Saint-Louis launches week against fake medicines
The Senegalese Pharmaceutical Regulatory Agency will raise awareness about the dangers of counterfeit drugs.
The Senegalese Pharmaceutical Regulatory Agency (ARSP) will hold a week of awareness activities in Saint-Louis from November 22 to 27 to combat the circulation of counterfeit and substandard medicines. The campaign includes a march, a caravan through neighborhoods and schools, and a panel discussion at the Gaston Berger University (UGB).
Dr. Adiouma Barry, ARSP regional coordinator for Saint-Louis, Louga, and Matam, stated that an estimated one in 10 pharmaceutical products in sub-Saharan Africa is falsified or of poor quality. He highlighted Saint-Louis's border position as a vulnerability to illicit supply chains, emphasizing the need for stronger controls and public information on risks.
Governor Al Hassan Sall praised the efforts of control services like customs and the mixed brigade against pharmaceutical trafficking, calling for increased vigilance and collaboration. The awareness week aims to make public education a key tool to protect consumers and curb the spread of fraudulent medicines, with organizers stressing that pharmaceuticals should only be bought from pharmacies and official channels.
Why it mattersResidents of Saint-Louis will receive information on the risks of buying medicines from informal sellers during a week-long awareness campaign.