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Suspend Ban On Alcoholic Drinks In Sachets, Pet bottles – Reps Tells NAFDAC—-The House of Representatives Committee on National Agency on Food, Drugs Administration, and Control (NAFDAC),  has ordered  suspension of  ban on sale of spirits and alcoholic drinks in sachets and pet bottles.
The suspension is pending the outcome of its investigation on the matter.
Rep. Regina Akume, Chairman, House Committee on NAFDAC  said this in Abuja after a public hearing on  ban of the product on Friday.
She said there were proper steps to take before the ban, adding that there was need to put Access Control Procedures in place.
This,  she said,  was to prevent children and youths from consuming the alcoholic contents of the sachet and pet bottles.
She said the committee was entrusted with the essential responsibility and effectiveness of NAFDAC for the creation of employment and enhancing economic growth.
She promised to reach a level playing ground between NAFDAC and manufacturers that would not be detrimental to children or public safety.
Speaking earlier, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, Director General, NAFDAC, said the ban was imposed to protect the health and welfare of children, youths, and other vulnerable groups.
“We tried to protect the market, and that was why we agreed to a five-year moratorium for the manufacturers to phase out alcoholic drinks in sachets and pet bottles in December 2018.
According to her, it is a ministerial directive and not unilaterally made by NAFDAC, and the expiration of that five-year period has come.
Adeyeye said that, in spite of the agreement on the ban on alcohol in sachet  and pet bottles, it was shocking to NAFDAC that the campaign from manufacturers was mounting.
She said that a lot of issues could have been solved before now, adding that the agency was not against the production of alcohol drinks but alcohol in sachets and pet bottles, to wade off children from unnecessary access.
“The World Health Organisation  had a resolution in 2010,  in which Nigeria was a co-signer,  that each country will have alcohol that is less reachable and less accessible to the youth, and nothing has been done about that until now.
“It is very unfortunate we are where we are now because the children who are used to taking alcohol will also become vulnerable to drug abuse.”
Adeyeye said that as a result of the alcohol in sachets, about “30 per cent of our children now take alcohol casually.”
She, however, said  the market that was going to be lost, as expressed by the manufacturer, would be about 30 per cent because such could be easily concealed in the pocket.
Mr Segun Ajayi kadilimni, Director General, Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN),  however, said there was no major basic disagreement between it and  NAFDAC.
He added that MAN remained  committed to protecting the youth and children from accessing alcohol.
Kadilimni said  the issue remained how to protect the under aged saying:  “we have realised that there is a process to get there but banning the product will be counterproductive.”
According to him, this is because you are going to open the market to producers of illicit drugs, and these are people you cannot control.
“I believe if we work together, we will be able to eradicate underage access. These sachets are not produced for children but for adults, and they have been warned not to consume them.”

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EL-LAB Limited Marks 2025 World Quality Week With innovation

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EL-LAB Limited Marks 2025 World Quality Week With innovation

EL-LAB Limited Marks 2025 World Quality Week With innovation

 

EL-LAB Medical Diagnostics and Research Centre, Nigeria’s leading ISO-certified diagnostic centre, today announced its dedication to global quality standards, marking World Quality Week 2025 with the theme “Quality: Think differently” and highlighting its ISO 15189:2022 accreditation.

The centre, which was established in 1998 (27 years ago), has provided advanced medical testing services across Lagos State and continues to contribute significantly to the development of the Nigerian health sector.

Quality: The Silent Foundation of Clinical Decisions

In a statement issued by the company, Mrs. Blessing Nwakobi, Quality Assurance Manager, emphasized that Quality Assurance is the cornerstone of reliable medical diagnosis.

“In healthcare, laboratories are the silent foundation of clinical decisions. Most medical diagnoses rely on accurate laboratory results, thereby making Quality Assurance fundamental to patient safety and clinical excellence,” Mrs. Nwakobi stated

Through the successful transition to the ISO 15189:2022 standard—the highest international benchmark for medical laboratories—EL-LAB demonstrates its unwavering commitment to excellence, impartiality, and safety. This accreditation ensures that the centre’s quality management system is not merely compliant, but a living culture of competence and continual improvement.

The system is strategically built on principles including:

Patient Centred Services
Risk-Based Thinking
Continuous Improvement

·       Staff engagement, Competence and Training

This risk-based approach ensures that all activities which pose a risk to patients are managed proactively, assuring the best possible outcomes across the entire testing process

The robust quality management strategy integrates comprehensive mechanisms to guarantee the integrity of every result. Quality assurance at EL-LAB involves the strict adherence to Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), vigorous Internal Quality Control (IQC) checks, and mandatory validation via External Quality Assessment (EQA).

These programs ensure that every test result is accurate, reproducible, reliable, and comparable with global benchmarks, reinforcing reliability and building public trust in every report issued by the laboratory.

Addressing the 2025 Quality Week theme, “Quality: Think differently,” EL-LAB’s leadership urged healthcare professionals to challenge traditional quality approaches.

“We believe thinking differently about quality begins with one powerful shift: seeing quality not as an act, but as an attitude”. “Quality is what we do when no one is watching and it shows in how we treat our patients, our colleagues, and our work. The ISO 15189:2022 accreditation is a reminder that quality is not a destination, but a journey of continuous improvement.”

EL-LAB invites all partners, colleagues, and stakeholders in the healthcare ecosystem to join them in thinking differently, noting that the future of diagnostic excellence depends on embracing change today.

About EL-LAB Medical Diagnostics and Research Centre

Established in 1998, EL-LAB Medical Diagnostics and Research Centre is a leading ISO-certified medical laboratory providing advanced, reliable, and comprehensive diagnostic services across Nigeria. Dedicated to clinical excellence and patient safety, EL-LAB leverages state-of-the-art technology and a highly competent workforce to deliver results that form the trusted foundation of patient care.

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Virginia Representative Gerry Connolly Passes at 75 After Cancer Battle

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Gerry Connolly Passes at 75

Virginia Representative Gerry Connolly Passes at 75 After Cancer Battle—-Representative Gerry Connolly, a fiery Virginia Democrat with decades of experience on Capitol Hill, died Wednesday morning after a short stint with cancer, his family announced.

Connolly, 75, was a familiar figure around the halls of the Capitol, where he was known as a feisty advocate for the institutions of Washington — particularly following the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol — and a champion of the many federal workers hailing from his Northern Virginia district.

First elected in 2008, Connolly rose this year to become the senior Democrat on the power House Oversight and Government Reform Committee — a seat he had sought unsuccessfully twice before.

His ascension was not without controversy. Connolly announced shortly after November’s elections that he was being treated for esophageal cancer, and a challenge for the ranking member seat from Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) had rekindled the long-running generational debate over the role of seniority within the House Democratic Caucus.

Still, Connolly was a popular figure within the caucus, and he prevailed easily.

On Tuesday, Connolly joined forces with Rep. James Comer (R-Ky.), the chair of the Oversight Committee, to sponsor what would be his final piece of legislation: the Esophageal Cancer Awareness Act.

In a statement, Connolly’s family remembered him as a devoted family man and dedicated public servant, one who had served Northern Virginia for decades in both county and national politics.

“Gerry lived his life to give back to others and make our community better,” they wrote in a statement. “He looked out for the disadvantaged and voiceless. He always stood up for what is right and just.”

While pointing to Connolly’s accomplishments in elected office, the family said his greater contribution was to the local community, where he leaves behind a host of local projects that will serve as his legacy.

“[M]ore important than his accomplishments in elected office, Gerry lived by the ethos of ‘bloom where you are planted,’” they said. “From the Silver Line to the Oakton Library, Mosaic District to the Cross County Trail and beyond, his legacy now colors our region.”

Connolly’s illness had caused him to step back from his daily responsibilities on the Oversight Committee last month, when he tapped Rep. Stephen Lynch (D-Mass.), another senior member of the panel, to take the seat as interim ranking member — a temporary position requiring no elections.

With Connolly’s death, Democratic leaders will now start the process of seating a permanent replacement, which is likely to be fiercely contested and could pit senior members against a newer crop of up-and-coming Democrats clamoring to rise quickly in the ranks.

Lynch, 70, is among the most experienced Democrats on the panel, but several younger members — including Reps. Robert Garcia (D-Calif.) and Jasmine Crockett (D-Texas) — have expressed interest in the seat.

Ocasio-Cortez, for her part, has said she won’t seek the seat.

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