Community pharmacists still battling govt recognition, ACPN laments

pharmacy

– Says Fayemi, Akeredolu, FIP President, will grace Abuja Conference

Community pharmacists under the aegis of Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria (ACPN), have lamented lack of recognition and utter neglect by government, both at the state and federal levels, saying primary healthcare, which is the foundation for all public health interventions have been suffering due to the neglect.

ACPN National chairman, Dr Samuel Adekola disclosed this in Lagos at a press briefing in preparation for the 39th Annual National Conference of the Association, with the theme “Optimising Primary Healthcare Delivery in Nigeria: Community Pharmacists’ Untapped Potentials”, which will hold at the International Conference Centre, Abuja, from 30 November to 4 December 2020.

According to him, primary healthcare is the foundation for all public health interventions by the government and if the country gets it right at that level, the country’s health indices presently abysmally low will certainly improve.

“It is unfortunate that our approach to primary healthcare is missing an essential ingredient, that is the active recognition and involvement of community pharmacists as the most accessible highly trained and competent health professionals in the nation’s primary healthcare programme” he said.

The ACPN boss further disclosed that the lapses were part of the reasons behind the choice for the theme of its forthcoming national conference in Abuja, noting that the association wishes to use the conference to draw the attention of relevant government officials to the untapped potentials that community pharmacists involvement in the nation’s primary healthcare programme could offer.

Speaking further on the upcoming conference and its expectations, Adekola assured participants that the conference is going to be a conference like no other in the annals of pharmaceutical conferences in Nigeria, as it will play host to the number one pharmacist in the world, in person of Pharm. Dominique Jordan, the president, International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP), who will be delivering the keynote address.

He said the Executive Governor of Ekiti State, Dr Kayode Fayemi, will also be in attendance as the chairman of the opening ceremony.

Other eminent Nigerians that will be gracing the conference are the Senate President, Sen. Ahmad Lawan; Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire; FCT Minister, Hon. Mohammed Bello, and the country representative, WHO, Dr Faisal Shuaib.

He added that Gov. Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State; Gov. Bako Lalong of Plateau State, Sen. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso; former Governor of Kano State, as well as the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar Adamu, would be receiving awards in recognition of their contributions to the development of healthcare in general and Pharmacy in particular.

The ACPN chairman however assured that adequate security will be provided within and around the venue of the conference, adding that the conference would be a rewarding experience for all participants and exhibitors who will avail themselves the unique opportunity to showcase and expose their products and services to the teeming audience expected at the conference.

The press briefing also had in attendance, Pharm. (Mrs) Abosede Idowu, the national secretary, and the National Vice-Chairman, Pharm. Daniel Ajayi.