TFDA dismisses fake, harmful panadol rumours

By BERNARD LUGONGO 

THE Tanzania Food and Drugs Authority (TFDA) has dismissed social media reports depicting the presence of fake paracetamol branded as panadol in the local market. The authority’s Acting Director General, Agnes Kijo, stated yesterday that the reports had created tension among members of the

public in recent days.

Following the reports, the TFDA used its surveillance system to trace the sender of the report and managed to net him. At a press conference in Dar es Salaam, yesterday, the TFDA presented the sender, Elia Emmanuel, to the media.

“I have received a number of calls from people seeking confirmation from us over the circulated video on fake panadol. The reports are not true,” Ms Kijo said. The video clip shows the pill-like shape that swells after getting wet and turns into a piece of towel.

“Be careful with these panadol… see how they swell when they get into the stomach,” the sender says in Swahili in the video clip, as he demonstrates by pouring water on the pill-like shape thing. She clarified that the said panadol were actually a tab towel which is shaped like a pill.

They are normally used for hand sanitation and they enlarge when are wetted. She assured that the authority was always keen on providing scientific evidences on quality and safety of the drugs circulated on the market.

“We are always sure of the quality of the imported food and drugs products,” she emphasized. Speaking to the journalists, Emmanuel, who is a second year student at Singida Health Laboratory Assistants School, apologised for his act, saying he posted the information while unaware of the forthcoming impact.

He said he initially got the video clip from one of the WhatsApp groups and translated it from English to Kiswahili and reposted it to other social media users. “I apologize for inconveniences caused…I admit that what I did was kind of stupidity and I call upon my fellow youngsters to use the social media wisely,” he appealed.

His father, Reverend Emmanuel Mhina, who was present at the press conference advised parents to monitor their children on the use of social media, to avert such cybercrimes. TFDA Head of Legal Department, Mr Iskari Fute said spreading rumours was illegal and could amount to a minimum penalty of 100,000/- and two weeks imprisonment.

However, he said, under forensic science, Mr Mhina, though engaged in the evil act, he is forgiven because he assured that he did not have evil intention since he confessed and asked for forgiveness.