Africa Research Project

Natalya Sans

P.6

Mrs. Bennett

WLH

So be Grateful

Imagine a man or woman dying of a terrible disease killing millions of people such as AIDS or malaria, but every time they attempt to purchase medication they never know if it is counterfeit or authentic. This is the daily conflict of people everywhere in Africa facing very serious health conditions who need legitimate medical help. On average, 100,000 people die annually due to counterfeit drugs they believe are aiding their health issues such as malaria. Research shows 80% of people with malaria in Africa die due to consumption of fake or counterfeit drugs. Counterfeit drugs are essentially medications that are expired, contaminated, diluted, fake, or have too much, too little or no active ingredient at all. These fake medications are sold out of “drug buckets,” buckets filled with drugs, at flea markets, salons, houses, and workplaces, by random people not trained in the administration of medicines. Police forces have already seized 271 types of fake drugs estimated to be worth 49.6 million dollars (Rugonzibwa.) Although there are many agencies working on this issue they are still not able to stop the circulation of counterfeit medication. Tjili Tarty Tyee, a chief African pharmacist, says,“Peddlers do not always succumb without a fight, and government teams do not have enough vehicles to travel countrywide, but they remain undeterred...We send our inspectors out there to raid the street, and some of them are wounded. There can be a serious combat"(Worzi.) The government is doing a lot of things to stop these drugs from being distributed, however as Tyee mentions, they do not have enough vehicles, equipment, or funding to terminate this issue and execute their jobs. As “peddlers do not succumb without a fight,” the ratio of government agents fighting drug smugglers does not equal out, resulting in the continuous flow of fraudulent medications in Africa. The government and citizens of Africa, also play a major role in the success of the drug ring. ‘“I have no option...I agree it is illegal but I have no other means to survive,”’ said Miatta Holder, a single parent of four on the outskirts of Monrovia(Africa News Service.) The people feel they have to option but to buy and sell these drugs, due to unavailability of trustworthy medications, clinics, or a shortage of money. Many people claim it is the only medications they can get and say “I have no option,” which is an issue of the government. The government is at fault for this issue because they are not able to provide everybody with real medication, so the people are forced to support the drug ring and purchase the counterfeit medication. They are aware it is illegal as Holder said, and do not want to have a role in the operation, however since the government can not give them the medication, clinics, and jobs they need to sustain life for their families, they are forced to buy the medications. The counterfeit drugs continue to circulate around all parts of the continent because despite their best efforts, the government is unable to conclude this illegal activity. Millions of people are dying of AIDS, malaria, and other horrible diseases due to these counterfeit medications, so be grateful the medications your doctor provides are trustworthy.

Bibliography

-Africa News Service. "Counterfeit Drug War in Liberia." Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Gale, 29 Jan. 2014. Web. 8 Mar. 2015.

Mambo, Elias. "Counterfeit Drugs Flood Zim Market." Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Gale, 25 Oct. 2013. Web. 8 Mar. 2015.

-Rugonzibwa, Pius. "Operation Uncovers Fake Drug Galore." Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Gale, 11 Oct. 2013. Web. 8 Mar. 2015.

Selvaraj, A. "Nigerian Held for Sending Drugs to Africa by Post." Global Issues in Context. Gale, 5 Dec. 2014. Web. 8 Mar. 2015.

"West Africa in Drive against Drugs." Global Issues in Context. Gale, 1 Mar. 2010. Web. 8 Mar. 2015.

Worzi, Alvin. "LMHRA Warns Public against Buying Expired Counterfeit Drugs." Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Gale, 20 Dec. 2014. Web. 8 Mar. 2015.