Africa has agreed to criminalize the trafficking of fake drugs on the
continent.
This was reached in Lome, Togo on Saturday where seven African leaders and
their partners held a summit to tackle the menace.
The trafficking of fake drugs affects over 100,000 people in sub-Saharan
Africa.
This is the first time that we Africans have tackled the problem of fake
medicines and their trafficking ourselves.
Togolese President, Faure Gnassingbé said “This is the first time that we
Africans have tackled the problem of fake medicines and their trafficking
ourselves. A scourge of which our continent is the first victim and whose
consequences are dramatic for our populations. Africa must take its destiny
into its own hands and engage in the fight against this deadly traffic’‘.
The seven Heads of State made a solemn commitment at the summit to
implement the Lomé initiative and it is now up to governments to work towards
the establishment of a framework agreement extended to other African countries
with a roadmap to put an end to this deadly menace.
