September 21,2012 (WAU) - The medical board of Warrap state’s ministry of health on Friday issued a statement on Friday warning the public against buying medication from unlicensed vendors.

Malaria affected baby, Juba, South Sudan (Getty)

The board expressed its concern about the “rampant” sale of medication in the state by untrained vendors who buy their supplies on the black market neighbouring countries.

It is alleged that medication is shipped into the state via Kaya and Nimule from Uganda and Nesito from Kenya.

The unlicensed sale of medication poses a twofold threat; untrained vendors are liable to administer the wrong medication in the wrong dose to the customer, and the medication itself, being from an unknown source, may be counterfeit.

The World Health Organisation estimates that as much as one third of the medication in some developing countries is likely to be counterfeit.

The Warrap release warned that the full extent of the law would be exacted upon those found to be contravening the legislation which requires vendors to hold a license in order to sell certain medication.

The release also noted that “medicines exposed to direct sunlight, dust and dirt can undergo chemical changes which are hazardous and dangerous to your health.”

If the medication is not counterfeit and has not been damaged, South Sudan, has one of the world’s lowest literacy rates; 27 percent for those aged 15 and over are literate. This means that the potential for the incorrect administering of medication is all the more ominous, from the perspective of the unlicensed vendor and the recipient.

(ST)