Fake Drugs: Tee Mac Escaped Death, Ex-PMAN Chairman Survives Typhoid

Popular flutist and Chairman, Anti-Counterfeiting
Coalition, ACC, Tee Mac Omatsola Itseli, has disclosed
that he almost died last year after ingesting fake
drugs.
The out-going chairman, in a chat with P.M.NEWS
Entertainment Cafe during the 2013 Roundtable of
the ACC, held at the Four Point by Sheraton, Lekki,
Lagos, penultimate week, disclosed that while he is
lucky to be alive after falling victim of fake drugs,
eight of his puppies died as a result of fake vaccines
administered on the animals.
The former Performing Musician Association of
Nigeria leader who has handed over the rein of
leadership of ACC to Desmond Adeola, Brand
Protection Manager, Unilever plc declared that
though he's stepping aside as ACC Chairman, he
would still be involved in the struggle to rid the
country of fake products because it's a serious issue
that affects millions of Nigerians.
"I don't need to be the chairman of ACC for me to
continue to play a crucial role in the war against
counterfeiting and piracy. I would still follow up the
fake drugs campaign because this is something that
affects every Nigerian irrespective of social status. I
nearly died last year after I came down with typhoid
because I was exposed to fake drugs. I also lost about
eight puppies due to fake vaccines and as if that's
not enough, I nearly lost my house due to fake
electrical extension box. So the war goes on and I am
ready for the battle," Tee Mac said.
As chairman of ACC for the last two years, how would
he describe the journey? "It has been a very
interesting and challenging period. We had a couple
of very good outings. We had a march to create
awareness about fake drugs and every World
Intellectual Property Day is marked with fanfare and
we also did a successful anti-malaria campaign with
the American consulate."
Tee Mac lamented that one problem that will
continue to plague ACC is the issue of funding. He
said ACC is a conglomeration of over 100 trademark
owners and regulatory agencies like Economic and
Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC; Standard
Organisation of Nigeria, SON and National Agency for
Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC
but receives no funding from any government
agency.
"We are fighting a total war and for a war to be
successful you need funding. We survive on
donations from our sponsors who want their
trademarks to be protected and that is not just
enough if we are to fight a successful battle.
However, we continue to make inroads and the future
is bright," Tee Mac said

Sent From David Aniemeka