By Blessing Bature
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has commenced investigations into the death of a National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member at the orientation camp in Agwu, Enugu State, dismissing reports linking the incident to substandard or falsified medicines.
The agency said preliminary findings suggested that the deceased may have suffered acute kidney injury associated with severe dehydration and shock, stressing that laboratory analysis of medicines administered to him was still ongoing.
In a statement issued by its Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, NAFDAC said its officers had visited the camp clinic, interviewed the medical personnel and other staff, and collected samples of the medicines used for further laboratory examination.
The agency’s clarification followed reports circulating about the circumstances surrounding the corps member’s death and allegations that substandard or falsified medicines might have contributed to the incident.
According to the statement, the corps member was first brought to the camp clinic on Wednesday, October 7, 2026, at about 9 p.m. by two fellow corps members, with symptoms suggestive of severe malaria. He was also reportedly a known patient with peptic ulcer disease.
NAFDAC said he was stabilised with an intramuscular antimalarial and other supportive medications administered intravenously before being placed on bed rest for observation.
He was discharged the following morning with oral medications.
The agency explained that the deceased returned to the clinic on Saturday, October 10, complaining of pain in his right thigh. Although he was initially advised to see a physiotherapist, the attending doctor reportedly became concerned after noticing that he was sweating profusely.
A subsequent blood pressure check revealed a dangerously low reading of 80/40mmHg, prompting the medical team to administer intravenous normal saline to stabilise him.
However, serial monitoring revealed repeated episodes of low blood pressure.
NAFDAC said his persistently poor urine output, despite adequate fluid resuscitation, further raised concerns about his condition, leading to a referral to the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH), Ituku-Ozalla, Enugu State.
He was transported to the hospital by ambulance, accompanied by another doctor.
The agency disclosed that the corps member went into a coma around the time he arrived at the teaching hospital, adding that all efforts to resuscitate him were unsuccessful.
It further revealed that a friend of the deceased later informed the camp clinic doctor that the corps member had been vomiting for two days after his initial admission. The doctor, however, was reportedly unaware of the development while treating him.
NAFDAC said the preliminary assessment by the doctors pointed to acute kidney injury secondary to severe dehydration and shock as the suspected cause of death.
The agency also noted that the same medications administered to the deceased had been given to several other patients at the camp, who recovered after receiving treatment.
It added that medical doctors, pharmacists and other healthcare workers at the clinic had also prescribed and used the medicines themselves at different times.
