitz with Andy Dosty, Mr Okraku-Mantey criticised the handling of the dome’s dismantling, suggesting that it could have been done without causing damage.
“I don’t think that leadership gave instructions that they should do what happened. The structure was a prefab but I hear the people destroyed it. That one, we cannot defend it. It is unfair to him (owner). Sometimes, you give instructions and people will go and do things that will make you look bad,” he stated.
When asked about any punitive measure against the workers responsible for the destruction, Mr Okraku-Mantey clarified that the Trade Fair does not fall under his ministry.
He said he had previously contacted the owner, Leslie Quaynor, to discuss relocating the dome, and even suggested the National Museum as a potential site, though it was too small.
The demolition of the 20,000-seater Fantasy Dome occurred on March 16, 2024.
According to Dr Agnes Adu, CEO of the Ghana Trade Fair Company Limited, the action was taken after multiple notices were given to Quaynor to vacate the premises for redevelopment, as per their tenancy agreement.
Dr Adu noted that all previous tenants had complied except for the Fantasy Dome.
Quaynor, in an interview with JoyNews, confirmed that his lease had ended, and was in the process of relocating the dome.
He had requested an extension, which was denied, leading him to seek a writ and an injunction from an Accra High Court to halt the demolition.
Despite this, the demolition proceeded, causing significant damage to the structure.
Quaynor described the incident as a major setback, not only for his business but also for the entertainment industry, which relies on venues like the Fantasy Dome.
