YPG calls on President Buhari to immediately appoint a Pharmacist as Director General of NAFDAC. As designated by the International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP) Council several years ago at the FIP Congress in Istanbul, 25 September marks the annual World Pharmacists Day.
FIP encourages Pharmacists all over the world to use this day to organise activities that promote and advocate for the role of the pharmacist in improving health in every corner of the world.
Pharmacists today remain legally responsible for the design, manufacture, storage, safe and accurate dispensing of medication but also have the additional responsibility, as integral members of the Health care team, to educate, monitor, and care for patients.
“From research to health care: Your pharmacist is at your service” is the theme of this year’s World Pharmacists Day. “This theme was chosen to reflect the numerous contributions the pharmacy profession makes to health. From research and development of medicines, to educating future pharmacists and pharmaceutical scientists, and providing direct care, we do all this in the service of our patients and communities,” said FIP President Dr Carmen Peña.
“We want to emphasise that pharmacists are the backbone of health care in many different settings. But providing care does not begin in community or hospital pharmacies. Taking care of patients starts with recognising the health issues of populations and developing medicines, policies and education to tackle them. We pharmacists are often there at the very beginning of the process — when the first molecule that effectively treats a disease is identified,” Dr Peña added.
In Nigeria, the Young Pharmacists Group (YPG), an interest group of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) organised Nationwide activities to Commemorate this year's World Pharmacists Day including Pharmacy awareness Campaigns, Radio/TV Health Talks, campaign against drug abuse and misuse, Mass Deworming of School Children and Visit to orphanages reaching out to Several thousands of Nigerians, advancing the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goal 3 ( SDGs) . Others were Free Diabetic and Hypertension Screening and Counseling sessions, Malaria Test and Treatments, Donation of Drug Items to Schools and Communities, Provision of Educational Materials to School Children and Town Hall meetings. The accessibility of Pharmacists and community Pharmacies make them logical extensions of the primary care infrastructures. Unfortunately, most Nigerian families are yet to fully tap the enormous opportunities available in the Pharmacy profession greatly due to lack of information and limited number of Pharmacists in Rural settings. In Nigeria, Pharmacists have taken huge responsibility of Repositioning the Health Sector for the Benefit of Nigerians.
Hospitals and Community Pharmacists keep an Eagle eye on Your Prescriptions, Detecting and Resolving potential and actual drug therapy problems ensuring that You have access to the Right Medicines, in the Right Form, for the Right Disease Condition, At the Right Dose to be taken or given at the Right Time and
for the Right Duration. Pharmacists understands that all drugs are poisons. We Keep this in mind, allowing no mistakes with your Drug therapy no matter how little it may seem to Others.
Pharmacists have evolved with the concept of Doctor of Pharmacy training to become more patient centered, equipt with more clinical skills and competence. Pharmacists have grown to be supplementary and Independent Prescribers in some Countries. This is How dynamic Pharmacists and Pharmacy can Be. Pharmacists are highly skilled and have led the fight against Diabetes, Hypertension, malaria, Cancer, Diarrhea, Hepatitis with attendant results.
The Role of Pharmacists in putting an end to HIV/AIDs and TB and other Diseases of public Health concern cannot be overemphasized. Pharmaceutical Companies, Pharmaceutical Research Institutes are constantly awake to ensure new, safer and effective molecules are developed to secure the Health of Nigerians. Regulatory agencies including PCN, NAFDAC, have continued to safeguard Your Health by ensuring Manufacturers, Importers of Drugs and Foods adhere to prescribe minimum standards.
Pharmacists are the most trusted Healthcare professionals. They are Accessible, Caring and Understand your Health needs. Dr. Onimisi Peter Benjamin, Chairman of the Young Pharmacist Group urged all Nigerians to Always Consult a Pharmacist when taking any medications, ensure you buy your medicines from registered
pharmacies, ask for the Pharmacist first before your medicine whenever you Visit a Pharmacy, Talk to Your Pharmacist about all Your Health Needs, Report any experience of adverse effects/events to your Pharmacist immediately.
He Called on the President, Federal Republic of Nigeria, HE Muhammadu Buhari GCFR to as a matter of urgent public need Appoint a Pharmacist as Substantive DG for the National Agency for the Control of Food, Drugs, Administration and Control (NAFDAC), siting the Historic performance of Late Pharm. (Prof.) Dora Akunyili of blessed memory as a way of Repositioning the Regulatory Sector. Pharmaceutical imports reached a value of $481mn in 2013 and are expected to gain 10.4% to reach $789mn by 2018, widening the country’s pharmaceutical trade deficit from 475mn in 2013 to $778mn in 2018.
Onimisi, urged Mr Buhari to address the High cost of Drug Products and Healthcare being experienced by Nigerians, in line with the tenets of Universal Health Coverage (UHC) , doing more to stimulate and encourage Local production of drugs and Active Pharmaceutical ingredients (API) , increasing Funding of Drug Research, Training and Retraining of Pharmacists, Improvement of Conditions of Service for Pharmacists in Government employ and Approval of Central Internship placement program for Pharmacists by the Federal Executive Council (FEC).
Dr Onimisi deeply acknowledged the support and the guidance of HE Pharm. Ahmed Ibrahim Yakasai FPSN, President of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN), thanking all NEC Members of YPG and Young Pharmacists all over the Country, most especially Pharm. Ekomobong Hanson, the Coordinator of this year's world pharmacists day celebration for their enormous contributions towards this year's World Pharmacists Day and for making it a huge success.
No drug, No Healthcare
No Pharmacist, No drug
Therefore, No Pharmacist, No Healthcare.
ABUJA: Training Schedule for Basic Life Support BLS, Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS), Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support ACLS, First Aid, CPR, AED
PORTHARCOURT: Training Schedule for Basic Life Support BLS, Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS), Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support ACLS, First Aid, CPR, AED
LAGOS: Training Schedule for Basic Life Support BLS, Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS), Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support ACLS, First Aid, CPR, AED
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