Posted on: Wed 25-09-2019

PRESS RELEASE BY THE ASSOCIATION OF HOSPITAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE PHARMACISTS OF NIGERIA (AHAPN) ON THE OCCASION OF THE 2019 WORLD PHARMACISTS DAY CELEBRATIONS

Today is being celebrated all over the world as the World Pharmacists Day. This Day came about from the designation in 2009 by the International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP) Council in Istanbul Turkey, of 25^th September as the Annual World Pharmacists Day. On this Day all over the world, pharmacists organize activities that promote and advocate for their role in improving health in every corner of the world. 

The theme of the 2019 World Pharmacists Day celebration is “Safe and Effective Medicines for all” and it aims to promote pharmacists crucial role in safeguarding patient safety through improving medicines use and reduction of medication errors.

Pharmacists world over possess broad knowledge and unique expertise which they use to ensure that people get the maximum benefits from their medicines. Pharmacists ensure access to medicines and their appropriate use to improve adherence, coordinate transitions of care and generally ensure rational use of medicines and much more. Pharmacists have a great responsibility in ensuring that when patients use medicines, they will not cause harm in such people.

Studies have shown that a significant number of patients are harmed in the course of accessing healthcare, resulting in permanent injury, increased length of stay in hospitals and healthcare facilities and death in some cases. Medication errors also contribute to this. Pharmacists play a vital role in curbing this global health challenge.

The World Pharmacists Day is celebrated with widespread campaigns and several projects aimed at showcasing the good work pharmacists engage in to improve the health of people around the world. These include organizing lectures, holding exhibitions or other activities targeting adults or youths such as drug abuse campaigns and similar campaigns aimed at promoting rational use of medicines.

Here in Nigeria, the Association of Hospital and Administrative Pharmacists of Nigeria (AHAPN) has mapped out programmes to celebrate the 2019 World Pharmacists Day in grand style. The Association has branches all over the country including the Federal Capital Territory Abuja and has lined up activities aimed at drawing the attention of Nigerians to the appropriate and rational use of medicines which will ensure patient safety on the long run.

The Association’s members practice in government hospitals (federal and states), privately owned clinics as well as parastatal clinics. AHAPN members equally practice in regulatory agencies like the Pharmacists Council of Nigeria (PCN), National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Federal and state ministries of Health and so on.

Pharmacists in Nigeria are uniquely positioned to advice and counsel people on the rational use of medicines based on their extensive training, skills and competencies acquired to render effective pharmaceutical care to our teeming populace. Pharmaceutical care which is a paradigm shift in pharmacy practice globally, is the responsible provision of drug therapy for the purpose of achieving definite outcomes that improve a patient’s quality of life. Nigerian pharmacists especially AHAPN members are committed to rendering the highest level of pharmaceutical care to the Nigerian people.

Among activities lined up by the Association to celebrate the 2019 World Pharmacists Day are; Health walks, public lectures, live discussions on national radio and television on rational use of medicines and so on. 

AHAPN wishes all pharmacists all over the world happy celebrations.

Thank you.

Dr. Kingsley Chiedu Amibor PharmD, MPH, FPCPharm

National Chairman AHAPN

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