NAFDAC confirmed that the fatality of a Youth Corp member in Enugu was caused by acute kidney injury due to severe dehydration and shock, not by counterfeit or substandard medicines, according to a statement released in Abuja on Friday.
**What were the initial symptoms?**
The corps member was taken to the NYSC orientation camp clinic in Awgu, Enugu State, on Wednesday, Oct. 7, around 9:00 pm. He presented with signs of severe malaria and a known peptic ulcer, prompting immediate intramuscular antimalarial treatment and intravenous supportive drugs.
**How was he managed at the camp?**
After stabilization, he was placed on bed rest for observation and discharged the following morning, Oct. 8, with oral medication. He returned unaided on Saturday, Oct. 10, complaining of right‑thigh pain and profuse sweating. A medical officer noted a low blood pressure of 80/40 mmHg and administered intravenous Normal Saline.
**What complications arose?**
Subsequent monitoring revealed recurring hypertension and reduced urine output despite fluid resuscitation. These signs led to his referral, in an ambulance with a doctor, to the [University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH)](https://unth.edu.ng) in Ituku‑Ozalla, Enugu State. He entered a coma upon arrival, and resuscitation attempts were unsuccessful.
**What did the investigation uncover?**
The corps member’s friend later reported that he had been vomiting for two days after the initial camp admission, a detail the clinic doctor was unaware of. The same medicines administered to the deceased had been given to other patients at the camp, who recovered fully. Medical staff at the camp, including doctors and pharmacists, both prescribed and used the drugs themselves.
**What is the agency’s conclusion on the cause of death?**
The doctors involved concluded that the death resulted from acute kidney injury secondary to severe dehydration and shock, not from any substandard or falsified medication.
**What actions has [NAFDAC](https://www.nafdac.gov.ng) taken?**
NAFDAC officers visited the camp, interviewed healthcare workers, and collected medication samples for laboratory analysis. The agency expressed condolences to the family and urged the public to remain calm, assuring that all medicines on the market are being monitored for safety and efficacy. Complaints can be directed to the NAFDAC Call Centre on 0800‑1‑623322 or 0700‑1‑623322, or via email at reforms@nafdac.gov.ng.