Posted on: Mon 26-06-2023

Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria (ACPN) has deplored 15 per cent routine immunisation coverage in the country, stating that poor vaccination is associated with high mortality and morbidity rates.

The chairman, Adewale Oladigbolu, made the submission at the weekend in Lagos during unveiling of activities for the body’s 42nd yearly national scientific conference, holding from July 31 to August 5 in Asaba, Delta State, with the theme, “Building effective community pharmacy services for universal health coverage.”

His words: “Less than 15 per cent of Nigerians have vaccination coverage, which subjects the citizens to high mortality and morbidity. It is recommended that at least 70 per cent of eligible population should be vaccinated. The Federal Government, through the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), recently incorporated community pharmacists to meet the target.

“The Executive Director, Faisal Shuaib, said the proximity of community pharmacies to the people makes them one of the most easily accessible and frequently consulted points of care, thus keying into the vaccination efforts of the Federal Government will contribute to rapidly increase vaccination coverage.”

Oladigbolu said million deaths worldwide are prevented by childhood vaccination yearly, with more than 50 million fatalities avoided through immunisation between 2021and 2030.

“By 2030, it is estimated that measles vaccination can save nearly 19 million lives and hepatitis B vaccination can save 14 million lives.

“One in five children globally does not have access to essential immunisation. Lack of access to vaccines leaves children at risk of death, disability and illness from preventable diseases,” he said.

To address the situation, the ACPN helmsman said 8,000 community pharmacists have been registered and equipped to see to realisation of the Universal Health Coverage (UHC). He urged President Bola Tinubu to shut the open drug market, stating: “Open drug markets are the major sources of fake and substandard drugs in Nigeria. To ensure quality drugs and disease treatment and optimal health, the new administration should close all open drug markets nationwide.”

Oladigbolu said this year’s conference aimed to shed light on the crucial role of community pharmacists in providing accessible and quality healthcare services for all. He explained that the yearly event provides a unique opportunity for practitioners to deliberate on contemporary issues affecting pharmacy practice and healthcare in the country.

The ACPN chief submitted that community pharmacists remain the most accessible and trained providers offering services along the protective, preventive, curative, promotion and palliative spectra of the healthcare delivery system. He implored the new administration to prioritise local pharmaceutical manufacturers, adding that incentives would scale up production, currently at below 30 per cent nationwide.

Oladigbolu went on: “Government needs to prioritise incentives for drug manufacturers because drugs manufactured locally will generate a lot of revenue, provide jobs and develop the sector.”He said the motivation could be in the form of low-interest loans, industrial parks in the six geo-political zones and stable power supply.

“This will increase the percentage of locally made drugs from below 30 per cent to 75 per cent target,” the ACPN chief added.

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