KDHA sets to check proliferation of illicit drugs

The Kaduna State House of Assembly has directed its committee on health to investigate the proliferation of illicit drugs, its hawking and illegal clinics in the state.The Speaker of the House, Hon Muazu Gangara, gave the directive on Tuesday in Kaduna at a plenary session following a motion on the dangers of illicit drugs hawking in the state.The Majority Leader, Peter Adamu, had earlier said, while moving the motion, that the increased patronage of unregistered and unprescribed drugs had been of serious concern in the state.He said the situation had resulted into an increase in the rate of drug addiction and psychiatric cases in some parts of the state.Adamu (PDP-Kagarko) said the proliferation of quack clinics and hospitals was also responsible for the situation.He urged the House to investigate the circumstance surrounding the inability of the agencies responsible for the control of such menace in executing their functions.Supporting the motion, Mustapha Bawa (CPC-Zaria) said the motion was timely due to the menace of hawkers and quacks in the society.Bawa urged the House to include illegal patent medicine stores, phamaceutical outfits and hospitals as part of areas to be considered in the investigation.David Umaru (PDP-Kachia) said the House should take measures to curtail illegal hawking of drugs to reduce the number of deaths recorded in the state daily.Umaru said most of the hawkers were illiterates and usually prescribed drugs on assumptions, while the clinics were full of unqualified staff.Another member, David Kantiok (PDP-Zonkwa), urged the House to ensure that all the relevant stakeholders were involved in proffering solution to the menace.
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