FCT residents resort to “agbo” as prices of drugs soar

FCT residents resort to “agbo” as prices of drugs soar

Following the astronomical increase in prices of drugs, some residents of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have resorted to herbal concoctions commonly referred to as “Agbo” to treat various illnesses.

Agbo is made by combining different herbs, roots and plants that are believed to have medicinal properties.

The News Agency of Nigeria(NAN) reports that the prices of many prescribed and over-the-counter medications have witnessed a steady increase, making these drugs unaffordable and unavailable.

NAN confirmed this from some pharmacies visited in the FCT where some drugs were reported to be scarce or unavailable, such as Augmentin, Multivitamins like Omega H3, Ventolin inhaler and Fleming antibiotics.

A pharmacist who spoke on the condition of anonymity said: “GlaxoSmithKline(GSK) products are now scarce and expensive since the company announced its exit from Nigeria.

“For the GSK products, we have the example of Paracetamol which a single card was being sold at N200, but now has increased to N400.

“Fidson products too have increased in prices. Whenever we go to buy drugs, the prices keep going up.

“We are even thinking of returning some stocks supplied by our suppliers that we have not paid for because they are too expensive and people are not buying; our customers are complaining,” she said

In one of the big pharmacies visited by NAN, Ventolin inhaler is selling at N8,870 as against N2,000, while Augmentin is selling for between N23,000 to 25,000 as against N3,000 to N5,000 it was sold before the GSK exit.

Nicholas Adah, a cleaner, who spoke to NAN said he was advised by his friend to take agbo after sharing his symptoms with him.

“I went to the chemist to buy drugs but I did not have the money to buy the antibiotics they prescribed for me, it was so expensive.

“My friend told me to take agbo after I told him how I was feeling. I took his advice and they prepared the one for treating typhoid for me and I feel a lot better, ” he said.

Wasiu Ahmed, a vulcaniser, said: “Why would I go and spend money that I do not even have to buy medicine from a chemist when I can take agbo?

“The country is too hard, no money anywhere. How much do I make from this work I am doing? Agbo is good and it helps my body feel better.”

A taxi driver, Sunny Adeniyi, said he preferred to take agbo to treat his ailments because it is effective and cheaper than orthodox medicine.

“Thank God, I hardly fall sick, but whenever I feel sick like having fever or waist pain, I take agbo and it works for me.

“There is no money to go to the chemist or hospital because everything in Nigeria is expensive. By the time I buy fuel, I won’t have money again,” Adeniyi said.

Agbaje Adeola, a corporate driver, said he made agbo at home for his use and other members of his family adding that he only visited the hospital for very serious health issues.

“I take agbo every three days or if I feel like I have malaria. I prefer it because that is what I grew up with. I also force my children to take it once in a while.

“Sometimes, I do buy agbo from hawkers but the problem with that one is that there is no measurement. I prefer using local herbs because it is good for the system,” he said.

An agbo seller, Sisi Ayo, who said she has been in the business for a while, said she got new customers regularly, both educated and uneducated people.

“Some people do not have money to buy drugs from the pharmacy when they are sick, so they patronise me.

In fact, in recent times, my patronage has more than doubled.

“My customers do ask me to mix herbs for them to treat body pains, aches, malaria or typhoid fever, “jedijedi/opa eyin” (hemorrhoids) “ale” (libido booster) and even ulcer.

“Most of them do come back to thank me that my agbo is effective and they also recommend their friends to me.

“I also have some customers who just take it to get high and forget their sorrows. These kinds of people prefer to take the agbo mixed with alcohol. ”

“I sell for as low as N100 for a measure of a small cup and up to N300 depending on the ailments

For those that prefer a preparation that they can take home, I sell for N1,500 to N3,000 in a plastic container depending also on the ailments,” she said

Mrs Theresa Okafor, a retiree and widow who is hypertensive said the prices of all her medications had increased by 10 per cent to 40 per cent and she could no longer afford to buy some of them.

Okafor, who said the cost depended on brand name and availability, added that her physician had to replace some of her drugs with cheaper brands.

“My pension is N100,000 a month, and I still have children in universities. One of my medications increased from N4,500 to N6,000; the cost of food, fuel, and everything has also increased. I am just living by the grace of God.

“Government really needs to help Nigerians, especially retirees, many of whom are dying every day because they cannot afford to buy the medications prescribed for them,” Okafor said.

(NAN)