The National food and drug administration agency has revealed the dangers posed by ripening of Fruits with chemicals and drug Hawking.
ALSO READ: MBAH AND THE ROT IN NYSC
The agency revealed this in sensitazition workshop organized for the association of health journalist held in Kaduna state on the 25th of July 2023.
The workshop targed “North-west zone NAFDAC sensitization workshop on dangers of drug hawking and ripening of Fruits with calcium carbide in Kaduna state” had in attendance over 150 journalist across the state.
The sensitazition workshop was flag off by the DG NAFDAC, Prof Mojisola Adeyeye, FAS in absencial but represented by the director of (chemical evaluation and research) Dr. Leonard Omokpariola.
Adeyeye who stressed on the need to eradicate the menace of drug hawking and ripening of Fruits with chemicals, called on journalist to sensitaze people in the locality on the dangers posed from buying drugs on the road and fruit ripened by chemicals.
The DG also disclosed the dangers associated with ripening fruits with calcium carbide which includes; cancer, malfunctioning of vital organs in the body, difficulty in swallowing, Diarrhoea amongest others.
Calcium carbide is a chemical compound salt. Also, it can be referred to as calcium acetylide. it is a compound that is used in industries for production. The calcium is harmful for human consumption.
She therefore called on law enforcement agencies in the state and other stakeholders to ensure that the menace of drug hawking and ripening of Fruits with calcium carbide is eradicated completely adding that the agency has commissioned a scientific study on the best approach towards mitigating the health hazard by ripening of Fruits with calcium carbide and drug Hawking.
Adeyeye concluded by calling on citizens to allow fruits take the normal process of growth.
