Oluwatobi Adu 
ABUJA, Nigeria – The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has launched an investigation into medicines administered to a National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member who died after falling ill at an orientation camp in Enugu State.
The investigation follows reports linking the death to suspected substandard or falsified medicines. However, NAFDAC said its preliminary findings had not established that the corps member died from the effects of such drugs.
In a public alert issued on Sunday, the agency said its officers had visited the camp clinic, interviewed medical personnel and collected medicine samples for laboratory analysis and further investigation.
According to NAFDAC, the corps member was brought to the clinic on October 7 at about 9pm with symptoms suggestive of severe malaria and a history of peptic ulcer disease. He received antimalarial treatment and intravenous supportive medication before being discharged the following morning with oral medicines.
The agency said he returned to the clinic on October 10, complaining of pain in his right thigh. Medical personnel reportedly observed profuse sweating and recorded a dangerously low blood pressure of 80/40mmHg.
Despite receiving intravenous fluids and being monitored, he continued to experience episodes of low blood pressure and reduced urine output. He was subsequently referred to the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Ituku Ozalla, where he reportedly fell into a coma and died despite resuscitation efforts.
NAFDAC added that a friend later informed the camp clinic doctor that the deceased had been vomiting for two days after his initial admission. The doctor reportedly said he had not previously been aware of the vomiting.
The agency also said other patients at the camp had received the same medicines and recovered. Doctors, pharmacists and other healthcare workers at the clinic had also reportedly used the medicines.
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