Community pharmacists have said that Nigeria can curb circulation of fake drugs in the nation’s market if there are adequate partnerships with relevant stakeholders and political will on the part of public office holders.

 

A file photo taken on June 28, 2014 shows a member of Doctors Without Borders (MSF) putting on protective gear at the isolation ward of the Donka Hospital in Conakry, where people infected with the Ebola virus are being treated. Guinea announced on August 9, 2014 it was closing its land borders with Liberia, Sierra Leone over Ebola fears. AFP PHOTO

 

The pharmacists under the auspices of Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria, ACPN, Lagos State branch, noted that Nigeria was able to defeat Ebola Virus Disease, EVD, due to strong political will on the part of governments as well as partnership with relevant stakeholders in the country.

 

The pharmacists who gathered at a programme in Lagos to mark this year’s World Pharmacists Day with theme: “Pharmacists: Your Partners in Health” urged the government to apply the same strategy it used for Ebola to stop circulation of fake drugs.

 

Delivering a keynote address, at the event, Dr. Margaret Ibru noted that the perennial problem of counterfeiting could be a thing of the past in Nigeria, if the government has political will and stakeholders rally behind the regulatory agencies.

 

 

“It is a matter of partnership if people in the right places decide to partner with pharmacists and other relevant bodies like NAFDAC etc and other Non Governmental Organisations.

 

Speaking, Chairman, ACPN Lagos, Biola Paul-Ozieh,  pointed out that government and regulatory agencies should wake up to their responsibilities of providing conducive environment for the practice of pharmacy profession, adding that the environment  was still uncoordinated in terms of drug distribution system among others.

 

She appealed to the government and relevant agencies to create conducive environment for the practice of the pharmacy profession as the entire populace will benefit from good pharmacy practice which invariably will impact positively on the health outcomes of the people.

 

“Wherever pharmacists are, whether in the hospitals, communities, government regulatory bodies, industry or academia they must be encouraged and allowed to provide pharmaceutical services appropriate to their settings.

 

Paul – Ozieh who regretted that many people are yet to understand who a pharmacist is, said a pharmacist is a reliable partner both in health and sickness because people can access health care information from the pharmacist even when not ill.

 

She identified some of the challenges of practicing pharmacy in the country as illegal premises, hawking of drugs  etc. adding that, drugs are not articles of trade you pick in motor parks as they can cure and damage ones health if not use properly.

 

On her part, Chairman, LOC, Pharm Chizomam Emeje said the objective of the World Pharmacy Day, is to bring attention to pharmacists and the benefits they offer in health.

 

Vice Chairman, ACPN Lagos, said the role of pharmacists has gone beyond making of drugs and dispensing it but now more patients oriented. “One of the reasons of today is to educate the public on who a pharmacy is and pharmacists themselves can improve their practice as well as impact in the community effectively.

 

By Chioma Obinna

Vanguard