The Oyo State House of Assembly has called on the Ministry of Health to sensitize members of the public on the implications of self medication, drug abuse and usage of medication without prescription by medical personnel.
The Speaker of the House, Hon. Olagunju Ojo, in a resolution passed at Tuesday’s plenary also urged health institutions both private and public to be cautious in prescribing drugs such as tramadol, codeine and other tablets that can be harmful to the health systems of patients.
Hon. Gbenga Oyekola, in a motion presented before the House on the “Need to Call on the Public to Avoid Self Medication, Drug Abuse and Desist From Taking Drugs Without Prescription”, observed that many people are engaging in self medication to aid their treatment because of high cost or inaccessible public health institutions.
Oyekola identified that excessive use of drugs such as tramadol, codeine, largaetil, rophypnol, morphine contributed to increase in the perpetration of crimes like robbery, rape, hooliganism and other forms of abnormal behaviors particularly among youths.
Hon. Bolanle Agbaje expressed that there is need to curb ways in which drugs are being hawked at market places and garages without diagnosis or prescription from medical personnel.
Hon. Fatai Adesina also suggested that it is imperative for government to come out with legislation to address the issue of drug abuse and hawking.
Speaker, Hon. Olagunju Ojo, therefore, advised medical personnel to closely monitor patients using tramadol and other harmful drugs.
Meanwhile, the Oyo State House of Assembly has passed into law, the Oyo State Education Trust Fund (Amendment) Bill, 2017.
Hon. Solomon Akande, while presenting the report stated that the committee has proposed amendments where necessary in the report that will enhance smooth operation of the board.
Packaged by Kunle Gazali
