NMA backs Senate’s move to ban syringe importation

President of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Innocent Ujah has described the move by the Senate and the Federal Ministry of Health to ban the importation of syringe and needles as a welcome development, capable of boosting local production.

Ujah stated this in Jos during the recent conference on “Nigeria and the Global Health Agenda 2030” organised by the NMA, where he observed that the ban would not only stimulate local production but create wealth and employment opportunities for Nigerians.

“What the Senate is doing with regard to the complaints by syringe and needle manufacturers is within their area of jurisdiction. Whenever they finish the process, the better for Nigeria,” said Ujah.

The NMA president also condemned the alleged proliferation of substandard health products and other equipment in the country.

He noted that such substandard products which usually find their way into the country through importation needed to be checked by the relevant authorities in the interest of the country and its people.

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“We have been talking about the issue of substandard medicaments and consumables which have continued to pose serious health challenges to our people and in that case, we believe that banning them is a step in the right direction,” Ujah stated.

A joint Senate committee on health, trade and investment is probing a petition by the Medical Device Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, the producers of syringes and needles.

The association had in its petition alleged that government at all tiers were not patronising them but embracing foreign syringes and needles, a development which prompted the Senate joint committee to invite the minister of health, Osagie Ehanire to appear before it.

Ehanire on appearing before the Senate promised to look into the matter adding that his ministry would soon come up with a policy that would mandate all Federal Government-owned health institutions to procure and use only syringes and needles manufactured in Nigeria.