-Presents an Excellence in Leadership Award to the President
Members of the Association of Hospital and Administrative Pharmacists of Nigeria (AHAPN) have craved the indulgence of the PSN President, Pharm. (Mazi) Sam Ohuabunwa, to the existing scale to scale promotion, and stagnation of its members on CONHESS 13, a development which has not been favourable to its membership.
The leadership of the association, during a courtesy visit to Pharm. Ohuabunwa, in his office, on Thursday, laid this bare before him, noting that the situation has not improved for some years despite several representations to government and chief medical directors of hospitals on the matter.”Some others especially in federal institutions receive same scale promotion without any financial increment, which is against the extant laws of the civil service. We therefore solicit your assistance in redressing this trend”, they implored.
The AHAPN National Chairman, Pharm.(Dr) Kingsley Amibor, who presented a 17-point request to the president, also reminded the president on the long-awaited Consultancy Circular for the Fellowship of the West African Postgraduate College of Pharmacists (WAPCP), urging him to use his good office to expedite action on the release of the circular and the creation of pharmacy consultancy cadre for fellowship holders in the scheme of service for pharmacists.
Amibor further pleaded for the president’s support on the adoption of Pharmaceutical Care as the philosophy of Pharmacy practice in replacement of the traditional role of dispensing for which pharmacists have been identified over the years. He noted how the association was able to secure the support of the immediate past PSN President, Pharm. Ahmed I Yakasai on this position, while explaining to the president that the association has set up a high powered committee to work out the modalities for the implementation of the policy in hospitals where the association is recognised.
He said the committee comprise top professionals and distinguished pharmacists like Prof. Azuka Oparah, University of Benin as advisor; Prof. C.N Ukwe, University of Nigeria, Nsukka; Dr Dauda Dangiwa, University of Jos, and Dr Teresa Pounds, USA, as co-chairman.
Another issue presented before the president was the refusal of government to register AHAPN as a trade union, which Amibor said has balkanised their members into different unions currently registered by government, such as Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria (MHWUN), Nigeria Union of Allied Professionals (NUAHP) and Joint Health Union of Nigeria (JOHESU), which have not benefited their members significantly.
After delivering his speech, Pharm. Amibor presented the speech as a letter for documentation to the present, and the association also conferred on him an Excellence in Leadership Award, in recognition of his numerous contributions to societal growth, development, and selfless service to the Pharmacy profession.
In his response, the PSN President appreciated the good gesture of the AHAPN National in paying him a courtesy visit, and much more presenting him an award, noting that of all the associations that have visited him since his assumption of office, AHAPN was the first to present him an Award of Leadership Excellence.
On the request made by the group for the adoption of Pharmaceutical Care as a philosophy for pharmacy practice, Mazi Ohuabunwa commended their effort in setting up a committee to look into the matter, while assuring them of the support of the Society on the issue.
For the release of Consultancy Circular and implantation, Mazi Ohuabunwa explained how he has been working on the issue, and he is optimistic of a good outcome in the nearest future. The president however expressed caution in the registration of AHAPN as a trade union, stating that before such decision can be taken, there must be a nationally summit of pharmacists to debate the merits and the demerits of the decision, before it can be ratified by the PSN.
In his own contribution, the immediate past National Chairman of AHAPN, Pharm. Martins Oyewole craved the indulgence of the president to the reality that there is no uniformity in adherence to the scheme of service as it relates to pharmacists and other health workers promotion from the position of assistant director to deputy director, and to director. He explained that while some hospitals promote from deputy director to director, others practice from assistant director to deputy director, while they don’t have the privilege to get to the position of the director.
Members of AHAPN NEC and PSN present at the visit were: AHAPN National Chairman, Pharm. (Dr) Kingsley Amibor; Immediate Past National Chairman of AHAPN, Pharm. Martins Oyewole; AHAPN Secretary, Pharm. Olakunle Hafiz Akande; AHAPN National Financial Secretary, Pharm. Funmilayo Fagboyo; National Treasurer, Olabode Ogunjemiyo; Pharm. Titilayo Onedo, chairman, Lagos branch; Former Treasure and National Treasurer PSN, Pharm. Folake Adeniyi ; National Publicity Secretary Pharm. Francis Odigie; and Pharm. Emeka Duru, PSN national secretary.
 have craved the indulgence of the PSN President, Pharm. (Mazi) Sam Ohuabunwa, to the existing scale to scale promotion, and stagnation of its members on CONHESS 13, a development which has not been){kind=link}