The Medicines Control Authority of Zimbabwe (MCAZ) has issued a recall for Benylin Paediatric syrup, produced by Johnson and Johnson in South Africa, following the declaration of its toxicity by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) of Nigeria.
Though this syrup was originally meant for medical purposes, some people who were looking to get “high” have sadly exploited it. The dangerous pollutant diethylene glycol was found in the syrup at dangerously high concentrations, according to NAFDAC’s laboratory examination, making it unfit for human consumption. When consumed, it can cause a variety of potentially fatal complications, such as severe renal injury and stomach pain.
The detected dangerous batch has not been located in Zimbabwe’s official records, however it is highly likely that imports were made illegally. The Director-General of MCAZ, Richard Rukwata, stressed the need for rigorous market surveillance and investigations in order to stop people from having access to this dangerous and illegal product. He advised people to always get medications from respectable, authorised pharmacies.
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Rukwata recommended reporting the recalled goods to the authorities or healthcare practitioners as once and strongly against giving it to anyone, especially youngsters. Working together, all parties involved can ensure that citizens’ rights to safe, high-quality medications are protected.
In order to stop the distribution of such dangerous products, MCAZ promises to increase surveillance through thorough inspections and public awareness initiatives. To aid in monitoring, the public is urged to only purchase drugs from approved suppliers. coordinated actions
