The Glaucoma Patients Care Initiative of Nigeria has urged the Federal Government to come to the aid of citizens down with the condition, stating that the present statistics of 1.8 million Nigerians suffering from the disease may just be the beginning, if urgent steps are not taken to halt the development.
Members of the group, who were commemorating the World Glaucoma Week, usually celebrated on the second week of march annually, took turn to narrate their woeful experiences on the disease, while calling on all stakeholders to assist patients who are not financially capable of funding the treatment.
According to Dr. Adeola Onakoya, a Glaucoma Specialist and also the chairman of Glaucoma Society of Nigeria,” Glaucoma is a disease that affects the nerve that is in the eyes and this nerve is the optic nerve. The nerves is what actually connects the eye to the brain and whatever the eye sees that message is taken by this optic nerve to the brain for us to see. Now when this optic nerve is diseased, then one is said to have that disease called glaucoma.
“Unfortunately, glaucoma is a disease that is asymptomatic that is, if you have it, you are not likely know that you have it. Thus the main reason those who have eye problem come to the hospital is if they have eye pain or their eyes is red or they are not able to see what is in front of them.
However the disease glaucoma does not give any of this symptoms especially at the early stage of the disease but because it is asymptomatic, a lot of people who suffer from it do not know until an advance stage of the disease by which time they have already lost useful vision”.
-NAFDAC appeals ruling as NBC assures customers of safety of their products
The National Agency For Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has been fined to the tune of two million naira for failing to do their primary assignment in ascertaining the safety level of Sunset Yellow and Benzoic acid in Nigerian Bottling Company’s products –Fanta and Sprit.
The two products were found by the United Kingdom health authorities to be containing excessive levels of Benzoic acid which if mixed with Vitamin C can cause cancer, thus a Lagos High Court sitting in the Igbosere area of Lagos Island has directed NAFDAC to order NBC to put a written warning on Fanta and Sprite bottles stating that both soft drinks are poisonous, when consumed along with Vitamin C.
It was however gathered that NAFDAC has appealed the judgement, urging the court to stay action on the ruling. According to the Acting Director General of NAFDAC, Mrs. Yetunde Oni “Our lawyer has filed an appeal and a motion to stay execution of action of the judgement also filed. I am in Vienna at the moment at the 60th session commission on Narcotics drugs. Thank you for your understanding,” she noted
Meanwhile, the NBC has allayed fears of consumers about its products including Sprite and Fanta, saying they are safe for human consumption. According to the statement released by NBC, the wrong perception emanating from the media reports that our Fanta and Sprite beverages which are fully compliant with all national and international food quality and safety standards are unsafe, simply because their levels of Benzoic acid were not within the UK standards, is not only unfounded but also undermines the entire food and beverage industry in Nigeria which is regulated by the same ingredient levels approved by NAFDAC and other regulatory bodies for the country.
It further stated that that the UK standards limit benzoic acid in soft drinks to a maximum of 150 mg, but both Fanta and Sprite have benzoic levels of 200 mg which is lower than the Nigerian regulatory limit of 250 mg when combined with ascorbic acid and 300 mg without ascorbic acid and also lower than the 600 mg international limit set by CODEX, does not make them unsafe for consumption in Nigeria, due to difference in climate of Nigeria and UK.
However, several studies have named benzoic acid as a carcinogen which triggers cancer whenever it comes in contact with Vitamin C
I met the baby on the ward. She was blind, deaf and unable to feed. Her head was as huge as a big watermelon and definitely too big for her neck. She could not sit, stand or walk at the age of 16 months.
She was in a sorry state.
Apparently, the baby developed hydrocephalus (too much water on the brain) following a bout of meningitis at a very early age. The grandmother instructed the family to take the baby to the village, where there was one ‘Baba’ that has been managing this condition, successfully for years.
Baba performed rituals and incantations daily. He washed the baby’s head twice a day with strange medications. He stretched the baby and massaged the arms and legs till they were bruised. As the days turn to weeks and weeks to month, with no improvement, the mother took her baby and ran away from the village.
Rachael (Another world)
I met the baby in the clinic. She was irritable and unhappy. She had a fever and was not feeding well. Her head was noticeably big, perhaps like a big pineapple: just because of the hairstyle. Her head had been increasing in size since a month after birth and of some concern to the mother.
Why is it only the head of the baby that is growing?
However, it was the poor feeding and the vomiting that brought them to hospital. It was obvious that the baby had hydrocephalus (too much water on the brain). We sent the baby to have a brain scan and it confirmed massive hydrocephalus. The brain was small and pushed tightly out, plastered to the inside of the skull.
The parents were quite concerned and keen to have treatment performed as soon as possible. We proceeded with surgery aimed at removing the excess water from the brain and piping it into the stomach. This controls the build-up of pressure in the head and prevents brain damage.
The operation called a ‘shunt’ for short or ventriculo-peritoneal shunt (in full) was performed immediately and the baby made a good recovery. She was discharged home within 2 days and the mum shaved off her hair (bye bye, pineapple!).
I saw her recently at 5 years of age. Rachael had become a pretty little girl, full of life and in great spirits: as she came to celebrate her birthday with us in the office. Apparently, she is doing well in class and the shunt is still working, obviously. She brought me a bottle of wine as a gift (well, the family did!).
A little appreciation of the wonders of modern medicine.
Hydrocephalus
Hydrocephalus in children is often congenital, that means they were born like that. It could be because of some problem with the pregnancy or the delivery especially in situations where the delivery was difficult. Many other babies also suffer hydrocephalus because of infection. Preventing infection in the mother and in the child early after birth is therefore very important. Routine antenatal care should be carried out regularly. Immunisation to prevent the common childhood diseases such as measles, rubella and chicken pox is also vital.
The treatment
First, hydrocephalus is treatable but the treatment is best when carried out early. There are also many ways to treat the condition depending on the cause. That is the job of the doctor, usually a brain surgeon, who has modern techniques to investigate and treat.
We can put in a shunt as discussed above or perform an operation that entails using a tiny microscope (an endoscope) to make a hole inside the babies’ brain to drain away the excess fluid. Both operations do the same job: that is to prevent the build of water inside the head. The pressure from the water is what enlarges the growing head and damages the brain. As you may have gathered it can lead to a big head, blindness, deafness, paralysis and death in children.
Hydrocephalus can also affect adults, of course. In adults, it causes a severe and unrelenting headache. Similarly, is can cause blindness and disability in adults. A patient of mine died after the family ‘rejected the operation’ because ‘it’s not our portion’. You know of course, that the Almighty God gave doctors the wisdom and the skill to deliver health on earth, on his behalf! This brings me to the tail end of this article.
Charlatans in our world
Herbalists, traditional healers and pastors step outside the boundaries of their skill levels and training, if any. Many people have been hurt and killed by these people who practice medicine without a certificate! They kill and maim daily without any clue as to the huge numbers of lives they destroy. We must deal with this as a society and you need to report them as appropriate. Sue them in the law courts if you have to!
Pastors especially must be allowed to minister on the spiritual plane and not the physical. We should stop compromising the ideals of religion on the altar of money. Do not go to them for medical treatment. Allow them to connect you with the powers of God and pay your tithes so they do not stray.
They should pray for you, not play with you.
The Government itself through the Ministry of Health must also see weeding out charlatans as part of its social responsibility to protect the citizens of Nigeria. However, it is up to you to avoid these people. Do not allow poverty to force you to their domain, as it actually costs much more in the long run.
Two tails
The two stories seek to inform you about hydrocephalus and also to reiterate a strong message about herbal medicines, traditional healers and pastors. What I hope you will learn from this is that it is not cheap to go cheap. You lose in the short term and even more in the long run. You could also lose the life of a loved one! The child at the beginning of this article died soon after.
The second child is thriving and maybe she will become our President!
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Patience is not simply the ability to wait – it’s how
we behave while we’re waiting. – Joyce Meyer
The Chinese bamboo tree, just like any other tree, requires nurturing and adequate attention to be fruitful. But the bamboo tree requires unique attention because it will not show visible signs of growth until five years of nurturing.
The owner of the tree is expected to continue nurturing during this time. He continues watering the bamboo tree within this period without giving up. If he gives up, all his efforts will be wasted.
Here’s the good news: when the tree finally springs out from the root, it grows 90 feet tall within six weeks!
The bamboo tree tests the patience of the owner. An impatient owner will give up before the fifth year. Now, the question is, did the bamboo tree grow in six weeks or in five years? The obvious answer is five years. The tree had actually been developing a strong foundation in the previous years to be able to sustain the massive growth it would experience when it finally sprang out.
The economic value of the bamboo tree surpasses those of all other trees the owner planted. The waiting and efforts by the owner was not in vain. He finally reaped the fruit of his labour.
This inspiring story encourages us to be patient in life. Great things don’t come quick; they don’t come easy either.
Patience is noble
An Igbo adage says, ‘‘Onye ndidi na eri azu ukpoo’’ which is translated to mean, ‘‘The patient person eats the fattest fish.’’ This can’t be truer.
Patience is displayed in many forms in our daily lives. Businesspeople express patience in one way or the other, professionals also do the same. Family life is known for patience. Spouses patiently wait for each other in their marital lives, expecting one thing or the other.
Children also wait patiently for their parents when the need arises – because they are dependent on their parents. Patience is a virtue that is as old as man. It takes patience to sustain relationship and man has been relating since creation.
Hurrying won’t close the sale!
Patience is a virtue. Successful people are not in a hurry; instead, they are focused, thorough, strategic and dogged.
A salesman who has the attribute of patience is on his way to the top. The art of selling is a mutual deal. It is not a one-sided affair. People may not necessarily buy from a hasty salesman. It creates a wrong impression. Take time to win the prospect or customer.
A sale happens when a prospect or customer wants it to take place. The customer buys for his reasons and at his own time. It is the duty of the salesman to present a package that will fit into the reason and timing of the buyer. The package must be good and convincing enough for the prospect or customer. This is what closes the sale.
Being in a hurry to sell won’t close the deal. The prospect needs time to think in order to ensure he is making the best buying decision. He may decide not to buy at the time the salesman expects him to buy – for reasons best known to him. This is the time the salesman is expected to bring out the spirit of the salesman in him – in order to be on the same page with the buyer. I teach salespeople to wait when necessary and act when the need arises.
Patience begets cordial relationship
Salespeople’s actions must be apt; they are also expected to be go-getters. This is how to succeed in the job. Successful salesmen are not desperate to sell; rather they are more interested to show value.
They are also keen in building robust relationships with customers and prospects. It takes patience to achieve this. Successful sales professionals follow the pace of the prospects and customers.
Buyers are kings. They make things to happen! Your duty as a salesman is to discover your prospect or customer. Discover if you are in the right market, talking to the right buyer. Information is key in sales. The right information gives apt direction.
Decide today to be patient when you have to, and to move on to the next prospect when you have convinced yourself that it’s time to move ahead.
George O. Emetuche
Brian Tracy endorsed bestselling author, speaker, and sales trainer. 08186083133, sales@thesellingchampionconsulting.com
Neurologists across the country have decried the increasing prevalence of stroke in Nigeria, warning that except urgent, strategic steps are taken by the government and private institutions to halt the progression, the situation may worsen over the next decade, in accordance with the projections of the World Health Organisation (WHO) for lower and middle income countries.
The experts, who came from different teaching hospitals in the country, spoke at the recent launch of NeuroAiD, a new drug produced by Moleac and marketed by Bolar Pharmaceutical in Nigeria, for quick recovery from stroke.
While sharing their different clinical experiences on the treatment of stroke patients, the neurologists discussed ways of devising better methods of treating and managing stroke cases, to enhance reduction in mortality and acquired disability
In his opening remarks at the event, chairman of the occasion, Professor Yomi Ogun, a professor of Internal Medicine/Neurology and consultant physician at the Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital (OACHS), said statistics had shown that one in six persons would come down with stroke, while quickly adding that stroke was preventable with lifestyle modification, weight control, adequate monitoring in diabetics, and a healthy lifestyle.
The consultant physician, who described NeuroAiD as a fantastic drug positioned for quick recovery after neurological damage, lauded Moleac for the rigorous research and painstaking efforts devoted to the production of the neurological recovery drug
On his part, the keynote speaker, Professor W.K Wahab, an associate professor of medicine and consultant neurologist at the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital (UITH), delivered a paper titled, “Incidence of stroke cases and current treatment strategies in Nigeria”.
Wahab identified hypertension as the dominant predisposing factor to stroke in Nigeria.
He went on to explain that it is not just hypertension but uncontrolled hypertension that leads to majority of stroke cases, adding that it is imperative for every Nigerian adult to check his or her blood pressure at regular intervals to forestall occurrence of stroke.
According to him: “Stroke level is high in Nigeria because we have a dominant risk factor which is hypertension. If you are able to control hypertension, you have been able to cut your risk factor by 40 per cent.
“Another reason for the prevalence of stroke is untreated hypertension, and this usually happens when people refuse to accept their health status as being hypertensive. Unfortunately, by the time they are presenting in the hospital, the damage would have been done already. They would have come down with stroke”.
The medical specialist further listed shortage of personnel and equipment as contributing factors to the high rate of stroke in the country, stating that Nigeria with a population of over 180 million has only 80 neurologists, making it difficult for the specialists to promptly attend to all cases of nervous disorders.
He further noted that many government hospitals lack CT scan, a crucial apparatus in diagnosing stroke patients.
“It is the responsibility of the government to make this available in most hospitals owned by government. There is also the need for manpower development as there is the huge shortage of neurologists in the country,” Wahab said.
Wahab also stated that the absence of Thrombolytic Therapy is another gap that needs to be bridged in Nigeria’s tertiary medical institutions, noting that, currently, no hospital practices it in the country.
“Thrombolytic Therapy is an injection that is usually infused into the brain to burst the clog, that is why is it called the clog-buster. Before the administration of Thrombolytic Therapy, a brain CT scan must be done, to know the level of the damage done to the brain. If there is blood already in the brain of a patient, then Thrombolytic Therapy is not necessary. But it is useful if the CT scan reveals that the patient has only experienced blockage of the blood vessels. CT scan facilities are not readily available in most centres in Nigeria”, he affirmed.
Wahab therefore charged the federal government to ensure the optimal delivery of its obligation of caring for the citizens by funding primary, secondary and tertiary health institutions.
In his words, “If the primary healthcare centres are adequately equipped, it will enhance easy accessibility of medical screening and treatment for hypertensive patients. The same thing goes for secondary and tertiary institutions.”
Pharm. Bolade A. Soremekun, MD/CEO Bolar Pharmaceuticals, hinted the experts on the difference between NeuroAiD and other similar drugs, stating that NeuroAiD consists of a mixture of natural compounds and belongs to a novel class of medicine which are neuro-regenerative and neuro-rehabilitative.
He added that the medication plays a role in the assembling of new circuits of information in the brain to replace the functions lost during a stroke.
Soremekun narrated how Bolar Pharmaceuticals was established in 1984 with the mission to search for, identify, develop, and market new medicines that are effective in disease areas where current treatments are unavailable, ineffective, or unaffordable.
Explaining the discovery of NeuroAiD as a dream come true for them, he said Bolar Pharmaceuticals has six main areas of focus: stroke, hepatitis, sickle cell, immunity, diabetes, and cancer.
Pharm. Uche Nwana, managing director of Sylken Pharmacy, has swelled the rank of eminent pharmacists on the fellowship list of Professional Excellence Foundation of Nigeria (PEFON).
Other pharmacy professionals in the foundation are Dr. (Mrs) Stella Okoli, chairman, Emzor Pharmaceuticals; Prince Julius Adelusi-Adeluyi, managing director of Juli Plc; Dr. Nelson Uwaga, former PSN president and president of Nigerian Institute of Management (NIM); Pharm Nnamdi Okafor, managing director of May & Baker; Pharm. Lekan Asuni, managing director of Lafas Pharmaceuticals Limited; Prince Julius Adelusi-Adeluyi, chairman, Juli Plc; Sir Ike Onyechi, managing director of Alpha Pharmacy; Dr Michael Oyebanjo Paul, chairman, Mopson Pharmaceuticals Limited and Pharm. Olumide Akintayo, PSN president.
Speaking at the induction ceremony that witnessed decoration of 17 other professionals at Victoria Palace Hotel, Victoria Island on February 23, 2017, Nwana expressed appreciation for his recognition, adding that he did not see it coming.
“I want to use this opportunity to thank PEFON, Prince Julius Adelusi-Adeluyi and, especially, Sir Atueyi whom I still regard as a role model. He is somebody I can say started with nothing.
L-R: Engr. Jide George, hubby of Pharm. Bukky George; Prince Julius Adelusi-Adeluyi, PEFON chairman; Mrs Catherine George, first lady town planner in Nigeria and Toyin George, a pharmacist with NNPC Clinic in a group photograph.
“While many of us concentrated on drugs importation and marketing, he opted for pharmaceutical journalism. It is therefore not surprising to see the success of the publication and how far he (Atueyi) has come,” he enthused.
On his advice to the foundation, Nwana, who started his career with Nigeria German Chemicals Plc., directed PEFON to focus on youths with a view to changing their mindset.
“It is however sad that when today’s graduates are asked what they hope to do after school, you are bound to hear things like ‘Oh! I want to make money.’ This kind of mindset is indeed not good for our future. This is one major I will like the foundation to look into,” he stressed.
Addressing the members, Sir (Dr) ‘Dipo Bailey, founder of the foundation explained that PEFON is a professional foundation aimed at encouraging and empowering youths in the country.
“To be a member, such professional must be a man of integrity. Many are termed successful today, not because of money but their integrity. Today, we also celebrate our ladies for their feat as first lady presidents in their chosen career.
“Let me use this opportunity to appreciate my brother, Prince Julius. There are men and there are men. He has been the moving spirit behind the survival of PEFON to date. I don’t know what the foundation would have become of the foundation without him,” he said.
The induction and investiture ceremony of the 18 recipients were conducted in two sessions. The first category saw nine professional first ladies presidents of institutes and chosen careers sworn in as honorary Fellows while the second witnessed the induction of another nine (male) professionals.
While taking the oath-taking, the inductees promised to abide by the rule of the foundation.
The category of honorary fellows comprised Barr. Juliet Madubueze, 1st lady president of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN); Mrs Osaretin Demuren, 1st lady director of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN); Rear Admiral Itunu Hotonu, 1st Lady Rear Admiral in Nigerian Navy; Chief (Mrs) Adenike Oyagbola, 1st lady cabinet minister in Nigeria; Engr. Ebele Okeke, 1st lady civil engineer & 1st lady head of service of the federation; Mrs Catherine George, 1st lady town planner in Nigeria; Engr. (Dr) Olatokunbo Somolu, 1st lady to hold Ph.D in Engineering and 1st lady structural engineer; Chief (Mrs) Olutoyin Olakunri, 1st Chartered Accountant in West Africa and Mrs Oluseyi Ifaturoti, living female legend of the Chartered Insurance Institute of Nigeria (CIIN).
The second category included Pharm. Uche Nwana, managing director of Sylken Pharmacy; Chief Bayo Ojo, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN); Asiwaju (Dr) Michael Olawale-Cole, former Lagos State commissioner for works and transport; Capt. Dele Ore, former chief pilot and director of flight operations in Nigeria Airways; Bode Adeaga, ex president of Nigerian Institute of Surveyors; Hajiya (Chief) Maryam Ibrahim, former president, Association of National Accountants of Nigeria (ANAN); Chief Francis Ogboro, president, Nigeria-Saudi Chamber of Commerce; Dr Harold Demuren, former chief executive officer of Afrijet Airlines and Adebayo Oyagbola, member of Chartered Institute of Arbitrators and the International Bar Association.
Urging the newly inducted fellows to live up to expectation, Prince Julius Adelusi-Adeluyi, chairman, PEFON, declared that the foundation takes it time looking for professionals with enviable track record.
“Much as we have so many bad people in the society, there are equal measures of good people in the society, especially young ones. They are the people that PEFON hopes to bring on board.
“Money can buy you anything; it cannot buy you happiness and a good sleep. I salute the enterprising spirit of Dr Bailey (founder) who ordinarily shouldn’t be here because of his health. However his passion for success of the foundation was what brought him,” he emphasised.
Adelusi-Adeluyi, a past president of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN), did not also fail to reassure the new inductees that given the track record of PEFON they were in good company.
In his vote of thanks, Sir Ifeanyi Atueyi, vice chairman, PEFON board of trustees, lauded Adelusi-Adeluyi for continuing to encourage the PEFON fellowship through his exemplary leadership style.
“In fact, he qualifies to be called a professional chairman. When you attend an event and he is the chairman, you feel at rest. Even when things are not going right, he has the gift to take people’s attention away,” he remarked.
LEADERSHIP INSPIRATIONS FOR EXCELLENCE (LIFE) SERIES
In the last two weeks I have met with a number of leaders to talk about leadership at various levels in Africa. In our conversation we also spoke of situations that concern present and future generations. We were so disappointed with the young generation of leaders who are so greedy to amass such wealth that 20 generations after them can afford to do nothing and still keep spending. We were disappointed as well by old generations who held on to power without clear successors and have refused to hand over power to more agile and more educated younger generation.
We wish we could say that leadership at various levels – from family or community level, through local government, states and at national level – was easy and that all levels everywhere were doing great. But the reality is that leadership is hard and leadership fails on a regular basis.
As we talked about this, we also addressed the ‘why’ — why do various leaders fail? Why are several African leaders (with very few exceptions) failing us? There are all sorts of possible reasons: African genetic made up, culture, lack of team, wrong strategy, dominant leadership, lack of funds etc are a few. But there is one that I consider more important and more prevalent than all the others.
“Everything rises and falls with Leadership!” is how I say it when we speak about leadership. I wasn’t sure I agreed when I first heard this statement, years ago. But over the years I have become convinced that this is a core and central truth — and it is key for those of us who provide oversight over others.
We need leaders. Africa in particular needs genuine visionary leaders at every level this time. I subscribe to the fact that Africans are genetically capable and have sufficient capacity to lead effectively. However, a number of our leaders suffer from selfishness, too many priorities, failure to see opportunities in challenges, arrogance, lack of vision, and very raw unrefined greed to hold on to power at all cost, at the expense of progress for the larger populace.
The truth, however, is that we often mistake managers for leaders. We see people who lead existing projects well, who get on well with people, who can create structures and programmes and who can lead meetings. But to put it succinctly: a good manager is not necessarily a good leader!
Leaders versus managers
You probably have heard the distinction between leaders and managers. Management is about doing things right or efficiently; leadership is about doing the right things effectively.
Here’s my distinction (and by the way, I’m sure I picked this up from someone else somewhere along the way): a manager leads what is already there — but a leader creates something out of nothing. That’s right: a leader creates ‘ex nihilo’ (that’s Latin for ‘out of nothing’).
Not every manager is a leader! In my view there are plenty of people who can lead a group (and by saying lead here, I really mean ‘manage’). But the kind of leadership we need in Africa today is the kind of person who can see a vision — something that isn’t there — and make it a reality. Only a handful African of leaders can be said to fall into the category of genuine visionary leaders.
I heard a great story about how a certain director on the board of the Walt Disney Corporation was once blown away by the colours, entertainment, variety and coordination of the first Disney parade. He leaned over to Walt’s widow (Walt had died a number of years before this parade became a reality) and whispered: “If only Walt could have seen this!” To which the lady turned back to him and said: “But, oh, he did!” That is leadership.
The kind of leadership we need in Africa today is one like that of J.F. Kennedy who could see something that wasn’t real yet, but worked for it to become a reality. As Corinne McLaughlin notes, “visionary leaders are the builders of a new dawn, working with imagination, insight, and boldness. They present a challenge that calls forth the best in people and brings them together around a shared sense of purpose. They work with the power of intentionality and alignment with a higher purpose. Their eyes are on the horizon, not just on the near at hand. They are social innovators and change agents, seeing the big picture and thinking strategically.”
The visionary leader
There is a profound interconnectedness between the leader and the whole, and true visionary leaders serve the good of the whole. They recognise that there is some truth on both sides of most polarised issues in our society today. They search for solutions that transcend the usual adversarial approaches and address the causal level of problems. They find a higher synthesis of the best of both sides of an issue and address the systemic root causes of problems to create real breakthroughs.
What is it that makes a visionary become a visionary leader? A visionary may dream wonderful visions of the future and articulate them with great inspiration. A visionary is good with words. But a visionary leader is good with actions as well as words, and so can bring his or her vision into being in the world, thus transforming it in some way. More than words are needed for a vision to take form in today’s world. It requires leadership and heartfelt commitment.
A visionary leader is effective in manifesting his or her vision because such creates specific, achievable goals, initiates action and enlists the participation of others.
What are the qualities and abilities of true visionary leaders? What is the mysterious inner process within leaders that enables them to work their magic and radiate the charisma that mobilises others for a higher purpose? Visionary leadership is based on a balanced expression of the spiritual, mental, emotional and physical dimensions. It requires core values, clear vision, empowering relationships, and innovative action. When one or more of these dimensions are missing, leadership cannot manifest a vision.
Commitment to core spiritual values
A commitment to values is an outstanding characteristic of all visionary leaders. They embody a sense of personal integrity, and radiate a sense of energy, vitality and will. Will is standing in a spiritual state of being. Will is a spiritual attribute, which allows a leader to stand for something.
More self-aware and reflective than others, visionary leaders follow an inner sense of direction, and lead from the inside out, as exemplified by Mahatma Gandhi, who said, “I must first be the change I want to see in my world.” He was a prime example of a commitment to values, as he freed India by appealing to the moral conscience of Britain and using “satyagraha” or non-violent action to reveal the immorality of the British Empire.
Rather than being corrupted by power, visionary leaders are elevated by power and exercise moral leadership. Mary Robinson, former President of Ireland and U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights, embodies this type of moral leadership, as does Marion Wright Edelman, founder of the Children’s Defence Fund, who has a deep commitment to children’s welfare.
Many successful leaders in business, such as Jeffrey Swartz of Timberland Shoes, have demonstrated the power of living their values. Swartz pays employees to volunteer in the community and honours the “double bottom line”- profit and values. (To be continued)
Your life is productive when you exploit your God-given potential. Your abilities, gifts and talents can remain untapped and unused and therefore not useful to anyone, including yourself. Potential refers to dormant ability, untapped strength and hidden talents. It is a latent power in you. However, you can make your potential to be kinetic by using and actually maximising it.
Unless you do something beyond what you have done, you will never develop your potential. Never settle for what you have accomplished. Success is a great enemy of potential. You are not yet what you are supposed to be. Aim to be a better person than you were last year.
Since 2004 I have been compiling my writings into books every year. And I have been congratulating myself on my success and achievements. I believed that was the best I could do. However, in 2015, I wanted to write a book and donate to the Anglican Diocese of Nnewi for the Synod holding in my town, Okija, in Anambra State. The book I was planning for the year would not be suitable for that purpose. Therefore, I embarked on another book, titled, “The Living Sacrifice”, and completed it before the Synod held in May, 2015. Thereafter, I proceeded with the book I had intended for that year.
Having produced two books in that year, I realised that I have the potential for producing two books annually but I limited myself to only one book. Consequently, in 2016 I stretched myself and published “Enjoying Abundance of Life” and “Your Work is Your Life”. That gave me the confidence that I can still publish two books this current year. And if I have the courage, I can target even three books. We need to improve on whatever we do to develop our potential. Dwelling on past successes is an enemy of progress.
God is the Source of your potential. You must remain attached to Him in order to be productive. Just as fish cannot live without water and plants cannot survive without soil, you cannot live successfully without God. Potential is related to the source and all created things must be maintained by their source. Therefore, if you decide to do away with God, you will never become the person you were created to be.
Jesus, in John 15: 5 says, “I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.” You cannot fulfil your true potential without being connected to God. If Jesus says He is the true vine, then there must be false, fake or counterfeit vines also. If you abide in them, you cannot fulfil your life purpose. You cannot depend on the riches, awards, recognition, accolades and honours that the world gives you to be the person God created you to be. Superficially, these things seem gratifying, but in reality they are false vines; and even if you bear fruit in them, it will be a fake one.
Intellectual ability is one of the false vines on which some people depend as their source of potential. This has caused the downfall and destruction of many brilliant scholars.
When I was in the secondary school, in the 50s, our Religious Knowledge teacher led us to study some books of the Bible. The book of Genesis starts with: “In the beginning God created the heaven and earth.” God created all things and then made man in His own image. At the same time, the Biology master had, among his topics, the theory of biological evolution, developed by an English naturalist, Charles Darwin (1809-1882). His great knowledge of nature caused him to believe that all natural species of organisms developed through the natural selection of small, inherited variations that increase the individual’s ability to compete, survive, and reproduce. According to the theory, man was not created by God. Charles Darwin made his knowledge his source instead of God Almighty.
Recently, I read from one the dailies the interview granted by Professor Cecilia Igwilo, the first female Professor of Pharmacy in West Africa, who was recently named a Distinguished Professor of the University of Lagos. The interviewer asked her what legacy she would love to be known for. I believe the interviewer must have expected her to tell the world about how her academic prowess would make her known all over the world. Her response, however, came as a surprise. I quote here exactly what she said: “Well, I have not achieved yet. I will keep pressing forward until I get to the mark. I mean, until I see the Lord Jesus. That, for me, is the most important thing for living.”
That concise answer has a deep meaning. Her life is not about honours and awards but to fulfil her divine assignment and receive the eternal rewards which are only possible through our Lord Jesus Christ. That, to me, is someone abiding in the true vine which can give life. No amount of education can give life. Only the Source of life can give life.
People often ask me, what is a breakthrough?How can I achieve breakthrough in my health, happiness, relationship or finance? How can I move from where I am to where I desire to be?
A breakthrough is a point in time when the impossible become possible because of new insights backed up by a massive action plan. A breakthrough is when you finally achieve that seemingly impossible goal because you never gave up.
Perhaps, you’ve failed in your first or second attempt but, finally, you broke through. You lost the weight, conquered your public speaking fear, started your own business, moved your career to the next level, achieved financial prosperity, overcome that bad habit, or finally got married to the love of your life after recording initial failures.
However big or audacious your goals in life are, by applying the following master principles, you will be able to turn them to reality. The good news is you’ve achieved breakthrough in the past, you’ve turned an audacious goal to reality before. So, you can do it again.
The right strategy
Right strategy will save you years of trial and error, frustration and painful learning experiences. The right strategy will shorten the time and effort you need to turn your goals into reality.
Just as applying the right strategy of flying from Lagos to Abuja in one hour will save you a number of hours compared to travelling by road for 10 to 12 hours, the right strategy will get you quicker and grander results, with less stress.
I’m a hunter of human excellence. My job as a health and life strategist is to get the best strategies on earth and share them with success-oriented individuals to take their game to the next level. So, it is your duty to get and apply the right strategies to achieve breakthrough in your business, health, relationship, personal development and happiness this year and beyond.
The right story
Beyond the right strategy, the right story is the second thing you need, to turn your smart goals into reality. You need to have faith that you can do it. You must be totally convinced in the hearts of your heart that your goals are possible and achievable.
The right strategy without the right story will always lead to failure and frustration. You must come up with an empowering story that you can do it.
Do you know that it is possible for a person to be able to afford to fly by Abuja from Lagos but still travel on road because of his belief system and self-image? Divorce your disempowering story and marry the truth. And the truth is that your dreams are possible if you are ready to strive hard, be persistent and believe in yourself.
The right state
Ultimately, what will shape your results this year is your STATE. Your state is your attitude, your emotions and your thoughts that shape your choices and decisions, moment by moment, and throughout the year.
In fact, success is chiefly 80 per cent of state and 20 per cent of strategy. The right attitudes of hope, positivity, determination, faith, love, compassion, perseverance, focus, planning, resilience, creativity, integrity and patience will crumb all obstacles on your path to success. While the negative attitudes of fear, doubt, negativity, anger, greed, pessimism, haste, bitterness and unforgiveness will be stumbling blocks on your path to breakthrough this year and beyond.
How can you have the right state? Focus on what you really want and not the obstacles on your road to success. Use the power of language to shape your belief system and work on your physiology.
With the right strategy, the right story and the right state you can achieve breakthrough in any and every area of your life. Go through this article again and again. Ponder on it, apply these tips to your life and you will get the right results you yearn for.
ACTION PLAN: What are the right strategies you need to learn and apply this year to get your desired results? What is the empowering story you need to repeat to yourself again and again until you belief it will every fiber of your being? What is the right attitude you need to imbibe always to turn your big goals into reality this year?
AFFIRMATION: I have the power within me to achieve breakthrough. I am blessed and highly favoured.
Domchak Yaknan is the president of Pharmaceutical Association of Nigeria Students (PANS), University of Jos, (UNIJOS) Plateau State. In this exclusive interview with Pharmanews, Domchak, a final year pharmacy student, raises pertinent concerns about pharmacy education in Nigeria, among other issues. Excerpts:
What motivated you to study Pharmacy?
Actually, it was a personal decision, even though I had some form of orientation and motivation from different personalities, including family and friends, since there is no self-made man.
Besides, it has become a tradition, though it can be faulted, that majority of students who pass through science class in secondary schools end up studying health-related courses. So, it was natural that I too should have such decision and ambition, and I must admit that it also contributed to my decision to study Pharmacy.
I have never had any regret choosing Pharmacy despite the enormous challenges I encountered. Thus, I appreciate God for the opportunity.
At what point in your academic pursuit did you decide to be involved in PANS politics?
Honestly, it was coincidental. It began with consultations and suggestions made by some members of my class who observed that I had potentials and leadership attributes in me which they believed could be useful for the development of our association. Moreover, it had been my dream and aspiration to add my quota to the development of PANS, UNIJOS. And to the glory of God, I started working towards it and today, the dream has come to fulfillment.
What are your plans for UNIJOS pharmacy students?
My plans for PANS UNIJOS are incorporated in helping to stimulate, develop and motivate them towards manifesting and exploiting their own potentials. In this regards, PANS UNIJOS is about to attain a milestone achievement by being the first PANS chapter to partner with the state government, especially the ministry of health, as regards carrying out an outreach tagged, Pharmaco-Orientation. The aim is to project pharmacy profession and campaign against drug abuse and misuse by the general public, especially secondary school students.
We have proposed a site for the snack canteen and art recreational garden, where our students can hang out and enjoy the facilities there, under the administration of the dean, Prof. Jacob A. Kolawole.
However, programmes that are still in the pipeline include publishing of the chapter’s magazine which will be launched during the Pharmacy Week, among others.
Are there measures that can be taken to solve the challenge of frequent strike actions by university lecturers?
It is necessary to pay tribute to the teachers and lecturers that have taught, instilled discipline and moulded the characters of students, especially those in the tertiary institution. Thus, it is quite expedient that every service rendered should be rewarded. But it is worrisome that the Nigerian educational sector has been plagued by incessant industrial actions.
Universities have always been seen as galleries of intellectualism. Thus, it is necessary that adequate funding be provided for the Nigerian educational sector. This will go a long way in providing conducive learning environment as well as providing and maintaining the infrastructures of the universities.
Implementing the country’s annual budgetary allocation to the educational sector, as well as proper management of the available funds and internal generated revenue, will help to cater for the demands of the universities and other tertiary institutions in the country.
As PANS president, what would you say are the major challenges associated with studying pharmacy in your part of the country and how can these be tackled?
The challenges facing pharmacy education are numerous, but the major ones are lack of motivation and orientation, as well as non-conducive learning environment.
In addition, pharmacy students’ exposure to practical sessions has been very poor, as most schools of pharmacy devote little or no official time to clinical postings and industrial training for their students. A critical look into this, especially the academic curriculum, will help to correct the problem.
Manpower challenge is another important issue that is affecting pharmacy education in the country. There’s inadequate manpower in pharmacy education and this has been a great drawback for the profession. All stakeholders concerned should put this into consideration.
Other challenges include lack of research grants for pharmacy students and inadequate laboratories and classrooms that can conveniently accommodate students. There is urgent need for more classrooms, libraries, and other learning facilities.
What would you say are the peculiar challenges facing pharmacy practice in northern Nigeria and what do you think the government should do about them?
The major challenges facing pharmacy practice in this part of the country is lack of orientation, motivation as well as lack of recognition. Even though a lot has been done, there is still need to put more effort to enlighten the general public about the role of pharmacists in the health care delivery system.
Also, government needs to urgently address the issue of inadequate infrastructure and manpower in pharmacy schools especially those in the northern part of the country. Moreover, alumni association should also be encouraged.
In addition, the federal government, through the PCN, should endeavor to accredit pharmacy schools that have not been accredited in the north, as this will go a long way in motivating and encouraging pharmacy education and practice in this region.
What other grey areas in pharmacy education do you want the leadership of PSN and other stakeholders to address urgently and why?
A review of the pharmacy education curriculum should be a good idea. Although I am not yet in the practice, I think all areas should be reassessed since dynamism gives beauty. Pharmacy education is becoming uninteresting because of the content of the curriculum, as repetition of topics is gradually making the curriculum tedious.
Furthermore, community pharmacy practice should be addressed urgently as it has become an all–comers affair because many people who have no business selling drugs are now selling drugs to the public, thereby competing with professionals who are trained for this purpose. This is very wrong.
In which area of practice would you like to specialise after graduation?
As a man for the people, who is always interesting in the affairs of his people as well an conveying their minds, I am looking at administrative pharmacy practice, especially in politics; so I can contribute my quota in restoring the lost glory of pharmacy profession and setting of pace for those coming behind me.
I will focus more on human empowerment and project orientation for both pharmacy students and young pharmacists.
Where do you see PANS UNIJOS by the time you will be leaving office as the president?
With the few innovations I have brought on board, combined with the efforts of my dedicated executive members, majority of whom who will be in the next cabinet, I envisage that PANS UNIJOS will be better than I met it. I see PANS UNIJOS among the top associations in this great university.
More than 1 in 4 deaths of children under 5 years of age are attributable to unhealthy environments. Every year, environmental risks – such as indoor and outdoor air pollution, second-hand smoke, unsafe water, lack of sanitation, and inadequate hygiene – take the lives of 1.7 million children under 5 years, say two new WHO reports.
The first report, Inheriting a Sustainable World: Atlas on Children’s Health and the Environment reveals that a large portion of the most common causes of death among children aged 1 month to 5 years – diarrhoea, malaria and pneumonia – are preventable by interventions known to reduce environmental risks, such as access to safe water and clean cooking fuels.
“A polluted environment is a deadly one – particularly for young children,” says Dr Margaret Chan, WHO Director-General. “Their developing organs and immune systems, and smaller bodies and airways, make them especially vulnerable to dirty air and water.”
Harmful exposures can start in the mother’s womb and increase the risk of premature birth. Additionally, when infants and pre-schoolers are exposed to indoor and outdoor air pollution and second-hand smoke they have an increased risk of pneumonia in childhood, and a lifelong increased risk of chronic respiratory diseases, such as asthma. Exposure to air pollution may also increase their lifelong risk of heart disease, stroke and cancer.
Top 5 causes of death in children under 5 years linked to the environment
A companion report, Don’t pollute my future! The impact of the environment on children’s health, provides a comprehensive overview of the environment’s impact on children’s health, illustrating the scale of the challenge. Every year:
570 000 children under 5 years die from respiratory infections, such as pneumonia, attributable to indoor and outdoor air pollution, and second-hand smoke.
361 000 children under 5 years die due to diarrhoea, as a result of poor access to clean water, sanitation, and hygiene.
270 000 children die during their first month of life from conditions, including prematurity, which could be prevented through access to clean water, sanitation, and hygiene in health facilities as well as reducing air pollution.
200 000 deaths of children under 5 years from malaria could be prevented through environmental actions, such as reducing breeding sites of mosquitoes or covering drinking-water storage.
200 000 children under 5 years die from unintentional injuries attributable to the environment, such as poisoning, falls, and drowning.
Ongoing and emerging environmental threats to children’s health
“A polluted environment results in a heavy toll on the health of our children,” says Dr Maria Neira, WHO Director, Department of Public Health, Environmental and Social Determinants of Health. “Investing in the removal of environmental risks to health, such as improving water quality or using cleaner fuels, will result in massive health benefits.”
For example, emerging environmental hazards, such as electronic and electrical waste (such as old mobile phones) that is improperly recycled, expose children to toxins which can lead to reduced intelligence, attention deficits, lung damage, and cancer. The generation of electronic and electrical waste is forecasted to increase by 19% between 2014 and 2018, to 50 million metric tonnes by 2018.
With climate change, temperatures and levels of carbon dioxide are rising, favouring pollen growth which is associated with increased rates of asthma in children. Worldwide, 11–14% of children aged 5 years and older currently report asthma symptoms and an estimated 44% of these are related to environmental exposures. Air pollution, second-hand tobacco smoke, and indoor mould and dampness make asthma more severe in children.
In households without access to basic services, such as safe water and sanitation, or that are smoky due to the use of unclean fuels, such as coal or dung for cooking and heating, children are at an increased risk of diarrhoea and pneumonia.
Children are also exposed to harmful chemicals through food, water, air and products around them. Chemicals, such as fluoride, lead and mercury pesticides, persistent organic pollutants, and others in manufactured goods, eventually find their way into the food chain. And, while leaded petrol has been phased out almost entirely in all countries, lead is still widespread in paints, affecting brain development.
Making all places safe for children
Reducing air pollution inside and outside households, improving safe water and sanitation and improving hygiene (including in health facilities where women give birth), protecting pregnant women from second-hand tobacco smoke, and building safer environments, can prevent children’s deaths and diseases.
For example, multiple government sectors can work together to improve the following:
Housing: Ensure clean fuel for heating and cooking, no mould or pests, and remove unsafe building materials and lead paint.
Schools: Provide safe sanitation and hygiene, free of noise, pollution, and promote good nutrition.
Health facilities: Ensure safe water, sanitation and hygiene, and reliable electricity.
Urban planning: Create more green spaces, safe walking and cycling paths.
Transport: Reduce emissions and increase public transport.
Agriculture: Reduce the use of hazardous pesticides and no child labour.
Industry: Manage hazardous waste and reduce the use of harmful chemicals.
Health sector: Monitor health outcomes and educate about environmental health effects and prevention.
Under the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) countries are working on a set of targets to guide interventions for children’s environmental health, as well as to end preventable deaths of newborns and children under five by 2030. In addition to SDG 3, which aims to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all, other SDGs work to improve water, sanitation and hygiene, transition to clean energy to reduce air pollution, and reverse climate change – all of which will have an impact on children’s health.
Pharm. ShapiJames Danjumais chairman of the Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria (ACPN), Adamawa State Chapter and managing director, J.D.S Pharmacy, Jimeta, Yola, Adamawa State. In this exclusive interview withPharmanews, Danjuma recalls the circumstances that led to his emergence as the number one community pharmacist in the state. He also discusses the effects of the present economic downturn on community practice, while also suggesting ways to improve the situation. Excerpts:
Tell us about the activities and achievements of ACPN Adamawa, since you took over as chairman.
I took over the leadership of the association on 6 December 2015, following the sudden disappearance of the past chairman and vice chairman as a result of the frightening security situation in the northeast, arising from the activities of Boko Haram. Fortunately, the then secretary, Pharm. Alhassan Okutepa, and the financial secretary (now late) Pharm. Romanus Dilibe, were on ground to lend support.
ACPN, under my leadership, has been able to enlighten the people of the state about who a community pharmacist is and what he does through series of enlightenment programmes on television and radio stations.
We are happy that both the lettered and unlettered people of the state now have better understanding of difference between a patent medicine dealer and a registered pharmacist.
We have also established a robust relationship with stakeholders like the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) through advocacy visits.
In addition, the association is getting strong footing by ensuring that the issue of register and go (R&G) is reduced to the barest minimum and we are working seriously to minimise indiscriminate opening of pharmacies without recourse to rules and regulations, due to political interferences. We have recently conducted election into the offices of the general secretary and financial secretary respectively.
What has been the challenge of running such an important association as ACPN, and what strategies have you been deploying to surmount them?
Quackery and indiscriminate opening of pharmacies have been the major challenges, but we have developed a strategy through courtesy visits to political leaders to let them know the consequence of permitting indiscriminate opening of pharmacies and patent medicine stores in the state, and we cited the case of how Kano drug market was closed.
The state of the Nigerian economy is affecting all sectors, including health, and this is having effect on businesses. How is this affecting community pharmacy practice in Adamawa State?
Naturally, the buying power of the state populace is critically low and it is also 80 percent civil service oriented. Now that the economy is in recession, community practice is increasingly difficult because many cannot afford to buy their medication due to lack of money and when they want to buy, they prefer to purchase low quality brands.
If you were to advise the federal government on measures or policies that can help improve healthcare in Nigeria, what would be your advice?
I would advise the federal government to declare state of emergency in the health sector. Generally over 70 per cent of pharmaceutical needs of Nigeria is import-dependent. Therefore, I would advise the federal government to reduce the import duty on pharmaceuticals and create enabling environment for indigenous manufacturers of our pharmaceutical needs to thrive.
What do you think is wrong with the way community pharmacy is being practised in Nigeria?
Community pharmacy in Nigeria is not based on patients care yet, and until that is in operation, community practice will continue to suffer setback.
For example, I take responsibility for every pill I dispense and that accounts for the little success I am recording in community practice. The professional manpower need in the state is huge so in my own pharmacy, we render professional pharmaceutical care and the community has noticed it; so people now understand the difference between a pharmacy and a chemist shop, especially in the state capital.
What is your view on retail chain pharmacy practice in Nigeria?
My view on retail chain is that Nigeria is not ripe for it. It can never get my support because it is trade-oriented and not service-oriented.
How do you see the annual PSN and ACPN national conferences?
Of all the professional annual conferences, ACPN still remains the best, followed by PSN. Other professional bodies copy our style (laughs).
What message do you have for your colleagues in the state?
My message to ACPN members in the state is that they should learn to be the community pharmacists they are trained and licensed to be, not dropping their license for a fee and go practice because by doing so they are destroying community pharmacy practice and many of them will regret later.
As a strategy for surviving the lingering economic recession, a seasoned pharmacist has urged pharmaceutical manufacturers in the country to channel their efforts towards producing only essentials.
Speaking with Pharmanews at a recent dinner held in honour of local pharmaceutical manufacturers by the United States Pharmacopeial (USP) Convention in Lagos, Okey Akpa, chairman, Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Group of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (PMGMAN) said that there was no denying that the previous year was a challenging one for both government and private businesses.
He lamented that government’s spending power had been whittled down to the consumer level.
He further disclosed how his association, whose members had invested up to 44 million dollars into factory expansion in Nigeria, had been grappling with economic recession.
“Inflation is on double digits. The national currency is weak, compared to dollars and other international currencies. If you look at it carefully, you will realise that it has become a ‘double whammy.’
“Cost of production has gone up and you cannot transfer the increase in prices directly to the consumers in totality because there is weak purchasing power. Consequently, margins are diminishing and actually disappearing in some instances. It is tough all round but we are hanging in there,” he declared.
While equally bemoaning the level of retrenchment going on in the pharma sector owing to massive drop in production capacity, the pharmacist noted that most manufacturing plants were not running at full capacity.
On what could be done to salvage the situation, Akpa, a Fellow of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) admitted that it was difficult to give a single advice.
“What I can advise is that people should focus only on essentials and further seek how we can collaborate and leverage on each other’s capabilities more.
“That notwithstanding, I am an incurable optimist. I have a strong belief that 2017 will be better, by the grace of God. Most of the measures being discussed and put in place now will certainly yield result and things will begin to look up. That is being highly optimistic,” he enthused.
The Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Group of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (PMGMAN) is the umbrella organisation for manufacturers of pharmaceuticals and allied products in Nigeria.
Its membership is open to any pharmaceutical company established in the country that has and utilises local manufacturing facilities for the production of drugs and medicines from local and or imported raw materials.
The scarcity of essential medicines and the consequent hike in their prices, started last year as a result of scarce foreign exchange. This has been recently exacerbated by the new government policy which compels importers of finished pharmaceutical products to pay 20 per cent duty on such products and has once again ignited a serious discourse on the need for Nigeria to reconsider its excessive dependence on imports for its drug needs.
It would be recalled that stakeholders in the pharmaceutical industry raised the alarm, late last year, of impending drug scarcity, arising from the difficulty faced by drug producing companies and drug importers to access needed foreign exchange. But, as if that was not enough, early this year, the Federal Ministry of Finance, through the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS), began the implementation of the 20 percent duty on imported pharmaceutical products. The ministry’s directive was contained in a circular titled “Import Adjustment Tax.”
This policy is ostensibly aimed at discouraging importation and encouraging local manufacturing of drugs. However, while the government deserves commendation for seeking to support and encourage local manufacturers, we believe that the introduction of the new policy should have been done with more tactfulness, in accordance with glaring realities in the pharmaceutical sector and the country as a whole.
Nigeria presently depends on imports for about 70 per cent of its drug needs, meaning that, with the new policy, there will be proportional increases in prices of drugs. We must emphasise, however, that while this may not be surprising to keen observers, the fact that Nigerians have to pay more for medicines in this austere period, when people are more prone to illness, is an unfair burden.
It must be noted that, until the commencement of this policy, importation of drugs to Nigeria attracted zero per cent duty, which was in tandem with ECOWAS position that drugs imported into the sub-continent should not attract duty, to ensure availability of quality, affordable drugs to the people. This was in consideration that there is a dearth of drug manufacturers in West Africa.
It must also be stated that there are some classes of medicines that, at present, have to be imported, as Nigeria cannot produce them, either due to patents restriction or as a result of technological limitations. To therefore impose a 20 per cent duty on all classes of imported medicines, this,to us, is ill-advised.
It is our view that policies aimed at enhancing local drug production should not be allowed to unwittingly cause drug scarcity or unaffordability – or, worse still, avoidable health complications, which may arise when patients cannot get the drugs they need.
We are equally concerned that the decision of the Nigerian government to blatantly violate the ECOWAS treaty on drugs coming to the sub-continent, to which it is a signatory, could have lasting implications. Indeed, such disrespect for international agreements must be discontinued as it does more harm than good.
We call on the Nigerian government to revisit and review this policy, in consideration of the negative impact it is already having on public health. We equally urge the government to look beyond such policies in its quest to support local drug manufacturing. Rather, it should focus more on providing the enabling environment for local drug manufacturing by, for example, ensuring that ancillary industries whose operations are crucial to local drug manufacturing are able to thrive. A good example of this is the petrochemical industy.
A situation where local manufacturers have to import 99 per cent of required inputs for drug manufacturing and generate own power cannot make them competitive in the global market place. This is the real bane of local drug manufacturing in Nigeria.
It is our view that with appropriate policy initiatives, strategic government support and conducive business environment, local pharmaceutical manufacturers will, in no distant time, be able to meet most of the country’s drug needs through local production.
The implication of all this is that efforts to end the nation’s over-dependence on imported drugs must be a properly coordinated exercise that should include all stakeholders in the pharmaceutical and allied sectors.
Managing Director of Pharmanews Limited and Vice-president, Nigeria Academy of Pharmacy (NAPHARM), Pharm. (Sir) Ifeanyi Atueyi, has advised the leadership of the Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria (ACPN) to remain committed to the task of advancing the interests of the association, noting that there is a divine purpose for their being in position at this time.
The respected pharmacist said this during a courtesy visit by the national executive members of ACPN, led by its chairman, Pharm. (Dr) Albert Kelong Alkali, to the Pharmanews corporate office in Lagos recently.
Atueyi further charged the visitors to always demonstrate the fear of God in the discharge of their duties.
“The reward of your service will come sooner or later; so, do your best today as many will one day remember you and appreciate your service to this association.
L-R, Mr Yusuf Moshood, editor, Pharmanews; Pharm. (Dr) Albert Kelong Alkali, national chairman, ACPN; Pharm. (Sir) Ifeanyi AtueyI, managing director, Pharmanews Limited; Pharm. Samuel Adekola, national vice chairman, ACPN; Pharm. Adeoye Afuye, national secretary, ACPN; Pharm. Lawrence Ekhator, assistant national secretary, ACPN and Mr. Joel Omikunle, business development manager, Pharmanews Limited in a group photograph, during the visit.
“I also want you to know that God is trying us with whatever position we find ourselves today, therefore, faithfulness, truthfulness, perseverance and commitment are needed in whatever position we find ourselves.
“It is also important to note that you are not wasting your time serving in that office or capacity you are serving now, but investing it, because by the time the reward will come, you will be surprised and glorify God,” Atueyi said.
Speaking further, the Pharmanews boss recalled his time as the national treasurer and financial secretary of the erstwhile Nigerian Association of General Practice Pharmacists (NAGPP), before it became the Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria (ACPN), urging the leaders to be determined to do their best in rendering exceptional services, regardless of challenges.
“I have come to discover that in this life, God has a way of pushing you to do whatever He wants you to do,” Atueyi said. “I was never a writer, but because God wanted to take me somewhere, He used somebody to push me into it and today, what started like a child’s play has metamorphosed into about 14 books, and still counting.”
Responding to the Pharmanews MD’s remarks, Pharm. (Dr) Albert Kelong Alkali said that the association’s visit was to show appreciation to Pharmanews for its continual support over the years, especially during its annual conferences, and to also seek elderly advice from Pharm. Atueyi, whom he described as one of the living legends of pharmacy profession in the country.
Alkali further noted that the visit was very significant, as it was his first to Pharmanews since his assumption of office as national chairman.
“We in ACPN do not want to be ingrates; so we have come to pay homage to the doyen of pharmacy himself and to let him know that we appreciate what the journal is doing, especially by projecting the image of pharmacy profession and allowing the public to know what ACPN is all about and what we are doing.
“Pharmanews has created a niche for itself and has set a standard that is enviable to others in the country. There is no way the history of pharmacy in Nigeria will be complete without mentioning Pharmanews,” the obviously delighted Alkali said.
The ACPN boss further seized the opportunity to comment on the issue of pharmacy emblem, which he said the association was vigorously working on.
“It is of paramount importance to inform people that in line with the value of the emblem, the ACPN has restructured it and it is more aesthetically packaged. The emblem carries the serial number of PSN and any emblem different from the one from ACPN is regarded as fake, if mounted in any premises,” he said.
While appealing to Sir Atueyi to assist the ACPN in this vigorous campaign through Pharmanews, Alkali said the general public must be aware that registered pharmacies with genuine pharmaceutical products can only be recognised by the presence of the Green Cross emblem.
Speaking in the same vein, ACPN National Vice chairman, Pharm. Samuel Adekola, saluted Sir. Ifeanyi Atueyi for his doggedness in taking Pharmanews to its present enviable level.
Describing him as a go-getter and trailblazer, he said:
“We cannot thank you enough for giving us Pharmanews in pharmacy profession, as the journal was consistent during our days in the university and today, you are still waxing strong.
“As a young face of pharmacy, we see you as a role model and we are hopeful that one day, we will step into your shoes. By venturing into an aspect that is totally different from selling drugs or manufacturing drug, it has been a very big sacrifice, especially leaving at a time that the profession was more rewarding.
Others in attendance at the meeting were Pharm. Adeoye Afuye, national secretary, ACPN; Pharm. Lawrence Ekhator, assistant national secretary; Editor, Pharmanews Limited, Yusuff Moshood and Business Development Manager, Joel Omikunle.
Pharm. (AIG) Alex Emeka Okeke, hails from Amawbia, Awka South L.G.A. of Anambra state. He had his primary education in Awka and Kaduna between 1958 and 1964. He was at St John’s College Kaduna; Igwebuike Grammar School, Awka; and Dennis Memorial Grammar School, Onitsha, for his secondary and Higher School certificate education between 1965 and 1973.
He obtained a B.Pharm. (Hons) degree from the University of Ife, Ile-Ife in 1979, an MBA from University of Lagos in 1997 and a postgraduate fellowship in Pharmacy (FPCPharm) from the West African Postgraduate College of Pharmacists in 2002.
He had his internship at the General Hospital, Enugu Ukwu; and his compulsory National Service in Gombe and Missau in the old Bauchi State. He worked briefly with the Kano State Health management Board at the Murtala Mohammed Hospital Kano and General Hospital Kazaure.
He was appointed to the Nigeria Police Force as a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) in December 1981 and reported for training at the Police College, Ikeja on 12 February, 1982. He attended a UN drug fellowship programme on Narcotics and Psychotropic Substances at the United Nations Drug Centre in Vienna, Austria in 1991 where he bagged a fellowship of the United Nations Drug Centre. He was the IGP’s representative on the Federal Task Force on Counterfeit and Fake Drugs from 1989-2002.
Okeke was head of pharmacy, Nigeria Police Medical, for several years; the coordinator of the Police Action Committee on HIV/AIDS (PACA); and the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), before being promoted to the rank of Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG), Force Medical Officer and Head of Nigeria Police Medical Services in August, 2012.
He retired from the services of the Nigeria Police on 14 April, 2013, on attaining the statutory age of 60 years after having served for a total of 31 years, two months and two days.
His list of honours and awards include: Merit Award for Distinguished Professionalism (presented by Abuja Branch of Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria); Fellow, Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (FPSN), 2006; and Nigeria Police Medal (NPM), 2013
AIG Okeke (Rtd.) Okeke is married to Lizzy Nwakego Okeke and they are blessed with children.
Dr. Ameyo Stella Adadevoh was the lead physician and endocrinologist at the First Consultant Medical Centre, Lagos, who prevented a national catastrophe by her refusal to discharge the late American-Liberian Patrick Sawyer, who was the index case of the Ebola Viral Disease in Nigeria.
Patrick Sawyer had fallen sick on arrival in Nigeria and was referred to her hospital. Ameyo Adadevoh had never managed an Ebola case before but was able to properly diagnose, contain, and resist pressures from Liberian government officials to release Patrick Sawyer in July 2014.
As a result of her keen perception, courage, and steadfastness, all 20 Ebola cases in Nigeria were traced to a single path of transmission originating from the index patient, Patrick Sawyer. Consequently, Nigeria was able to contain the virus and the World Health Organisation declared the country Ebola-free on 20 October 2014.
According to her only son, Bankole Cardoso, Adadevoh had stated few months earlier that “Nigerian wasn’t prepared for Ebola” when the disease was ravaging some West African countries (Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone). This was evident as there were no protocols, processes, or equipment in place within the country’s health system to deal with an Ebola outbreak. Nigeria had no isolation facility at the time and the infectious diseases hospital in Lagos was not functional.
Dr Adadevoh did what she could with the limited resources she had, collaborating with other health personnel to create an isolation area at the First Consultant hospital. On 4 August 2014, it was confirmed that Ameyo Adadevoh had tested positive for Ebola virus disease and was being treated. Adadevoh and three of her colleagues amongst the eight healthcare workers who contracted the virus died, thus paying the ultimate sacrifice for their heroic service.
Many have described Adadevoh’s heroic actions as inimitable in a country where patriotism and selfless service are not very common. According to a Nigerian journalist, Simon Kolawole, “There were various options in front of her when she discovered Sawyer had Ebola: One, quietly say ‘e no concern me’ and discharge him quickly to avoid contaminating the hospital; two, refer him to Lagos University Teaching hospital, not minding the bigger consequences for the rest of Nigeria; three, act responsibly in line with the ethics of the medical profession and ‘detain’ him because of the peculiarity of the disease.”
Remarkably, she chose the last option, which was the least convenient for her but the most favourable for her country – a reason she continues to serve as a quintessential model of selflessness, professionalism and patriotism.
Family background
Adadevoh was born in Lagos in October 1956. Her father was Babatunde Adadevoh, a professor of chemical pathology and the vice-chancellor of the University of Lagos between 1978 and 1980. Her paternal great-grandfather was the Nigerian nationalist Herbert Samuel Macaulay who established Nigeria’s first political party and his portrait is on Nigeria’s one naira coin.
Herbert Macaulay was the grandson of Samuel Ajayi Crowther, the first African Anglican bishop. Adadevoh was also the grandniece of Nigeria’s first president Nnamdi Azikiwe, a respected modern nationalist, and one of the most revered politicians in Nigerian history.
Education and career
Adadevoh began her education at Mainland Preparatory Primary School, Yaba, Lagos in 1961. Her parents temporarily relocated to Boston, Massachusetts in the United States of America In 1962, where she spent two years in school. Upon the family’s return to Nigeria in 1964, she continued her education at Corona School, Yaba, Lagos, Nigeria until 1968 and then began secondary school at Queens School, Ibadan. She finished in 1974 with a distinction of honours in her West African Examinations Council (WAEC) exams.
Following her secondary school education, Adadevoh was admitted to study Medicine and Surgery at the University of Lagos after her one year of preliminary programme. In 1980, at the age of 24, Adadevoh qualified as a medical doctor with a Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery (MBBS) degree from the University of Lagos.
Upon graduation, she finished a one year mandatory housemanship at Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) and subsequently completed her National Youth Service Corps assignment in 1982 at the Eti-Osa Health Centre in Lagos, Nigeria.
Her professional career began with a residency at LUTH from 1983 to 1988, after which she earned the West African College of Physicians and Surgeons credential. Following her residency, Adadevoh worked as a consultant at LUTH, until 1991 when she earned a prestigious British Council Scholarship to continue her education abroad.
From 1991 to 1993, Ameyo completed her fellowship in Endocrinology at Hammersmith Hospital of the Imperial College in London, in the UK. She then joined First Consultants Medical Centre in Obalende, Lagos, Nigeria where she worked for 21 years and became the Lead Consultant Physician and Endocrinologist.
Adadevoh was a member of the Nigerian Medical Association, Medical Women Association of Nigeria, British-Nigerian Association, Endocrine and Metabolism Society of Nigeria, Association of General and Private Medical Practitioners of Nigeria, and National Postgraduate Medical College. She served as a Non-Executive Director of Learn Africa Plc., and a writer for the first-ever “Ask the Doc” column in Today’s Woman magazine, among other accomplishments.
Ameyor Stella Adadevoh’s heroic efforts is an epitome of patriotism and love for humanity. Her actions demonstrates the difference a diligent and vigilant healthcare worker can make in saving lives. Her heroism, selflessness and sacrifice was dramatised in “93 Days” a film that was premiered in Lagos and at the 2016 Toronto International film festival.
The Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Ibadan (UI) has defeated defending champions, Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile Ife, to emerge as winners of the 3rd Annual Sir Ifeanyi Debate Competition.
The keen contest which took place in the new pharmacy complex at Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) on March 4, 2017 was well attended by several pharmacy students.
Debating on three topics – “NHIS: A Worthwhile Endeavour In The Expansion of Access To Quality Health Care?”“Nigeria’s Macroeconomic Policy: A Vital Tool In The Quest For Self-Sustenance in the Mainstream Sector” and “Brain Drain In Developing Country: A Form of Neo-Colonialistic Exploitation or the Inevitable Price of Inadequacy?” the academic gladiators from both institutions metaphorically went for each other’s jugular to garner maximum points through their arguments.
At the end of the debate, the judges – Prof. Adebayo Lamikanra, department of pharmaceutical microbiology; Dr Oluwole Adeyemi, Faculty Students Officer; Dr. (Mrs) Nusrat Omisore, senior lecturer, department of pharmacology and Mr Ayomipo Adegeye, junior trainee Fellow, OAU Faculty of Pharmacy – declared UI as the winner after garnering 213 points as against OAU’s 202.
In other categories, Kazeem Folarin, a 400 level representative of University of Ibadan won the award for ‘Best Chief Speaker’ while Mercy Obadiora, a 100 level candidate of OAU clinched the ‘Best Supporting Speaker’ award.
2017 WINNERS: Kazeem Folarin (also won ‘Best Chief Speaker’ award), Temiwunmi Akinmuleya, Khadeejah Babalola and Aliu Raji in a group photograph with the patron, Sir Ifeanyi Atueyi
While explaining the criteria deplored by the judges to decide the winner, Prof. Lamikanra contended that the panelists considered a number of factors which included number of points garnered, manner of presentation, dress code and composure.
“I must confess that I am impressed with the standard of the annual Sir Ifeanyi Atueyi Competition.
“Over the years, I have watched OAU beat up people ruthlessly. Today, you have met your match. Congratulations to UI students for proving that they didn’t travel all the way to play second fiddle to anybody,” he teased.
Interestingly, Ojelabi Jesujoba, who won award for best speaker for the OAU delegation at the last edition, was the co-compere for the event.
Praising the contestants, Prof. Clement Adebajo, dean of the host school, said that they are setting a good precedence for other prospective pharmacy students to follow.
“I also use this special occasion to applaud patron of the initiative, Sir Ifeanyi Atueyi, who continue to ensure the office of the dean doesn’t lack copies of Pharmanews journal to date,” he stressed.
L-R: Tobi Adeoye, compere; Jesujoba Ojelabi, PANS national editor-in-chief; Maryam Bajepade, PANS OAU editor-in-chief; Sir Ifeanyi Atueyi, managing director of Pharmanews Limited; Emmanuel Oluwagbade, PANS OAU president and AbdulQudus Ojomo, member, organising committee.
In his address, Pharm (Sir) Ifeanyi Atueyi, managing director of Pharmanews Limited praised the pharmacy students and their mouthpiece – the Pharmaceutical Association of Nigerian Students (PANS) for honouring him with the annual contest.
“It is the greatest honour for me and I must admit that PANS has added a lot into my life,” he noted.
Reacting to a question, Atueyi declared that the journal is strictly for pharmacists, medical professionals and health institutions hence the reason why it cannot be seen in news stands.
“We cannot stop non-professionals who stumble on it from gaining insight into health issues. But they are not the primary target. This is because it contains ethical products or poison as we call it,” he revealed.
Addressing another question on whether one can become rich by starting a pharmacy publication, the Pharmanews boss reassured that there are other things more important than money.
“Since inception of Pharmanews, several publications had come and gone. One thing is certain, if it is not your calling, it will not last. To answer your question, money comes only when you start adding values to your services.
“For instance, Pharmanews generates revenue through subscription, which could be little or minimal and, mainly, through promotion of ethical products in the publication,” he disclosed.
It would be recalled that the Sir Ifeanyi Atueyi Debate & Essay Competition initiative was launched. However a decision was taken at the 2015 edition that the winning school be allowed to host the next contest.
Interestingly, the debate team of the faculty of pharmacy, Obafemi Awolowo University aptly named “The house of Magma” won the 2015 edition. It seemed then that fate had decided to bring the honour HOME for Sir Ifeanyi Atueyi, an Alumnus of the faculty of pharmacy, University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University).
At this year’s edition, University of Ibadan delegation comprised Khadeejah Babalola (300 level), Aliu Raji (300 level), Kazeem Folarin (400 level) and Temiwunmi Akinmuleya while the OAU team was made up of Mercy Obadiora (100 level), Rhoda Bepo (100 level) and Ahmad Akande (100 level).
PANEL OF JUDGES: Dr Oluwole Adeyemi, Faculty Students Officer; Mr Ayomipo Adegeye, junior trainee Fellow and Dr. (Mrs) Nusrat Omisore, senior lecturer, department of pharmacology, OAU Faculty of PharmacyA cross section of the 3rd Sir Ifeanyi Atueyi Interpharmacy School contest winners and members of the organising committee.
WHO reaffirms the critical need for research and development (R&D) of new antibiotics to tackle the threat of drug-resistant tuberculosis (TB).
“Addressing drug-resistant TB research is a top priority for WHO and for the world,” said Dr Margaret Chan, WHO Director-General. “More than US$ 800 million per year is currently necessary to fund badly needed research into new antibiotics to treat TB.”
The MDR-TB public health crisis continues: there were an estimated 580 000 cases and 250 000 related deaths in 2015. Only 125 000 were started on treatment, and just half of those people were cured.
Only two new antibiotics to address MDR-TB have completed Phase IIB trials in the past 50 years. Both are still in Phase III trials, and more funding will be required to complete the process and to develop other effective treatment regimens.
On 27 February, WHO published a list of antibiotic-resistant pathogens that have recently been prioritized as posing great risk to human health.
“Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the bacterium responsible for human TB, was not included in the scope of the prioritization exercise as the intention was to identify previously unrecognised health threats due to increasing antibiotic resistance. There is already consensus that TB is a top priority for R&D for new antibiotics,” said Dr Marie-Paule Kieny, Assistant Director-General at WHO.
A series of high-level global meetings on TB have been scheduled in 2017-2018. Drug-resistant TB and research will be major themes at the WHO Ministerial Conference on TB planned in Moscow in November 2017. It will also be a key agenda item at the UN General Assembly high-level meeting on TB in 2018. MDR-TB and research needs are also under discussion in wider fora such as those focusing on antimicrobial resistance and health security.
WHO on the 27th of February, 2017 published its first ever list of antibiotic-resistant “priority pathogens” – a catalogue of 12 families of bacteria that pose the greatest threat to human health.
The list was drawn up in a bid to guide and promote research and development (R&D) of new antibiotics, as part of WHO’s efforts to address growing global resistance to antimicrobial medicines.
The list highlights in particular the threat of gram-negative bacteria that are resistant to multiple antibiotics. These bacteria have built-in abilities to find new ways to resist treatment and can pass along genetic material that allows other bacteria to become drug-resistant as well.
“This list is a new tool to ensure R&D responds to urgent public health needs,” says Dr Marie-Paule Kieny, WHO’s Assistant Director-General for Health Systems and Innovation. “Antibiotic resistance is growing, and we are fast running out of treatment options. If we leave it to market forces alone, the new antibiotics we most urgently need are not going to be developed in time.”
The WHO list is divided into three categories according to the urgency of need for new antibiotics: critical, high and medium priority.
The most critical group of all includes multidrug resistant bacteria that pose a particular threat in hospitals, nursing homes, and among patients whose care requires devices such as ventilators and blood catheters. They include Acinetobacter, Pseudomonas and various Enterobacteriaceae (including Klebsiella, E. coli, Serratia, and Proteus). They can cause severe and often deadly infections such as bloodstream infections and pneumonia.
These bacteria have become resistant to a large number of antibiotics, including carbapenems and third generation cephalosporins – the best available antibiotics for treating multi-drug resistant bacteria.
The second and third tiers in the list – the high and medium priority categories – contain other increasingly drug-resistant bacteria that cause more common diseases such as gonorrhoea and food poisoning caused by salmonella.
G20 health experts will meet this week in Berlin. Mr Hermann Gröhe, Federal Minister of Health, Germany says “We need effective antibiotics for our health systems. We have to take joint action today for a healthier tomorrow. Therefore, we will discuss and bring the attention of the G20 to the fight against antimicrobial resistance. WHO’s first global priority pathogen list is an important new tool to secure and guide research and development related to new antibiotics.”
The list is intended to spur governments to put in place policies that incentivize basic science and advanced R&D by both publicly funded agencies and the private sector investing in new antibiotic discovery. It will provide guidance to new R&D initiatives such as the WHO/Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi) Global Antibiotic R&D Partnership that is engaging in not-for-profit development of new antibiotics.
Tuberculosis – whose resistance to traditional treatment has been growing in recent years – was not included in the list because it is targeted by other, dedicated programmes. Other bacteria that were not included, such as streptococcus A and B and chlamydia, have low levels of resistance to existing treatments and do not currently pose a significant public health threat.
The list was developed in collaboration with the Division of Infectious Diseases at the University of Tübingen, Germany, using a multi-criteria decision analysis technique vetted by a group of international experts. The criteria for selecting pathogens on the list were: how deadly the infections they cause are; whether their treatment requires long hospital stays; how frequently they are resistant to existing antibiotics when people in communities catch them; how easily they spread between animals, from animals to humans, and from person to person; whether they can be prevented (e.g. through good hygiene and vaccination); how many treatment options remain; and whether new antibiotics to treat them are already in the R&D pipeline.
“New antibiotics targeting this priority list of pathogens will help to reduce deaths due to resistant infections around the world,” says Prof Evelina Tacconelli, Head of the Division of Infectious Diseases at the University of Tübingen and a major contributor to the development of the list. “Waiting any longer will cause further public health problems and dramatically impact on patient care.”
While more R&D is vital, alone, it cannot solve the problem. To address resistance, there must also be better prevention of infections and appropriate use of existing antibiotics in humans and animals, as well as rational use of any new antibiotics that are developed in future.
WHO priority pathogens list for R&D of new antibiotics
Survey reveals most women lack information on ovarian cancer symptoms
Women all around the world are known for their tender, passionate and caring spirit, which is generally seen as merit to them. However, a study has found that most women use this advantage to their disadvantage, by putting first the health of their family members to the detriment of their own health.
The study which confirmed that 90 percent of women hardly know the symptoms of ovarian cancer, explained that this was due to their delay in seeking medical advice for themselves, because they do not prioritise their own health over that of their family.
Worse still, the survey found that some women put their pets before themselves, taking seven days to go to the vet, while they may defer their own medical attention.
According to the poll by the Ovarian Cancer Action on 1,000 British women, it revealed a worrying lack of awareness of ovarian cancer, which affects around 7,000 women a year.
In a report published on Daily Mail Online, Katherine Taylor, chief executive of Ovarian Cancer Action, said: ‘As women, we often put the needs of those important to us before our own.
“But in order to look after others, we have to look after ourselves first. We need to know and understand the signs and symptoms of ovarian cancer so we can seek help and get treatment as soon as possible.”
She highlighted the common symptoms of ovarian cancer to include: bloating, stomach pain, feeling full quickly and needing to go to the toilet very frequently, extreme fatigue and unexplained weight loss.
The Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria ACPN, Lagos State Chapter has called on the Federal Government to as a matter of urgency reconstitute the board of the Pharmacists Council of Nigeria (PCN), which was dissolved over a year ago, saying each time boards of the council and other health professions are dissolved, there are setbacks to the operation of the respective council.
The chairman of the association, Pharm. (Mrs.) Biola Paul-Ozieh, made the appeal during the association’s 2017 annual general meeting in Lagos recently.
According to her, the profession has suffered a lot within the space of 18 months or thereabout that the board had been deprived of performing its necessary oversight functions for the profession.
The chairman however urged the community pharmacists in the state to be responsible and be ready to stand up for the profession at all time, adding that if they fail to stand for something that will enhance pharmaceutical care, improve health outcomes in Nigeria and add value health wise to the Nigerian people, they are certainly going to fall for everything and anything.
Cross section of participants at the event
“In the words of Howard Hendricks, a belief is something you argue about; but a conviction is what you die for, so as professionals, what are we ready to argue about and what are we ready to die for?. In those days to come, our professional conviction will be on trial and the earlier we develop a strong sense of purpose, commitment, and values, the better for the posterity of the pharmacy profession.”
A major high point of the programme was the re-election of the executive members of the association for the next one year.
Other members of the re-elected executives are Pharm. Olabanji Benedict Obideyi, vice chairman; Pharm. Lawrence Ekhator, secretary; Pharm. Moyosore Michael Ademola, assistant secretary; Pharm. Ismail Kola Sunmonu, treasurer; Pharm. Ambrose Sunday Ezeh, financial secretary; Pharm. Obiageri Ethel Ikwu, public relations officer; and Pharm. Timehin Ogungbe, editor-in-chief.
Until recently, colorectal cancer also known as bowel cancer was known as a common disease of the elderly, but findings by members of the American Cancer Society, have indicated four times increase in the risk of the condition among adolescents than the elderly.
The scientists, who attributed the sudden surge of the disease among the youths to diets high in red or processed meats, like bacon and sausages, alcohol intake and low fiber as major predisposing factors to the increment in the risk of the disease.
While earlier researchers have identified unhealthy diets, lack of exercise, and snacking on fast food, chocolate, cakes and soda as risks to the condition.
The study, which was featured on Daily Mail UK Online but initially published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, noted that the number of cases is rising in young and middle aged adults, including people in their early 50s, with rectal cancer rates increasing particularly fast.
According to one of the team members, as Dr Rebecca Siegel, an epidemiologist of the American Cancer Society, ‘Trends in young people are a bellwether for the future disease burden.
‘Our finding that colorectal (bowel) cancer risk for millennial has escalated back to the level of those born in the late 1800s is very sobering.
‘Educational campaigns are needed to alert clinicians and the general public about this increase to help reduce delays in diagnosis, which are so prevalent in young people, but also to encourage healthier eating and more active lifestyles to try to reverse this trend.’
The research shows looming danger of an impending epidemic of digestive diseases among youth, while it also alerted on the need to start screening people in their early 20s, rather than in their 60s.
A new study, conducted at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Centre in Dallas, has found that heart failure was responsible for one in nine deaths, warning on the growing risks of heart failure across the globe.
The research, which was carried out by Dr. Jarett D. Berry, associate professor in the department of internal medicine and clinical sciences, aimed to investigate the influence of common risk factors of heart failure among Americans.
Having collated data from 51,541 participants, the researchers published their results in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, and also published on Medical News Today.
Their result identified high BMI and reduced physical activity as known risk factors for heart failure, adding that both limit the function of the heart in pumping enough blood to meet the body’s oxygen demands, thus leads to heart failure – a chronic and progressive condition.
According to the Lead Author, Dr Berry, there are a number of subtypes of heart failure, one of which is called heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). This form of the condition is characterized by a stiffening of the left ventricle and a reduction in its ability to relax between contractions.
He further stated that the stiffening associated with HFpEF means that the ventricle is unable to fill with an adequate amount of blood, and it therefore pumps less oxygen-rich blood around the body.
Berry also noted that lifestyle factors are known to increase the risk of heart failure, including lower levels of physical activity and a higher BMI. Because HFpEF accounts for roughly half of all heart failure cases and typically responds less well to current therapies, there is an important emphasis on prevention.
The import of this discovery is for Nigerians to reduce their risks of heart failure by ensuring they have healthy BMI, live healthy lifestyle and engage in regular physical activity.
“Getting enough sleep is a key component of overall health and can impact the heart, mind and weight. It’s important to learn what is keeping people from getting the rest they need so we can help them work toward better health”, said Kelly Sullivan, Ph.D.
Although parents of young children suffer sleep deprivation, a new study published on Medical News Today has confirmed that mothers are more affected by this development than fathers, as it was found that mothers living with children experience 14 percent sleep deficiency.
The researchers from the Georgia Southern University, who asserted that the condition will predispose women to diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular disease, and depression; are due to present their findings at the American Academy of Neurology’s 69th Annual Meeting in Boston, MA, in April.
Collating data from 5,800 adults, the team found that having children in the house significantly reduced the number of hours mothers slept each night, while fathers’ sleep remained unaffected.
The researchers believe their study helps shed light on what contributes to sleep deprivation, paving the way for new strategies to help people get a good night’s sleep.
Study co-author Kelly Sullivan, Ph.D., of Georgia Southern University, and colleagues noted that the National Sleep Foundation holds that adults should aim to get around 7-9 hours of sleep each night, but more than 35 percent fail to meet these recommendations.
For their study, Sullivan and colleagues analyzed data from a telephone survey of 5,805 men and women aged 45 and under from across the United States.
Compared with women who did not have children in their household, the team found that women who did have children were 14 percent less likely to report getting at least 7 hours of sleep each night.
Nurses under the aegis of University Graduates of Nursing Science Association (UGONSA) have called for unity among Nigerians in this trying period when the father of the country is off-color.
In a statement jointly signed by the National President, Chief (Hon.) S.E.O. Egwuenu, and the National Secretary, Nur. G.I. Nshi, the association said: “in families when the father is constrained by health challenges other members unite to keep the family moving”.
“Good enough, our president, being a man that has the interest of the country at heart, properly handed over to his second in command, Prof. Yemi Osibanjo, before leaving the Country.
Our obligations as members of this big family, Nigeria, at this material time is to show strong support for our father, President Muhammadu Buhari and our elder brother, Prof. Osibanjo, who is acting on his behalf.
“Our support should be unalloyed, be it morally, physically, socially or spiritually and should reflect in our demeanours and utterances.
The association equally used the opportunity to sue for fixing of the health system of the Country.
“It is awful that despite parading highly endowed healthcare providers, our political leaders do not patronize our healthcare system because nobody wants to fix its structural deficits.
“It is disheartening, to say the least, to perennially see our leaders jet out in droves in search of foreign healthcare that was fixed by other leaders.
“It is high time our leaders learnt from the likes of Nelson Mandela of South Africa and Fidel Castro of Cuba who fixed their country’s health system and were nursed to longevity till death by the same system, without junketing around for medical tourism.
“We hope that our dear President is taking note of what makes the British Health System better than ours and as he returns ‘hale and hearty’ to the country, would summon the political will to fix our own system, make it work and save the country from further “medical tourism” embarrassment- the Nurses said.
As UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador Orlando Bloom meets children and families affected by Boko Haram violence on Niger trip
Orlando Bloom speaks with Eta, 12, Bosso, Niger, 19 February 2017. Two years ago Boko Haram forced into her family home and lined them up in the courtyard, looking for her father and threatening to kill everyone if they didn’t give him up. They fled
Almost 1.4 million children are at imminent risk of death from severe acute malnutrition this year, as famine looms in Nigeria, Somalia, South Sudan and Yemen, UNICEF said today.
“Time is running out for more than a million children,” said UNICEF Executive Director Anthony Lake. “We can still save many lives. The severe malnutrition and looming famine are largely man-made. Our common humanity demands faster action. We must not repeat the tragedy of the 2011 famine in the Horn of Africa.”
In northeast Nigeria, the number of children with severe acute malnutrition is expected to reach 450,000 this year in the conflict-affected states of Adamawa, Borno and Yobi. Fews Net, the famine early warning system that monitors food insecurity, said late last year that famine likely occurred in some previously inaccessible areas of Borno states, and that it is likely ongoing, and will continue, in other areas which remain beyond humanitarian reach.
In Somalia, drought conditions are threatening an already fragile population battered by decades of conflict. Almost half the population, or 6.2 million people, are facing acute food insecurity and in need of humanitarian assistance. Some 185,000 children are expected to suffer from severe acute malnutrition this year, however this figure is expected to rise to 270,000 in the next few months.
In South Sudan, a country reeling from conflict, poverty and insecurity, over 270,000 children are severely malnourished. Famine has just recently been declared in parts of Unity State in the northern central part of the country, where 20,000 children live. The total number of food insecure people across the country is expected to rise from 4.9 million to 5.5 million at the height of the lean season in July if nothing is done to curb the severity and spread of the food crisis.
And in Yemen, where a conflict has been raging for the past two years, 462,000 children are currently suffering from severe acute malnutrition – a nearly 200 per cent increase since 2014.
This year, UNICEF is working with partners to provide therapeutic treatment to 220,000 severely malnourished children in Nigeria, over 200,000 severely malnourished children in South Sudan, more than 200,000 severely malnourished children in Somalia, and 320,000 children in Yemen.
Also in the news this week, UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador Orlando Bloom travelled to Diffa, south-east Niger, to highlight the ongoing humanitarian crisis in the Lake Chad Basin where Boko Haram violence has caused huge population displacements. Hundreds of thousands of children across the region have been forced from their homes, are out of education and at risk of malnutrition.
In areas affected by the violence in Niger, Nigeria, Chad and Cameroon, 2.3 million people are now displaced, making this one of the fastest growing displacement crises in Africa. The Diffa region currently hosts over 240,000 internally displaced persons, refugees and returnees – including 160,000 children.
“As a father, it is hard for me to imagine how many of these children are caught up in this conflict. During my trip I have heard dreadful stories about children fleeing on foot, leaving everything behind, including the safety of their homes and classrooms,” said Bloom, who first travelled to see UNICEF’s work in 2007.
Bloom met with children such as 14-year-old Amada Goni who has been living with his family in Garin Wazam, a camp for displaced persons. When the crisis began, many of Amada’s friends joined Boko Haram, some voluntarily, others not. He opened up to Bloom about the terrible nightmares he has and how he still doesn’t feel safe since his village was attacked eight months ago. Amada now goes to the UNICEF-supported psychosocial support unit every day where he gets help to deal with the trauma he faced and where he has met new friends.
“When I go there to play, I feel good, I feel relieved, I feel much better. It helps with the nightmares,” he told Bloom.
“It is extremely hard to comprehend this situation when you are not there. I saw the depth of the pain and suffering these kids are going through. This is not something any child should experience,” said Bloom. “However it was amazing to witness the smile on Amada’s face as he played basketball with his friends. This is the result of UNICEF’s work.”
“So many children in Niger and across the Lake Chad region have been uprooted by this crisis,” said Marie-Pierre Poirier, UNICEF’s Regional Director for West and Central Africa. “They have suffered unimaginable violence and abuse, they have lost their families, their homes and missed out on years of education. What these children need most is an end to the violence, and until that is possible, we must do all we can to support them in rebuilding their lives.”
During his time in Niger, Bloom also visited Bosso on the border of Nigeria where he met 13-year-old Eta, who fled with her family when her house was burned by Boko Haram. Now attending a temporary school opened by UNICEF, she dreams of becoming a doctor, working for the well-being of her community.
“This visit has been extremely moving. Every single child I met is affected by this conflict and in desperate need of basic services such as clean water, psychological care and education to help them recover from the atrocities they have suffered and witnessed. They deserve a childhood,” said Bloom.
UNICEF and its partners in Nigeria, Cameroon, Chad and Niger have increased the level of assistance to thousands of families in the region, with access to safe water, education, counselling and psychosocial support, as well as vaccines and treatment for malnutrition. However, a shortage of funding and difficult access due to insecurity have hindered the delivery of humanitarian assistance to thousands of children in need.
Health care has evolved greatly over the past 20 years. Our knowledge of diseases and technological innovations have all contributed to improving life expectancy during the 20th Century. But one of the greatest challenges today is not about keeping up with the latest clinical procedures or the latest high-tech equipment. Instead, it is about delivering safer care in complex, pressurized and fast-moving environments. In such environments, things can often go wrong. Adverse events occur. Unintentional, but serious harm comes to patients during routine clinical practice, or as a result of a clinical decision.
Many countries in the world have already recognized that patient safety is important and are building ways and approaches to improve the quality and safety of care. They have also recognized the importance of educating health-care professionals on the principles and concepts of patient safety. Strengthening such competencies is needed in order to keep pace with the complexities of the system and the demands of workforce requirements.
Rova College in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Health, its agencies and development partners organize an annual two-days strategic meeting between healthcare leaders, key stakeholders, policy makers & investors. It is designed to close strategic vacuums in healthcare through leadership and management development. It is a transformational platform for innovative ideas, corporate advocacy and trends that shape and drive change in the fast changing world of healthcare.
Venue: Nicon Luxury Hotels, Abuja
Date: 9th – 10th May, 2017
Time: 8:30am – 6:00pm
Conference Fees: N65,000 per participant
The Conference Objectives
To create a platform for collective high level advocacy which will serve as a catalyst towards improving Patient safety at all levels of care in Nigeria.
To strengthen national focus on Patient safety at the policy making and care delivery levels in support of the implementation of WHO initiatives on Patient Safety.
Support the emerging drive for National Patient safety policy.
Improve organizational Patient safety culture through leadership and management development.
Inspire new strategies and coordinated actions on patient safety in Nigeria.
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Please contact the program coordinator on: +234-805-608-1259, 808-750-4372.
Email: patientsafety.nigeria@gmail.com or rova_healthmgt@yahoo.com
More than 300 million people of all ages suffer from depression, which is the leading cause of disability worldwide, and is a major contributor to the overall global burden of disease, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO).
WHO, in a global estimate published yesterday noted that at its worst, depression can lead to suicide and close to 800 000 people die due to suicide every year, which is the second leading cause of death in 15 to 29-year-olds.
The body said that although there are known, effective treatments for depression, fewer than half of those affected in the world (in many countries, fewer than 10 per cent) receive such treatments.
It noted that barriers to effective care include a lack of resources, lack of trained health-care providers, social stigma associated with mental disorders, and inaccurate assessment.
According to the WHO, in countries of all income levels, people who are depressed are often not correctly diagnosed, and others who do not have the disorder are too often misdiagnosed and prescribed antidepressants.
Indeed, the burden of depression and other mental health conditions are on the rise globally. A World Health Assembly resolution passed in May 2013 has called for a comprehensive, coordinated response to mental disorders at country level.
Neurologists across the country have decried the increasing prevalence of stroke in Nigeria, warning that if there is no urgent strategic plan by government and private institutions to halt the progression, it is likely to worsen over the next decade, based on the projections by the World Health Organization (WHO) for lower and middle income countries.
The experts who came from different teaching hospitals in the country, while sharing their different clinical experiences on the treatment of stroke patients, agreed with the WHO prediction, which stated that stroke incidence decreased by 42 per cent in high-income countries in the last four and half decades, while it increased by 100 per cent in lower income countries, where Nigeria belongs.
Desirous to get better and new methods of treating and managing stroke cases, to enhance reduction in mortality and acquired disability, the neurologists converged at the launch of NeuroAiD, a new drug produced by Moleac and marketed by Bolar Pharmaceutical in Nigeria, for quick recovery from stroke.
The NeuroAiD launch, held at the Best Western Hostel Plus, Allen Avenue, Ikeja, on 22 February 2017, was chaired by Professor Yomi Ogun, a professor of Internal Medicine/ Neurology and consultant physician / neurologist at Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital (OACHS).
Feeding on fruits and vegetables has got a lot of health benefits for the human system. Although some heavy consumers might regard them less, due to their inability to fill the stomach like other food items, but that has not reduced their potency in anyway.
A new research published in Thorax has found that eating greater quantities of fruits and vegetables can reduce the risk of developing lung disease in humans.
The findings published on Medical News Today stated that the consumption of green leafy vegetables and fruits can lower the risk of developing Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) in former and current smokers.
Some earlier studies have found that dietary factors might play a role in COPD. To delve into this question in more detail, a group of researchers tracked the respiratory health of more than 44,000 Swedish men. Aged 45-79 at the start of the trial, the participants were followed for an average of 13.2 years, up to the end of 2012.
Each participant completed a food frequency questionnaire that collated how often they ate 96 different food items in 1997, the first year of the study. Other factors were also collected, including height, weight, education level, physical activity, and alcohol consumption.
The findings revealed that for those eating five portions per day, the equivalent numbers were 546 and 255, respectively. This means that individuals eating five daily servings of fruits and vegetables had a 35 percent reduced risk of developing COPD compared with those eating two or less portions. When the reduction in risk was split into current and former smokers, the percentages were 40 percent and 34 percent, respectively.
For instance, increasing their consumption helps reduce cardiovascular risk, maintain a healthy blood pressure, and stave off cancer, to name but a few.
Worried by the significant health burden posed by meningococcal and pneumococcal diseases globally, medical experts in Nigeria have called for early diagnosis and vaccination in paediatrics and adults, in order to reduce the morbidity and mortality rate attributable to these diseases.
The adept medical practitioners, who spoke at the Pfizer’s West African Vaccine Summit 2017, said it is unacceptable to be losing a large percentage of the Nigerian population to preventable diseases like meningitis and pneumonia, with the availability of effective vaccines to prevent the attacks.
Delivering a paper titled: “Expanded age BOD pneumococcal /PCV 13 expanded indication”, Dr Osi-Ogbu Ogugua, chief consultant and head of Geriatric/Endocrinology unit at the National Hospital Abuja, identified chronic liver disease and chronic kidney disease, predisposing factors to invasive pneumococcal disease.
While attributing 60 per cent of childhood death to pneumococcal disease, she mentioned measles as a predisposing factor to the disease in paediatrics, stating that under 5 children and the aged are at higher risk of the disease.
Still on pneumococcal disease, Dr Adejomoke I. Ayede, a senior lecturer in the department of paediatrics, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, disclosed the mortality rate of pneumonia in Nigeria as at 2008 to be 177,000, lamenting the paucity of current data.
She also described meningococcal disease as a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide with reported epidemics and outbreaks in different parts of the world. Despite the availability of antimicrobial therapy, challenges remain in early recognition and prevention of disease. Several vaccines have been developed to date aiming at the prevention of the disease.
Going forward, Ayede recommended the use of PCV 13, Prevenar 13 and Nimenrix – as tested and proven vaccines for the prevention of broadest serotype pneumococcal disease and meningococcal disease respectively. Aside the use of vaccines for prevention, she did mentioned adequate nutrition, proper hygiene, a sound immune system, keeping the body warm in cold weather, and micro supplements as other preventive methods against the diseases.
Fielding questions from press men, Professor of Medicine, from the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State Nigeria, Gregory Erhabor, explained the essence of the summit, saying it is imperative for stakeholders to improve their knowledge on service delivery in order to have the best patients outcome.
He said Pfizer Nigeria has deemed it fit to update healthcare practitioners on the latest trend in the management of preventable diseases, in order for them to compete favourably with their counterparts in other parts of the world, and to have a formidable healthcare team in the country.
Director of Corporate Affairs, Pfizer NEAR, Mrs Margret Olele explained the efforts of Pfizer in combating meningitis and pneumonia in Nigeria, especially for the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs). She stated that they have made their products highly affordable for these set of persons, by giving them more than 60 percent price slash, and which will not be increased until ten years time.
In recognition of her outstanding commitment and unwavering performance to quality and excellence, in healthcare delivery, the Business Initiative Directors (BID) International has honoured the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), with the award of World Quality Commitment.
The award, which was conferred on the tertiary hospital by BID Geneva, was the third in three years, as BID England and BID Paris International Quality Control IQC had earlier given the award to the hospital in November 2014 and 2015 respectively.
Receiving the award on behalf of management and the entire staff of the hospital, the Chief Medical Director, Professor Wale Oke, wholeheartedly appreciated BID, the organizer of WQC award, for the choice of LASUTH for the prestigious award, assuring them that LASUTH will continue to uphold quality through best practice.
According to the report published on www.lasuth.org.ng, the existence of LASUTH Quality Assurance Department necessitated the establishment of a standard with continuous surveillance and monitoring in all the departments of the hospital to ensure best practice is in place.
It further explained that “LASUTH quality policy is to encourage process excellence and operational effectiveness in every department and unit through the implementation of standard operating procedures and key performance indicators”.
9th Law:The more you ask and listen, the more you sell
If you are not moving closer to what you want in sales [or in life], you probably aren’t doing enough asking. – Jack Canfield
A story was told about an outrageous insurance policy purchase by Henry Ford. The story got the attention of a close friend of Mr Ford who was noticeably upset because he was in the insurance business. Mr Ford’s friend went to him and asked why he had not bought the policy from him. Henry Ford’s exceptional answer is an eye opener to every salesman. He said, ‘‘You didn’t ask me.’’ In sales, you must ask for the order. You must take the right actions. You don’t assume – you initiate actions and create the things you want to see.
Two great skills
Two of the greatest skills to acquire in communication are: ability to listen and ability to ask questions. If you can develop the skill to ask the right questions at the right time, and the patience to listen attentively in order to get the right answers, then success is near to you.
In the sales world, asking and listening bring out the hidden treasures in the prospect. When you ask the right questions, and listen as if you are paid to just listen to the prospect – unsaid things that will lead to the closing would be made known to you.
Listen to be informed and be guided properly. The man who listens during conversation hears the unsaid. Effective listening is when you are able to hear what is said and what is not said. Sometimes, the most important part of the communication is not voiced. You need to decode it yourself during the process and you do this when you know the art of effective listening. When you apply effective listening skills, you listen with your ears, heart, eyes, and even with your mouth!
Between effective and partial listening
Effective listening is different from partial listening. In effective listening, you listen with the intention to understand and communicate. Effective listening is total listening. Partial listening is different. The receiver of the message in partial listening – listens with the intention to respond and not with the intention to understand. He listens to what he wants to hear. The listener makes up his mind even before the sender of the message begins to talk!
In partial listening, the receiver of the message listens for formality sake. Sometimes, he cuts in without waiting for the sender to conclude. This is because he is listening with the intention to respond from a predetermined position, and not with the intention to communicate effectively. This listening style does not build relationship because it is discourteous. The two methods: effective and partial types of listening are two distant poles that cannot meet. The former is ideal; while the latter should not be practised at all. Salesmen must note this aspect. In asking questions, try to ask what will ensure a robust communication. Don’t just ask questions for asking sake. Ask with the intent to discover the prospect and what his needs are. Discovering the prospect is the starting point of sales success.
Richard Branson said, ‘‘listen more than you talk. Nobody learns anything by hearing themselves speak.’’ It is when you listen to others that knowledge will increase. In sales, some prospects are naturally apprehensive. They see the salesman as someone who has come to take from their pockets! These sets of prospects won’t be in a hurry to let the salesman know all that is going on in their minds.
Listening is discipline
The glaring truth is that it takes discipline and patience to listen. It is also true that a lot of people lack this attribute. They just want to be heard when they speak. They want everyone to wait and listen to them! They want everyone to wait for them while they speak and once they are done, impatience sets in. They won’t wait to hear other opinions.
It takes discipline and patience to balance the weakness in this area. A disciplined fellow will naturally wait for his turn to speak. The man who listens is patient, disciplined and humble. These are great sales attributes. These are qualities that lead to success. Don’t set out without them.
George O. Emetuche
Brian Tracy endorsed bestselling author, speaker, and sales trainer.
Olumide Ibikunle is the immediate past president, Pharmaceutical Association of Nigeria Students (PANS), Igbinedion University, (IUO), Okada, Edo State. In this exclusive interview with Pharmanews, the young and astute Ibikunle, whose mother, Pharm. (Mrs) E.A Ibikunle is also a pharmacist speaks on some grey areas in the profession that needs to be addressed urgently by the stakeholders in the profession. He also expressed his views on some crucial issues affecting pharmacy education in Nigeria, especially the challenges facing public universities in the country. Excerpts:
Why did choose to study Pharmacy?
Growing up, my love for Biology and Chemistry helped inspired and shaped my dream of being a health practitioner. However, I realised that I was squeamish at the sight of blood and would rather spend time understanding animal health and hygiene as opposed to being a surgeon. I also developed the idea of expanding the frontiers of research efforts in finding a lasting cure to HIV/AIDS and other deadly diseases bedeviling our world. While my viewpoint of the entire health value chain has become refined, I have clearly seen how studying Pharmacy will help me make impact in the world.
Also, I am a second generation pharmacist as I took after my mum, Pharm. (Mrs) E.A. Ibikunle, a pharmacist. This obviously also played a huge role in my love for the profession and I am sure she is most elated that I am going to be inducted into the profession soon.
What informed your decision to study in a private institution and not a public one?
I used to be a pharmacy student at Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), which is a public institution but I left OAU during 2012/2013 session and got transferred to IUO in 2013. I never had a preference for either a public or private institution but, by circumstance, I am graduating in a private institution. But they are both great schools with bright products.
What prompted your decision to involve in PANS politics?
PANS IUO is one of the most organised student associations on campus as it has a well-defined structure; but over the years, the nonchalant attitude of pharmacy students towards politicking and right leadership has made it less active compared to other student bodies. I saw a potential for greatness in the association which needed someone with experience and exposure to manage. Obviously the trend was not going to change without the emergence of a dynamic leader. While I was at OAU, I served in the capacity of assistant general secretary which exposed me to the structure of PANS and its basic activities.
What areas of the pharmacy profession do you think the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) and other stakeholders need to address urgently?
Firstly, the issue of internship placement needs an urgent overhaul. Some Pharmacy students now stay more than a year before getting placement to do their compulsory internship programme, which is a prerequisite for being fully licensed to practise in the country. This is not good enough. The programme should also be made more inclusive and rewarding.
In addition, a state-of-emergency needs to be urgently declared on the issue of non-pharmacists dealing in pharmaceuticals, as the integrity of this noble profession needs to be preserved, not given out cheaply to quacks. This is imperative because it is taking away the need for pharmacists in our society, leading to unemployment and an unsafe society. The earlier this is done, the better for the pharmaceutical world.
Lastly, the PSN and the PCN need to work together especially in the areas of creating bills or legislation that affect the lives and living conditions of pharmacists. For instance, the law that prohibits pharmacists from not having more than a job at a time needs to be reviewed as quacks now hide under this guise of inadequate number of pharmacists to sell drugs. This has made our society more unsafe.
What can government do to improve the standard of pharmacy education in Nigeria?
Although the PCN and the NUC are doing very good jobs in regulating and improving the standard of pharmacy practice in Nigeria, more can still be done to make pharmacy schools here rival those in the western world by enforcing the improvement of the standards of laboratories and libraries books in pharmacy schools.
A board or council examination can be introduced, which will be a requirement for giving and renewing working license in the country. Government should dedicate more funds to the study of Pharmacy in the country, by giving grants to facilitate innovation and not looking up to the western world for help in times of health emergencies like the time of Ebola.
Finally, the pharmacy curriculum should be reviewed by the appropriate government body to meet the required and internationally accepted standards.
What is your message to IUO pharmacy students?
It has been one of the greatest blessings of my life to serve pharmacy students at Igbinedion University as the president of PANS. As I reflect on the year, I have come to understand that all alumni, students and friends have a strong love for this association. So, I want to urge them to make academic excellence their first priority before every other social activity on campus. They should learn more, do more and become more. They should rule their world and be great ambassadors of PANS Igbinedion University both within and outside the campus.
Also, I want to implore them to give the new administration more cooperation and support so as to take PANS IUO to an enviable status of global recognition.
The Nigerian Pharmaceutical Industry has the potential to be one of the best in the world. The country has one of the fastest growing populations (currently at 180 million people) and this evidently means that there is a huge potential domestic demand that can support a vibrant pharmaceutical industry.
However, the reality is lamentably far from expectations with the potential of the industry, just like every other sector of the Nigerian economy, largely sub-optimised. Despite the giant strides recorded in the last three decades, about 70 per cent of the drugs consumed in Nigeria are still imported with a record trade deficit of $475 million as at 2013 and this deficit is projected to reach about $800 million in 2018. Overall, the industry’s contribution to the national GDP is about 0.3 per cent and is practically non-existent in the world pharmaceutical map.
Barrier to growth
One of the factors militating against the rapid growth of the industry is the unorganised nature of the drug distribution system in the country. Over the years, this system has been compromised by criminal elements, which gave rise to the circulation of fake, adulterated and substandard drugs. The problem, which started small, has grown to become hydra-headed and has defied every attempt curb it.
In 2012, the federal government published a New Drug Distribution Guidelines (NDDG, 2nd Edition) which clearly set the roles and responsibilities of the different levels of players in the distribution chain. The operation of these guidelines is expected to facilitate an audit trail whenever a disruption occurs in the system. The guidelines’ operation, initially scheduled for implementation in July, 2014, was first shifted to 2015 and later to August, 2017.
I was privileged to be the chairman of the National Drug Distribution Committee set up by the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) in 2013, with the mandate to generate awareness about the NDDG and advise the society on the appropriate steps to protect the interest of pharmacy, pharmacists and the general public in the implementation of the guidelines. The committee accepted the provisions of the guidelines and I travelled round the country to generate awareness as mandated and the response was impressive.
The committee also recommended the formation of a company which will serve as a buffer in the system and to assuage the palpable fear that the current unorganised drug distribution system may be replaced by a monopoly or oligopoly at the Mega Drug Distribution level. This company, as conceived, is expected to be run in accordance with the best practices in the industry and also provide an investment opportunity for Nigerian pharmacists. The recommendations were accepted by the PSN and the necessary steps were taken to bring the company into being.
Convinced about the viability of the project, we commissioned a Business Plan which was received, reviewed and approved by the committee. In summary, a total of N2.3 billion was recommended as the capital needed to fund the operation with a setup cost of N450 million (and balance to be used as guarantee for inventory purchase). The business is expected to break even in the second year with, a first-year target revenue of N3.6billion (1 per cent of the total market, about 5 per cent of the main competitor’s annual turnover).
Birth of ULCO
We adopted an inclusiveness strategy which ensures that everyone in the value chain (manufacturers, importers, retailers, etc.) is a participant. We also seek to drive acceptability with low margin which is the major attraction of the open drug market. This was what brought about Ultra Logistics Company Limited (ULCO) and, again, I was privileged to be the pioneer Managing Director.
The company was designed to be a Mega Drug Distribution Company, operating as a commercial enterprise with an underpinning social ethos that grows the investment of its shareholders. The company’s mission is ‘to emerge as the preferred Mega Drug Distribution Company in Nigeria and ensure that drugs are available, affordable and of good quality’. The business objectives were well laid out and the success pathway, business risks and mitigating factors were well packaged.
I worked with a crop of very intelligent and dedicated pharmacists, first in the National Drug Distribution Committee and later in the Interim Management team (Lekan Asuni, Victor Okwuosa, Abbas Sambo and Mrs Bukky George) and the Governance team (Ghali Sule, Godson Chukunda and Gafar Madehin). We were assisted throughout the course of events by a worthy consultant, Dr. Adewale Adeagbo.
Together, we worked tirelessly to ensure that the objectives of setting up the company were realised. We were driven by a passion for excellence and the compelling need to offer pharmacists a home-grown solution to the chief problem of the profession. We were also assisted by a strategy team composed of eminent pharmacists/business leaders and led by the director of Business School of Netherlands (BSN), Mr Lere Baale.
The recommendations of the strategy team was largely responsible for the adoption of the alternative route to market which could have made the full blown commercial operation to start in October, 2016.
Progressive partnership
The National Executive committee of the Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria (ACPN), ably led by Dr Abert Alkali, bought into the vision and the result of our collaboration was the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the two parties.
In the MOU, ACPN adopted ULCO as its bulk purchase agent and ULCO would have, in this capacity, negotiated favourable terms with manufacturers and importers. In return, ULCO is expected to develop internal capabilities and harness environmental resources to provide business support services to ACPN. The operation is expected to be driven by information technology and we hope that, very soon, no retailer will have a need to leave the premises in search of drugs.
We have started working with some financial institutions to provide bridging fund for retailers, which will ultimately eliminate the current issues around unsecured credits in the industry. With this cooperative platform, we have successfully laid a solid foundation for a revolution in the drug retail business in Nigeria.
Teething problems
There were challenges which slowed down the progress of work on the project. First, our original business plan was rendered unworkable because of the low amount of money raised through subscriptions. The New Drug Distribution Guidelines (the platform that gave birth to ULCO), is still in limbo and the advent of the economic recession which became full blown in 2016.
As true visionaries, we remain undaunted in the face of the challenges and we engaged the critical stakeholders to readjust our plans. We were encouraged by the unflinching support received from the subscribers and many leaders of the profession. We are aware that ‘leadership is the capacity to translate vision into reality’ and this we did with ULCO. We succeeded in creating something out of nothing. The handling of the company finance was above board. We were conscious of the failure of the past and we did everything possible to avoid the pitfalls of the defunct Co-operative Pharmacy. We did not spend any money from the shareholders’ fund since inception to date. We generated income to cover our expenses, acquired assets and we still have some cash left. We fought a good fight, we kept the faith and we succeeded in turning a dream into reality.
An enviable success story
Ultra Logistics Company Limited is a vision in motion. It has come to stay. The subscribers should be proud that they have been part of a success story. Those who are yet to subscribe should do so now. The new management should be supported to make further achievements on the project.
We should all remember that the ‘road to success is constantly under construction’ and many workers will be engaged and disengaged at various times until the work is completed. The anticipated end-point should be regarded as a long-distance journey, and emphasis on a short-term gain should be moderated. It is also a relay race which will require the involvement of many competent hands to achieve victory.
Let us imagine what the future can be and follow Brian Tracy’s admonition that ‘all successful people, men and women, are big dreamers. They imagine what their future could be, ideal in every respect, and then they work every day toward their distant vision, that goal or purpose’.
There is no need to entertain fear on the safety of your investment; the people at the helm of affairs now are tested men of integrity and they need your support for success. You have a need to ‘be daring, be different, be impractical, be anything that will assert integrity of purpose and imaginative vision against the play-it-savers, the creatures of the commonplace, and the slaves of the ordinary’ (Cecil Beaton).
God bless Ultra Logistics Company Limited; God bless Pharmacy; God bless Nigeria!
The vision began way back in 2005. But for Pharm. Regina Ezenwa, a Fellow of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (FPSN), bringing it to reality was not to be until December 2006 when she concluded that the vision could no longer be delayed. Consequently, the community pharmacist started the Roses Ministry, a faith-based foundation for widows, orphans and the less-privileged in Surulere area of Lagos.
As expected of every new charitable initiative, there was a spasm of teething problems. From inadequate funding, recruitment of committed workers to getting credible partners, the challenges were daunting.
However, rather than collapse, the ministry has continued to wax stronger. As part of its mission, the ministry has been constantly visiting prisons, orphanages and undertake rehabilitation of the sexually abused and returnees from abroad.
When Pharmanews visited Pharm. Ezenwa during her annual widows day programme in Surulere five years ago, the energetic pharmacist opined that she foresaw light at the end of the temporary dark tunnel the foundation was passing through.
“The Roses Ministry is a foundation set out to show God’s love to the hurting and vulnerable in society. At inception, we started small. But, today, we have four children on scholarship, several empowerment schemes in place and people collaborating with us to achieve our set goals,” she said.
Pharm. Regina Ezenwa, founder of The Roses Ministry (middle), rejoicing with participants at the 2016 edition of the foundation’s annual Widows’ Day programme held recently at the indoor hall of the National Stadium.
Ezenwa said that they initially had less than 50 widows at inception, a number that has significantly increased to about 500 members. In her summation, the number keeps swelling every week because virtually all the women are always coming in company of other widows who are just hearing of the ministry.
When asked about the funding of the 35-staff organisation, the managing director of Rozec Pharmacy admitted that it had been a challenging experience.
“The money we have spent so far was donation from members, trustees and friends who are willing to identify with the initiative. We actually budget N3.5 million for bags of rice, vegetable oil, drinks, drugs and textile materials to cater about 500 participants. But God has been faithful,” she said.
A lot seem to have happened after five years though. For instance, the venue of the 2016 edition of The Roses Ministry’s annual Widows Day was moved from its office at the National Population Commission to the indoor complex of the National Stadium in Surulere, apparently, because of the large crowd that turned out for the two-day event.
Themed ‘Raising True Disciples of Christ,’ the event was a potpourri of praise and worship, drama, free medical attention, counselling and giving out of relief materials, ranging from Bibles, Ankara fabrics, bags of rice, drinks, to tomato pastes, loaves of bread, vegetable oil, toiletries and drugs to the widows.
Quoting Miriam Neff, Ezenwa remarked that studies have shown that widows lose 75 per cent of their friendship once they lose their spouse; 60 per cent experience serious health issues in the first year; half of them remain clinically depressed; while most experience financial decline.
“One pastor aptly described them by saying they move from the front row of the church to the back, and then out the door. They move from serving and singing in the choir to solitude and silent sobbing, and then on to find a place where they belong
“We, in the Roses Ministry, offer assistance in terms of food, drinks, shelter, clothing, empowerment and ministry to the sick. But, above all, time and love as friends and family of Christ,” she stressed.
According to Mrs Nwadi Ejiofor, a founding member and head of the ministry’s department in charge of cases involving the National Agency for Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), no fewer than 1,023 widows turned up at the National Stadium for the annual programme.
“We resorted to the use of stadium to accommodate the growing numbers of members as well as avoid the risk of having rain or sun causing discomfort to participants,” she explained.
Aside from the occasional difficulty of transporting relief materials to the new venue, as well other logistics problem, she said that Roses Ministry is contented with the idea of using the stadium for future events.
Ejiofor, whose department pays a visit to NAPTIP headquarters every second Friday of each month to offer succour and counselling to victims of trafficking, also disclosed that the level of support towards the ministry has improved tremendously.
“In fact, up till now that the programme is half way, some well meaning Nigerians are still bringing us relief materials for the widows. We just cannot stop thanking God,” she remarked.
Pharm. (Mrs) Amaka Ofomata, coordinator, Roses Ministry’s health department declared that several of the drugs distributed at the last edition of the programme were donated by May & Baker, Pemason and Salem Gate Pharmaceuticals.
“While appreciating them, we call on other pharmaceutical companies and well meaning individuals to emulate them by equally showing solidarity to the cause of these widows,” she charged.
Top on the list of the free medical test carried out by the team last year were blood sugar, HIV/AIDS, BMI monitoring and malarial tests.
Reacting to the event, Mazi Sam Ohuabunwa, former managing director, Neimeth Pharmaceuticals Plc, said:
“I have two things on my mind. I am happy that The Roses Ministry is growing, which in itself is good. It is an indication that God has ordained it. Secondly, I must say that I am sad that the number of widows keeps increasing. It is worrisome.
“At the same, we have to thank God that there are still well meaning individuals like Pharm. (Regina) Ezenwa who took up the courage to take care of their needs,” he noted.
In her vote of thanks, Mrs Ijeoma Chuks-Okoye, a trustee of the foundation, disclosed how she initially turned down the idea of becoming a trustee when the idea was first mooted to her.
“I saw the role as one bigger than me. But today, I am happy that I have no cause to regret that action. Through several references and parables in the Bible, we were made to know that widows are people God finds very hard to ignore
“Aside from admitting that I have learnt a lot in The Roses Ministry, let me use this opportunity to say it is the only foundation I know where women shun gossips,” she exclaimed.
Among the dignitaries who attended the event were Wole Olufon, international director, Full Gospel Business Men’s Fellowship International (FGBMFI); Evangelist Anthony Umufiedo, Christ Worldwide Harvest Ministry and Engr Obidi Ezenwa, trustee, Roses Ministry.
Others were Engr Chikwelu Ezenwa, a telecom expert; Lady Ann Okechukwu, staff, The Roses Ministry; Mrs Grace Oji, trustee, Roses Ministry and Pastor Patrick Obumselu, His Presence Vineyard Church.
At a time when the economy of the nation is in a depressing state, with the health sector, in particular, in doldrums, it was indeed heartwarming when the federal government announced that it had disbursed the sum of 5.5 billion dollars to the 36 states and Abuja for the implementation of the “Save One Million Lives” (SOML) programme – with the goal of strengthening the capacity of the nation’s hospitals to save vulnerable lives.
Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole, while speaking at the opening of the 59th National Council of Health meeting held in Umuahia, Abia State, from 23 to 24 January, said that the states and the Federal Capital Territory received 1.5 million dollars each from the fund.
Adewole stated that the one–off initial investment grant was disbursed last July to serve as an initial pump to drive delivery of SOML indicators and enable states to address legacy issues, adding that the programme seeks to catalyse change in the way healthcare is implemented by focusing on result and governance.
While noting that the ultimate aim of the initiative is to improve the quality of lives of mothers and children, the health minister assured that his ministry would ensure judicious utilisation of the funds, as enshrined in the programme implementation manual. He also stressed that the Buhari administration would ensure probity, accountability and transparency in the use of the funds given to the states.
Ordinarily, any measure aimed at enhancing the provision of quality healthcare to women and children should be applauded because Nigeria’s health statistics in terms of reproductive, maternal, new born and child health is still very unflattering and a far cry from the global target, despite some progress made by the nation in recent times to improve maternal and child care. The health minister himself recently confirmed that Nigeria’s present maternal mortality ratio of 576 per 100,000 live births from the 2013 National Demographic Health Survey (NDHS) is a far cry from the 2030 global target, which is 70 per 100,000 live births.
We are worried, however, that over six months after SOML was launched, nothing much has changed in the nation’s healthcare delivery system; rather, the initiative seems to be going the way of other similar projects of the past that flourished in rhetoric of transformation, but floundered in tangible delivery. Interestingly, the present government was not the first to take up this initiative. The previous government of Goodluck Jonathan had first launched the initiative in October 2012, but having been allowed to go comatose, it had to be re-launched in July last year by the present government.
It is often said that “lightning does not strike twice in the same place”; in reality, however, failure can strike a project as many times as possible – as long as wrong methods continue to be applied. What this implies is that the SOML may have to be re-launched over and over again, if pragmatic steps are not taken to conscientiously pursue its laudable objectives to full actualisation.
Added to our concerns about the lacklustre performance of the SOML and its attendant consequence of continued needless loss of lives, is our consideration of the possible damage that such repeated flops may do to our image and reputation as a nation. World Bank is not just an active partner in this initiative but is actually its sole financier. The bank will definitely not hesitate to withdraw its support, once it concludes that there is no serious commitment on our part.
What is at stake, therefore, is not just our quest to reposition our healthcare delivery sector to save women and children from preventable deaths, but demonstrating that we can fulfill our partnership obligations and be credible enough to justify receiving the World Bank’s assistance which this initiative guarantees, which could amount to about 500 million dollars in the next four years.
We must also stress that beyond just disbursing money for programmes such as this initiative, it is also necessary to ensure that such programmes are in tandem with our broad health policy programmes. This is to maximise the positive outcomes and avoid duplication of efforts and waste of resources. This initiative, for instance, must be in line with programmes to be implemented under the Primary Health Care (PHC) scheme which is being revitalised, considering that a key component of the PHC is the reduction of maternal and infant mortality.
The Nigerian nation must therefore do all that is necessary to make the Save One Million Lives initiative a success because it can be instrumental in driving the change we need in the health sector and indeed save many Nigerian women and children from avoidable deaths.
Conference Series LLC invites all the participants from all over the world to attend “International Conference and Exhibition on Pharmaceutical Development and Technology” during April 24-26, 2017 in Dubai, UAE.Which includes prompt keynote presentations, Oral talks, Poster presentations and Exhibitions. Pharma Tech 2017 will focus on “Discover the Difference and Develop the Possibilities for Shaping Future”.
Conference Series LLC invites all the participants across the globe to attend the “5thInternational Conference and Exhibition on Pharmacology & Ethnopharmacology” slated on Mar 23-25, 2017 Orlando, USA. Ethnopharmacology 2017 conveys recent developments in Pharmacology and Ethnopharmacology. Ethnopharmacology 2017 will focus on “Foster Advancements in Globalization of Ethnopharmacology”.
A complete knowledge of a scientific discipline that described the overt effects of biologically active chemicals, pharmacology now explores the molecular mechanisms by which drugs cause biological effects. In the broadest sense, pharmacology is the study of how chemical agents, both natural and synthetic (i.e., drugs) affect biological systems.
While remarkable progress has been made in developing new drugs and in understanding how they act, the challenges that remain are endless. New discoveries regarding fundamental life processes always raise new and intriguing questions that stimulate further research and evoke the need for fresh insight.
Conference Highlights
Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics
Ethnopharmacology
Latest Trends in Ethnopharmacology
Cardiovascular Pharmacology and Diabetes
Pharmacognosy
Ecological Characteristics of Ethnobotanical Sources
Phytochemical Studies of Plants and Plant Extracts
Phytochemistry and Phytopharmaceuticals
Natural Products Pharmacology
Neuropharmacology
Traditional Herbals in Treatment of Cancer
Ethnopharmacology of Medicinal Plants
Ethnopharmacology of Alkaloids
Emerging Technology in Natural Product Drug Development
Intercultural of Ethnopharmacology
Entrepreneurs Investment Meet
Accommodation
A large number of rooms have been reserved. Discounted room rates for Ethnopharmacology 2017 participants are proposed. Only reservations made through the Conference will benefit these rates. The Congress Center can be easily reached by public transportation.
Exhibition and Sponsorship
An Exhibition will be held concurrently with the Congress. The coffee break and lunch areas will be located adjacent to the booths. Thanks to exhibitors from all over the world, attendees will have a complete overview of new findings in the fields of Pharmaceutics & Novel Drug Delivery Systems.
Twelfth meeting of the Emergency Committee under the International Health Regulations (2015) regarding the international spread of poliovirus
The twelfth meeting of the Emergency Committee (EC) under the International Health Regulations (2005) (IHR) regarding the international spread of poliovirus was convened via teleconference by the Director General on 7 February 2017.
The Emergency Committee reviewed the data on wild poliovirus (WPV1) and circulating vaccinederived polioviruses (cVDPV). The Secretariat presented a report of progress for affected IHR States Parties subject to Temporary Recommendations. The following IHR States Parties presented an update on the implementation of the WHO Temporary Recommendations since the Committee last met on 11 November 2016: Afghanistan, Pakistan, Nigeria, and Central African Republic. The committee also invited the Russian Federation to provide information about a VDPV event in its territory.
Wild polio
Overall the Committee was encouraged by steady progress in Pakistan and Afghanistan, and was reassured and impressed by the rapid response of the polio eradication programme in Nigeria.
The committee welcomed the dedication in Pakistan to further strengthen surveillance, and in particular the expansion of environmental surveillance to improve detection. The intensity of environmental surveillance is now at unprecedented levels, so that it is likely detections may increase even as transmission in cases is falling. These data need careful interpretation, and the committee acknowledged that this also includes interpretation of data concerning cross-border transmission. The Committee also applauded the information that there were no fully inaccessible children in 2017. However, the recent exportation of WPV1 from Pakistan into Kandahar province of Afghanistan illustrated the difficulty of halting international spread between these two countries.
While the Committee applauded the efforts of Afghanistan to reach inaccessible children and noted the overall reduction in these numbers, the continuing insecurity in parts of Afghanistan means that substantial numbers of children remain inaccessible, heightening anxiety about completion of eradication.
The Committee welcomed the continued emphasis on cooperation along the long international border between the two countries noting that this sub region constitutes an epidemiological block. The committee continues to believe that the international border represents a significant opportunity to vaccinate children who may otherwise have been missed, and welcomed the increase in the number of border vaccination teams. Opportunities to install teams at more informal border crossings should be encouraged.
The Committee commended Nigeria for its rapid response to the WPV1 cases and welcomed that there had been no further cases detected since the last meeting. However, as there remain substantial populations in Northern Nigeria that are totally or partially inaccessible, the committee concluded that it is highly likely that polioviruses are still circulating in these areas. Reaching these populations is critically important for the polio eradication effort, but it is acknowledged that there are significant security risks that may pose danger to polio eradication workers and volunteers. The Committee noted that working under this threat is likely to negatively impact on the quality of the interventions. Nigeria has already adopted innovative and multi-pronged approaches to this problem, and the committee urged that this innovative spirit be continued.
There was ongoing concern about the Lake Chad region, and for all the countries that are affected by the insurgency, with the consequent lack of services, and presence of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and refugees. The risk of international spread from Nigeria to Lake Chad basin countries or further afield in sub-Saharan Africa remains high. The committee was encouraged that the Lake Chad basin countries including Nigeria, Cameroon, Chad, Niger and the Central African Republic (CAR), continued to be committed to sub-regional coordination. CAR needs to maintain the current momentum, including further improvement to AFP surveillance and if feasible introduce environmental surveillance as is currently planned.
Equatorial Guinea remains vulnerable, based on very sub-optimal polio eradication activities including poor surveillance, low routine immunisation coverage, and waning national efforts to address this vulnerability.
Vaccine derived poliovirus
The committee was very concerned that two new outbreaks of cVDPV have been identified, one in Sokoto in northern Nigeria, and the second in Quetta Pakistan. The virus found in Sokoto was unrelated to that found in Borno. Both of these outbreaks highlighted the presence of vulnerable under immunized populations in countries with endemic transmission. The committee noted the response to these outbreaks, acknowledging that in both cases it had complicated the ongoing efforts to eradicate WPV1.
The Committee welcomed the provision of information by the Russian Federation at the meeting about the recent detection of VDPV in two children from the Chechen Republic, and also welcomed the surveillance and immunization activities taken to date in response. The Committee noted that the investigation by the Russian Federation had shown that one of the children was immunosuppressed. The Committee requested that the WHO European Regional office and WHO HQ should continue to work with the Russian Federation to confirm the classification of the viruses. Therefore as the risk of international spread is still being assessed, no recommendations regarding this situation have been made by the committee.
In Guinea, the most recent case of cVDPV had onset in December 2015, and based on the most recent assessments and the criteria of the committee, the country is no longer considered as infected, but remains vulnerable.
The committee also noted the detection of non-circulating VDPV in several other countries.
Conclusion
The Committee unanimously agreed that the international spread of poliovirus remains a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC), and recommended the extension of the Temporary Recommendations for a further three months. The Committee considered the following factors in reaching this conclusion:
The outbreak of WPV1 and cVDPV in Nigeria highlighting that there are high-risk areas where surveillance is compromised by inaccessibility, resulting in ongoing circulation of WPV for several years without detection. The risk of transmission in the Lake Chad sub-region appears high.
The continued international spread of WPV1 between Pakistan and Afghanistan.
The persistent, wide geographical distribution of positive WPV1 in environmental samples and AFP cases in Pakistan, while acknowledging the intensification of environmental surveillance inevitably increasing detection rates.
The current special and extraordinary context of being closer to polio eradication than ever before in history, with the lowest number of WPV1 cases ever recorded occurring in 2016.
The risk and consequent costs of failure to eradicate globally one of the world’s most serious vaccine preventable diseases. Even though global transmission has fallen dramatically and with it the likelihood of international spread, the consequences and impact of international spread should it occur would be grave.
The possibility of global complacency developing as the numbers of polio cases continues to fall and eradication becomes a possibility.
The serious consequences of further international spread for the increasing number of countries in which immunization systems have been weakened or disrupted by conflict and complex emergencies. Populations in these fragile states are vulnerable to outbreaks of polio. Outbreaks in fragile states are exceedingly difficult to control and threaten the completion of global polio eradication during its end stage.
The continued necessity for a coordinated international response to improve immunization and surveillance for WPV1, to stop international spread and reduce the risk of new spread.
The importance of a regional approach and strong crossborder cooperation, as much international spread of polio occurs over land borders, while also recognizing that the risk of distant international spread remains from zones with active poliovirus transmission.
Additionally with respect to cVDPV:
cVDPVs also pose a risk for international spread, which without an urgent response with appropriate measures threatens vulnerable populations as noted above;
The ongoing circulation of cVDPV2 in Nigeria and Pakistan, demonstrates significant gaps in population immunity at a critical time in the polio endgame;
The ongoing urgency to prevent type 2 cVDPVs following the globally synchronized withdrawal of the type 2 component of the oral poliovirus vaccine in April 2016;
The ongoing challenges of improving routine immunization in areas affected by insecurity and other emergencies, including the post Ebola context;
The global shortage of IPV which poses an additional threat from cVDPVs.
Risk categories
The Committee provided the Director General with the following advice aimed at reducing the risk of international spread of WPV1 and cVDPVs, based on the risk stratification as follows:
Wild poliovirus
States currently exporting WPV1;
States infected with WPV1 but not currently exporting;
States no longer infected by WPV1, but which remain vulnerable to international spread.
Circulating vaccine derived poliovirus
States currently exporting cVDPV;
States infected with cVDPV but not currently exporting;
States no longer infected by cVDPV, but which remain vulnerable to the emergence and circulation of VDPV.
The Committee applied the following criteria to assess the period for detection of no new exportations and the period for detection of no new cases or environmental isolates of WPV1 or cVDPV:
Criteria to assess States no longer exporting (detection of no new WPV1 or cVDPV exportation)
Poliovirus Case: 12 months after the onset date of the first case caused by the most recent exportation PLUS one month to account for case detection, investigation, laboratory testing and reporting period, OR when all reported AFP cases with onset within 12 months of the first case caused by the most recent importation have been tested for polio and excluded for newly imported WPV1 or cVDPV, and environmental samples collected within 12 months of the first case have also tested negative, whichever is the longer.
Environmental isolation of exported poliovirus: 12 months after collection of the first positive environmental sample in the country that received the new exportation PLUS one month to account for the laboratory testing and reporting period.
Criteria to assess States no longer infected (detection of no new WPV1 or cVDPV)
Poliovirus Case: 12 months after the onset date of the most recent case PLUS one month to account for case detection, investigation, laboratory testing and reporting period OR when all reported AFP cases with onset within 12 months of last case have been tested for polio and excluded for WPV1 or cVDPV, and environmental samples collected within 12 months of the last case have also tested negative, whichever is the longer.
Environmental isolation of WPV1 or cVDPV (no poliovirus case): 12 months after collection of the most recent positive environmental sample PLUS one month to account for the laboratory testing and reporting period.
Temporary recommendations
States currently exporting WPV1 or cVDPV
Currently Pakistan – last WPV1 exportation: 13 January 2017, to Afghanistan; last case 22 December 2016.
Exporting countries should:
Officially declare, if not already done, at the level of head of state or government, that the interruption of poliovirus transmission is a national public health emergency; where such declaration has already been made, this emergency status should be maintained.
Ensure that all residents and longterm visitors (i.e. > four weeks) of all ages, receive a dose of oral poliovirus vaccine (OPV) or inactivated poliovirus vaccine (IPV) between four weeks and 12 months prior to international travel.
Ensure that those undertaking urgent travel (i.e. within four weeks), who have not received a dose of OPV or IPV in the previous four weeks to 12 months, receive a dose of polio vaccine at least by the time of departure as this will still provide benefit, particularly for frequent travellers.
Ensure that such travellers are provided with an International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis in the form specified in Annex 6 of the IHR to record their polio vaccination and serve as proof of vaccination.
Restrict at the point of departure the international travel of any resident lacking documentation of appropriate polio vaccination. These recommendations apply to international travellers from all points of departure, irrespective of the means of conveyance (e.g. road, air, sea).
Recognizing that the movement of people across the border between Pakistan and Afghanistan continues to facilitate exportation of WPV1, both countries should further intensify crossborder efforts by significantly improving coordination at the national, regional and local levels to substantially increase vaccination coverage of travellers crossing the border and of high risk crossborder populations. Both countries have maintained permanent vaccination teams at the main border crossings for many years. Improved coordination of crossborder efforts should include closer supervision and monitoring of the quality of vaccination at border transit points, as well as tracking of the proportion of travellers that are identified as unvaccinated after they have crossed the border.
Maintain these measures until the following criteria have been met: (i) at least six months have passed without new exportations and (ii) there is documentation of full application of high quality eradication activities in all infected and high risk areas; in the absence of such documentation these measures should be maintained until the state meets the above criteria of a ‘state no longer exporting’.
Provide to the Director General a monthly report on the implementation of the Temporary Recommendations on international travel, including the number of residents whose travel was restricted and the number of travellers who were vaccinated and provided appropriate documentation at the point of departure.
States infected with WPV1 or cVDPVs but not currently exporting
Infected countries (WPV1)
Nigeria (last case 21 Aug 2016)
Afghanistan (last case 13 Jan 2017)
Infected countries (cVDPV)
Nigeria (last case 28 Oct 2016)
Pakistan (last case 17 Dec 2016)
Lao People’s Democratic Republic (last case 11 Jan 2016)
These countries should:
Officially declare, if not already done, at the level of head of state or government, that the interruption of poliovirus transmission is a national public health emergency; where such declaration has already been made, this emergency status should be maintained.
Encourage residents and longterm visitors to receive a dose of OPV or IPV four weeks to 12 months prior to international travel; those undertaking urgent travel (i.e. within four weeks) should be encouraged to receive a dose at least by the time of departure.
Ensure that travellers who receive such vaccination have access to an appropriate document to record their polio vaccination status. Intensify regional cooperation and crossborder coordination to enhance surveillance for prompt detection of poliovirus and substantially increase vaccination coverage among refugees, travellers and crossborder populations.
Maintain these measures until the following criteria have been met: (i) at least six months have passed without the detection of WPV1 transmission or circulation of VDPV in the country from any source, and (ii) there is documentation of full application of high quality eradication activities in all infected and high risk areas; in the absence of such documentation these measures should be maintained until the state meets the criteria of a ‘state no longer infected’.
At the end of 12 months without evidence of transmission, provide a report to the Director General on measures taken to implement the Temporary Recommendations.
States no longer infected by WPV1 or cVDPV, but which remain vulnerable to international spread, and states that are vulnerable to the emergence and circulation of VDPV
WPV1
Cameroon (last case 9 Jul 2014)
Niger (last case 15 Nov 2012)
Chad (last case 14 Jun 2012)
Equatorial Guinea (last case 13 May 2014)
Central African Republic (last case 8 Dec 2011)
cVDPV
Ukraine (last case 7th July 2015)
Madagascar (last case 22nd August 2015)
Myanmar (last case 5th October 2015)
Guinea (last case 14th December 2015)
These countries should:
Urgently strengthen routine immunization to boost population immunity.
Enhance surveillance quality to reduce the risk of undetected WPV1 and cVDPV transmission, particularly among high risk mobile and vulnerable populations.
Intensify efforts to ensure vaccination of mobile and crossborder populations, Internally Displaced Persons, refugees and other vulnerable groups.
Enhance regional cooperation and cross border coordination to ensure prompt detection of WPV1 and cVDPV, and vaccination of high risk population groups.
Maintain these measures with documentation of full application of high quality surveillance and vaccination activities.
At the end of 12 months (1) without evidence of reintroduction of WPV1 or new emergence and circulation of cVDPV, provide a report to the Director General on measures taken to implement the Temporary Recommendations.
Additional considerations for all infected and high risk countries
The Committee strongly urged global partners in polio eradication to provide optimal support to all infected and vulnerable countries at this critical time in the polio eradication programme for implementation of the Temporary Recommendations under the IHR, as well as providing ongoing support to all countries that were previously subject to Temporary Recommendations (Somalia, Ethiopia, Syria, Iraq and Israel).
The committee requested the secretariat to provide data on routine immunization in countries subject to Temporary Recommendations. Recognizing that cVDPV illustrates serious gaps in routine immunization programmes in otherwise polio free countries, the Committee recommended that the international partners in routine immunization, for example Gavi, should assist affected countries to improve the national immunization programme.
The Committee noted the Secretariat’s report on the identification of Sabin 2 virus detected in environmental samples in several countries, and in some of these cases probably due to the ongoing use of tOPV in the private sector. The Committee requested a full report on this at the next meeting.
The Committee noted a more detailed analysis of the public health benefits and costs of implementing temporary recommendations was completed and warranted further discussion and review.
The Committee urged all countries to avoid complacency which could easily lead to a polio resurgence. Surveillance particularly needs careful attention to quickly detect any resurgent transmission.
Based on the advice concerning WPV1 and cVDPV, and the reports made by Afghanistan, Pakistan, Nigeria, and the Central African Republic, the Director General accepted the Committee’s assessment and on 13 February 2017 determined that the events relating to poliovirus continue to constitute a PHEIC, with respect to WPV1 and cVDPV. The Director General endorsed the Committee’s recommendations for countries falling into the definition of ‘States currently exporting WPV1 or cVDPV’, for ‘States infected with WPV1 or cVDPV but not currently exporting’ and for ‘States no longer infected by WPV1, but which remain vulnerable to international spread, and states that are vulnerable to the emergence and circulation of VDPV’ and extended the Temporary Recommendations as revised by the Committee under the IHR to reduce the international spread of poliovirus, effective 13 February 2017.
The Director General thanked the Committee Members and Advisors for their advice and requested their reassessment of this situation within the next three months.
The Organizing Committee of Conference Series LLC invites all the participants across the globe to attend the 11th World Congress on Pharmaceutical Sciences and Innovations in Pharma Industry on February 27- 28, 2017 at Amsterdam, Netherlands. Pharmaceutical Sciences 2017 will focus on the theme “Latest Trends in Pharmacy : Spanning the Gap in Research and Product Commercialization”.
Conference Highlights
Globalized Pharma Sector
Drug Discovery
Drug Development
Pharmaceutical Engineering
Tamper-Evident Pharmaceutical Packaging
Purpose and Principles of GMP
Pharmaceutical Supply Chain Optimization
Pharmaceutical Process Validation
Regulatory Requirements for Pharmaceuticals
Medico Marketing
Generics versus Big Pharma
Pharma and Biotech Financial Outlook
Digital Pharma
R&D Advancement: Road to New Medicines
Clinical Pharmacy and Therapeutics
Pharmaceutical Sciences
Pharmaceutical Nanotechnology
Entrepreneurs Investment Meet.
On spot registration:
February 27, 2017
Accommodation
A large number of rooms have been reserved. Discounted room rates for Pharmaceutical Sciences 2017 participants are proposed. Only reservations made through the Conference will benefit these rates. The Congress Center can be easily reached by Public transportation.
Exhibition and Sponsorship
An Exhibition will be held concurrently with the Congress. The coffee break and lunch areas will be located adjacent to the booths. Thanks to exhibitors from all over the world, attendees will have a complete overview of new findings in the field of Ceramics and Composite Materials.
About Amsrterdam
Amsterdam is the capital and most populous municipality of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Its status as the capital is mandated by the Constitution of the Netherlands although it is not the seat of the government, which is The Hague. Amsterdam has a population of 841,186 within the city proper, 1,337,743 in the urban area and 2,431,000 in the Amsterdam metropolitan area. The city is located in the province of North Holland in the west of the country. The metropolitan area comprises much of the northern part of the Randstad, one of the larger conurbations in Europe, with a population of approximately 7 million.
Amsterdam’s name derives from Amstelredamme, indicative of the city’s origin as a dam of the river Amstel. Originating as a small fishing village in the late 12th century, Amsterdam became one of the most important ports in the world during the Dutch Golden Age a result of its innovative developments in trade. During that time, the city was the leading centre for finance and diamonds. In the 19th and 20th centuries the city expanded, and many new neighbourhoods and suburbs were planned and built. The 17th-century canals of Amsterdam and the 19–20th century.
A young pharmacist graduate has called on pharmacy professionals and other well-meaning Nigerians for financial assistance to help improve health conditions in five local communities in Kebbi States.
Pharm. Rosalie Ijomone Oghogho is a serving corps member from the University of Port Harcourt with NYSC code KB/16A/1475 whose primary place of assignment is Aisha Buhari General Hospital Jega, Kebbi State.
As part of her Community Development Service (CDS) project, the 28-year-old has identified five local communities in Kebbi where no fewer than 2,000 women and children are suffering from malnutrition.
The target communities are Jega, Birnin Yari, Gindi, Alelu, Tutu Wada and Dumbego
Oghogho and her health team at a recent outing
The project, which has already kicked off, entails setting up a team that would comprise doctors, pharmacists, nurses, nutritionists, laboratory technicians and other community health workers who will ensure provision of medical care and medical equipment, including thousands of insecticide treated mosquito nets; renovation of Gindi Health Centre; sinking of borehole to provide good water source; procurement of nutritious food supplements and drugs, as well as coordinate other logistics.
“Daily, an average of five children is rushed into the accident and emergency unit either for anaemic conditions or due to being malnourished, unconscious or at the point of death,” Oghogho said. “This is a critical problem as the strength of a country is her people. If the children, who are supposedly the future of a society, do not live to a prime age to develop and influence their society but die at early age, what is the hope of that society?”
Oghogho explained that the prevalence of infectious diseases especially among children in the communities is quite alarming, adding that it is largely due to factors such as ignorance, poverty, malnutrition, poor personal hygiene, self-medication, drug abuse, unwillingness to access health facilities, amongst others.
She posited that if the five communities are properly enlightened on the importance of colostrum, exclusive breastfeeding complementary nutritive diet requirement, as well as the importance of visiting healthcare facilities for immunisation and early detection of symptoms, a lot of mortalities found in children would be reduced to the barest minimum.
Speaking further, the young crusader disclosed that through this project, her team intends to improve health and nutrition standard of children in the host communities, link pregnant women to health facilities for proper antenatal/postnatal care, and reduce morbidity and mortality rates among infants to the barest minimum.
Other objectives, according to her, include creating awareness on the dangers of self-medication and drug abuse, early detection of ailments, as well as imbibing a culture of good personal hygiene and empowerment of local women on skills acquisition, such as beads, soap, bag, snacks and drinks making.
“We need a minimum of N800,000 to bring about sustainable development and improve upon the standard of living in the communities. Obviously, the execution of this project is far beyond my personal capability.
“Therefore, I solicit sponsorship, support or assistance from well meaning Nigerians especially for the successful execution of this project. Your donations in cash or materials (drugs or other items) will be greatly appreciated,” Oghogho pleaded.
The pharmacy grad has provided the following bank details for support:
Bank: First Bank.
Account Name: Rosalie Ijomone Oghogho
Account No: 3044935316.
Pharm. Rosalie Ijomone Oghogho can be reached on 08069201677.
Following the recent prevalence of hydrocarbon soot, a black substance that has spread across some parts of Rivers State, the immediate past state Chairman of the Nigerian Medical Association, Dr Furo Green has alerted the Federal Government on the need to urgently control the situation, as failure to do so might be tantamount to risking the lives of six million residents of the state.
Dr. Green, who spoke to The Punch in Port Harcourt on the development, noted that residents of have continually called for help since they noticed the spread of the black substance in their environment, but their cries have yielded no result yet.
Green, a consultant surgeon at the Braithwaite Memorial Specialist Hospital in Port Harcourt, said there was need for government at all levels to identify the source of the pollution that had made residents of the state uncomfortable.
Identifying children with higher risk of developing respiratory problems after inhaling the hydrocarbon particles known as soot, he urged the government to scrutinise the activities of organisations involved in hydrocarbon processing.
According to him, “We suddenly noticed an increased discharge of black powdery matter in the environment, which the Ministry of Environment has traced to hydrocarbon.
“The implication of inhaling these hydrocarbon particles is that it can lead to acute inflammation of the airways which can lead to hyper stimulation of the airway and actually precipitate asthmatic attack in individuals who are predisposed to it.
“Over a long period of time it can lead to obstruction of the airways which we refer to as chronic bronchitis. When this condition goes on for long, it can end up as malignancy or even kill the individual,” Green added.
As you begin each new day, one thing you have in common with every other person is the same amount of time – 24 hours. How then do you spend your own day? How you spend each day makes all the difference.
Do you use, invest, or waste your time? How you use time is determined by your priorities. Stephen Covey said, “The key is in not spending time, but investing it.”
The actual value of your time is determined by the size of your goals and your commitment to them. Psalm 90:12 (NIV) says, “Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.”
Usually as we grow older we look back on how we have used our 24 hours each day. Ecclesiastes 12:1(NIV) says, “Remember your Creator in the days of your youth, before the days of trouble come and the years approach when you will say, ‘I find no pleasure in them.’” What goals have we set and achieved or failed to achieve? Of course, people who do not have goals for their lives do not expect achievements. Those who have goals but do not prioritise them tend to spend their time on urgent issues to the neglect of the important things that matter in life.
Ideally, your time or day should be divided between productive time, rest time and discretionary time. Your productive time is spent on thinking, planning and actually working as a means of earning income. Your productive time is the one that gives you most rewards. You can determine the worth of your productive time by dividing your total income by the number of hours you have worked.
To understand the value of this time, you need to assign an actual naira-per-hour value to your time. This will help you make decisions about how to spend your time. If the activity does not pay off, why do you do it? Don’t just dissipate your time and energy. Even if you don’t charge or get paid by the hour, your time still has a naira value.
It is advisable to write down the important things you have to do in the day. I do this before going to bed (the previous night) and meditate on them. Early in the morning I review and update the list of my activities. As I go over the list, I mark the items that will move me towards my major goal.
This period of planning for the day is actually critical for me. The day goes smoothly with a good plan. The best place for this exercise is the breakfast table. However, individuals have to determine how to manage their day for productivity depending on peculiar circumstances. A typical worker in Lagos that leaves for work at 6.30am and returns home around 7.00pm cannot relax at breakfast table. One main advantage of writing down your day’s plan and using your diary to check and fix your activities is that you do not forget what is important.
Most people have certain times they are most alert and perform better. Try to adjust your daily schedule to align with it. You can get more work done by handling mentally demanding activities during your peak energy periods. It has been found out that when your body temperature drops you have maximum energy but when it rises, your energy drops.
One secret of productivity is to tackle your most important task first and stay with it until completion. In this way you will find yourself engaged with most important things in your life. If something causes delay in its completion, go into the next most important activity. Each day, make up a fresh list and add any items left in the previous day but put them in order of importance. Working on your priorities makes you happy, fulfilled and healthy.
As much as possible, do not permit distractions to take you off your course. Unscheduled visitors can ruin your day. Phone calls, emails, messages and social media tend to consume much of productive time and therefore should be controlled. Carl Sandburg said, “Time is the most valuable coin in your life. You and you alone will determine how that coin will be spent. Be careful that you do not let other people spend it for you.”
Of course, rest or sleeping time is important. A good night’s rest will usually improve your health and performance. Average range for sleeping is 7-9 hours. Siesta or short nap taken often after lunch improves health and productivity. Spain has a tradition of siesta between 1.00 and 4.00pm. During this time businesses close their doors so that staff could take a long break and a nap during the day. Siesta is not practicable in Nigerian situation but those whose schedule of work allows having a nap know the benefits to health and productivity.
Your discretionary time, when you are neither producing nor sleeping, generally involves rewards that are not directly material. This is the time you spend alone in meditation, with family, friends, hobbies, recreation, volunteer, social or service activities. This time significantly improves the quality of life by helping to maintain a balance.
In appreciation for its continual support over the years, especially during its annual conferences, the national executives of the Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria (ACPN), led by the National Chairman, Pharm. (Dr) Albert Kelong Alkali paid a courtesy visit to Pharmanews corporate office in Lagos, on Tuesday 14, February 2017.
Pharm. Alkali, who noted that the visit was his first since his assumption of office as the national chairman, was to appreciate the long-standing relationship and support of Pharmanews to the association, as well as to pay homage and seek advice from Pharm. (Sir) Atueyi, whom he described as a role model to the younger ones in the profession.
In attendance at the meeting were Pharm. Samuel Adekola, national vice chairman; national secretary, Pharm. Adeoye Afuye and assistant national secretary, Pharm. Lawrence Ekhator; Managing Director, Pharmanews Limited, Sir Ifeanyi Atueyi; Editor, Pharmanews Limited, Yusuff Moshood; Business Development Manager, Joel Omikunle, and correspondent Adebayo Oladejo.
Pharm. Gbenga Olubowale was the chairman, Conference Planning Committee (CPC) for the 89th conference of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN). In this exclusive chat with Pharmanews, he revealed the essentials of the conference, stressing the importance of starting early. Olubowale, who is the chairman of PSN Lagos, also highlighted some proven strategies that can help pharmacists survive the current economic downturn in the country. Excerpts:
Congratulations on your successful coordination of the 89th PSN conference. As the chairman of the Conference Planning Committee, how would you assess the conference generally?
Well, the conference which we aptly tagged “Power State 2016” has come and gone and from the comments and feedbacks from participants, it has been adjudged as one of the best conferences in the annals of the profession, in terms of planning and execution. The attendance was overwhelming, even beyond our expectations, because people came from all over the country by all means. We had participants who came by rail, air, and by road; so it was definitely a rich one.
You must have encountered some challenges during the process of planning and implementing your strategies for the conference. Can you recount some of them?
There were definitely challenges, and a major one is the economic recession in the country, which gave us concern about companies’ participation. Recall that the annual national conference is a major source of funding for the activities of PSN. Conference is a place we look forward to, for generation of income through companies’ sponsorship, exhibition, and individual pharmacist’s participation.
Initially, a lot of companies had financial constraint, even though they were willing to participate; but by and large, even though the final figure has not been collated, I think we were able to meet our target, through the last minute registration.
Another major challenge we envisaged was that of getting to the venue, because there is no direct flight to Minna. Most people came in through Abuja, and Abuja-Minna road is not very smooth. Also of concern to us was the issue of accommodating over 2,000 participants. However, we were able to overcome most of these challenges.
The rail arrangement was not eventually followed up, but some colleagues came by the rail and they enjoyed it; it was a sort of excursion for them. However, some pharmacists could not make it because of the long distance.
What are the loopholes you would want the next conference planning committee chairman to bridge for this year?
In terms of loopholes, I think starting early is very crucial, as early as the year commences. I will also advise that the next CPM should do more of virtual communication, because face-to-face communication is outdated, and it wastes time and resources. Having committee members from Sokoto, Ibadan, and other places, we resorted to email and other means of electronic communication, and we were able to save the association a lot of money.
Again, resource persons and companies should be contacted as soon as possible, in order for them to factor expenses for the conference into their budget. These are some of the things they should take note of.
Additionally, participants are to be encouraged to register online as soon as possible, to facilitate proper planning for the conference.
Regarding PSN Lagos, you have successfully headed the branch for about three years now, and the branch has pioneered many laudable initiatives; but it’s been observed that other state branches have not been this vibrant. What can be responsible for this and how can PSN Lagos be of help to others?
Lagos is a peculiar state. When you talk of pharmacists, Lagos has the bulk of their population – about 70 per cent of the practitioners reside in Lagos. Even coming to political governance, very few states can do what Lagos State is doing. So I see that it is a replication of what is obtainable in the state generally.
Lagos is the commercial nerve of the country, and definitely, the PSN branch must be vibrant. Again PSN Lagos has been blessed with men and women of substance, and where you have such a large number, it will be easy for you to make choices. But some PSN branches do not have that luxury of membership like Lagos.
Also we have a population of pharmacists that are quite cooperative. They give their total support to our administration. And, you know that when you have such support, you cannot afford to fail; this gives us the courage to go forward.
Actually though, most of the other branches, too, are working at different levels; but many of their activities are not being reported in the media. Perhaps they are not aware of the power inherent in the media. However, they may not be blamed completely for this because the states may not have enough pressmen like Lagos.
Still on PSN Lagos, what were the major achievements of the branch in 2016, and what’s the vision for 2017?
All I can say is that we have done our best within the limited period we have. Some of the goals we set for ourselves have been achieved, while some are yet to be accomplished Overall, we give ourselves a pass mark.
As you have rightly observed, this is my last year as the chairman of the branch, and we are hoping to leave behind a very formidable legacy that our successor can ride upon. We have given the society more visibility, during the year; we have had opportunities to make appearances in different media of communication to showcase the activities of the branch.
We had an annual luncheon that was well reported and we also had an annual week that was reported far and wide. We also did induction for our new pharmacists in the state (corpers, and those who had just relocated to the state). The annual luncheon was used to celebrate some colleagues, pharmacists and non-pharmacists.
We also gave the incumbent PSN president and the immediate past president a resounding reception, and other states followed suit. The same event was used to celebrate two pharmacists commissioners in the state, Pharm. Uzamat Adegbile and Pharm. Seun Osikoya; commissioner III of the Health Service Commission; as well as ten distinction pharmacists of the UNILAG pharmacy school; they were well recognised. This is a signal to other students and colleagues that hard work really pays.
We actually had a good year. In terms of development, a look around the Pharmacy Villa will show that some capital works are on-going for the second phase of the secretariat. This is to bequeath a befitting house to pharmacists in Lagos.
For 2017, we hope to finish up all projects that can be rounded off before handing over. On the issue of control of illegal premises, we have collaborated with the appropriate agency, and we are hoping to deliver well on our promises in the next few months.
The economic situation is not putting smiles on many faces. What survival strategies would you advise pharmacists to embrace?
Recession is not limited to pharmacists alone; anybody residing in the country, for some couple of months now, would clearly understand what we are going through. I think one key lesson we need to take away from here is to adjust ourselves appropriately. We need to prioritise on our list of wants and needs. We must scale down on our taste, thinking of how to survive the period – while also seeking better opportunities, because I strongly believe that in the midst of the recession, there lie opportunities for the discerning mind.
If you are working in the community, you must think of adding extra value to your services, in order to give customers maximum satisfaction.
We must up our skills, and raise the level of our inputs; that’s one key area we must look into. Again, it’s high time pharmacists started thinking of merging their premises together for a bigger operation, with shared responsibilities, costs and profits. This might be another very good option to try in this recession.
In recognition of his relentless commitment to effective healthcare delivery in the country, the Director General of the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research (NIMR), Professor Babatunde Salako, has been honoured with Africa’s Icon of Medical Transformation award.
The award was presented to him by the African Students Union Parliament (ASUP) at the NIMR’s Institute Boardroom on 6 February, with senior staff members of the institute and pressmen in attendance.
Speaking on the selection of Prof. Salako for the position, ASUP’s spokesperson, Abel Kewul described the NIMR DG as a leader who has dedicated his time and talents to championing the common good of mankind in accordance with the Pan-Africanism Ideology.
Kewul further highlighted other attributes in Prof. Salako, which made him the best qualified for the award.
These, he said, included his purposeful leadership, management acumen, health sector strategic development, qualitative healthcare delivery, training and research development, community and economic development, student and youth empowerment, national peace and international harmony, and charity to the less privileged.
ASUP Speaker, Abel Kewul, presenting the award plaque to Prof. Babatunde Salako, at the event.
He said: “While some privileged ones have chosen to perpetually bask in the euphoria of contentment and hedonism, rare kinds like our awardee has chosen a path that mitigates the adverse effect of this imbalance by leading a life of benevolence, compassion, astute, dedication to effective service delivery and Spartan patriotism”.
Responding to the kind gesture of the student parliament, Prof. Salako expressed appreciation to the group, adding that he was not completely surprised about the honour and visit, knowing full well that the public had been monitoring his good works and commitment to the well-being of humanity.
Prof. Salako also mentioned that NIMR is the oldest medical institute in Nigeria, and possibly in the entire African region to have received this recognition, due to the qualitative service delivery received by the citizenry.
He assured the student parliament on the willingness of the institution to support them, particularly on their campaign against drug abuse, as it is in line with NIMR’s programme to stem the tide of drug misuse in the communities.
“The future of the nation belongs to the youth and you have the opportunity now to work out a beautiful tomorrow for yourselves by destroying this evil attitude among your peers and groups in order to make Africa, and Nigeria have a pride of place”, he asserted.
Emphasising the need for all hands across various youth platforms to be on deck to achieve this feat against drug abuse, he urged all educational stakeholders and institutes to devote themselves to the cause.
Sometimes you have to die a little on the inside first in order to be reborn and rise again as a stronger, smarter version of yourself.
Nobody gets through life without losing someone they love, someone they need, or something they thought was meant to be. But it is these losses that make us stronger and eventually move us toward future opportunities for growth and happiness.
Here are some lessons extra ordinary leaders have learnt along the way:
You are not what happened to you in the past. No matter how chaotic your past was, your future is a clean, fresh, wide open slate. You are not your past habits. You are not your past failures. You are not how others have at one time or the other treated you. You are only who you think you are right now at this moment. You are only what you do right now in this moment.
Focus on what you have, not on what you don’t. You are who you are and you have what you have, right now. And it can’t be that bad, because otherwise you wouldn’t be able to read this. The important thing is simply to find one POSITIVE thought that inspires and helps you move forward. Hold on to it strongly, and focus on it. You may feel like you don’t have much, or anything at all, but you have your mind to inspire you. And that’s really all you need to start moving forward again.
Struggling with problems is a natural part of growing. Part of living and growing up is experiencing unexpected troubles in life. People lose jobs, get sick, and sometimes die in car accidents. When you are younger, and things are going pretty well, this harsh reality can be hard to visualise. The smartest, and oftentimes hardest, thing we can do in these kinds of situations is to be tempered in our reactions. To want to scream obscenities, but to be wiser and more disciplined than that. To remember that emotional rage only makes matters worse. And to remember that tragedies are rarely as bad as they seem, and even when they are, they give us an opportunity to grow stronger.
It’s okay to fall apart for a little while. You don’t always have to pretend to be strong, and there is no need to constantly prove that everything is going well. You shouldn’t be concerned with what other people are thinking either. Cry if you need to – it’s healthy to shed your tears. The sooner you do, the sooner you will be able to smile again. And a smile doesn’t always mean a person is happy. Sometimes it simply means they are strong enough to face their problems.
Life is fragile, sudden, and shorter than it often seems. There may not be a tomorrow – at least, not for everyone. Right now, someone on earth is planning something for tomorrow without realising they’re going to die today. This is sad but true. So, spend your time wisely today and pause long enough to appreciate it. Every moment you get is a gift. Don’t waste time by dwelling on unhappy things. Spend it on things that move you in the direction you want to go.
You will fail sometimes. The faster you accept this, the faster you can get on with being brilliant. You’ll never be 100 per cent sure it will work, but you can always be 100 per cent sure doing nothing won’t work. Doing something and getting it wrong is at least ten times more productive than doing nothing. So get out there and try! Either you succeed, or you learn a vital lesson. It’s a win-win.
You have the capacity to create your own happiness. Feelings change, people change, and time keeps rolling. You can hold onto past mistakes or you can create your own happiness. A smile is a choice, not a miracle. Don’t make the mistake of waiting on someone or something to come along and make you happy. True happiness comes from within.
Emotionally separate yourself from your problems. You are far greater than your problems. You are a living, breathing human being who is infinitely more complex than all of your individual problems added up together. And that means you’re more powerful than they are – you have the ability to change them, and to change the way you feel about them.
Don’t make a problem bigger than it is. – You should never let one dark cloud cover the entire sky. The sun is always shining on some part of your life. Sometimes you just have to forget how you feel, remember what you deserve, and keep pushing forward.
Everything that happens is a life lesson. Everyone you meet, everything you encounter, etc. They’re all part of the learning experience we call ‘life.’ Never forget to acknowledge the lesson, especially when things don’t go your way. If you don’t get a job that you wanted or a relationship doesn’t work, it only means something better is out there waiting. And the lesson you just learnt is the first step towards it.
View every challenge as an educational assignment. Ask yourself: “What is this situation meant to teach me?” Every situation in our lives has a lesson to teach us. Some of these lessons include: To become stronger. To communicate more clearly. To trust your instincts. To express your love. To forgive. To know when to let go. To try something new.
Things change, but the sun always rises the next day. The bad news: nothing is permanent. The good news: nothing is permanent.
Giving up and moving on are two very different things. There comes a point when you get tired of chasing everyone and trying to fix everything, but it’s not giving up, and it’s not the end. It’s a new beginning. It’s realising, finally, that you don’t need certain people and things and the drama they bring.
Distance yourself from negative people. Every time you subtract negative from your life you make room for more positive. Life is too short to spend time with people who suck the happiness out of you. Let go of negative people, for they are the greatest destroyers of self confidence and self esteem. Surround yourself with people who bring out the best in you.
Perfect relationships don’t exist. There’s no such thing as a perfect, ideal relationship. It’s how two people deal with the imperfections of a relationship that make it ideal.
You must love yourself too. One of the most painful things in life is losing yourself in the process of loving someone too much, and forgetting that you are special too. When was the last time someone told you that they loved you just the way you are, and that what you think and how you feel matters? When was the last time someone told you that you did a good job, or took you someplace, simply because they know you feel happy when you’re there? When was the last time that ‘someone’ was YOU?
Don’t let others make decisions for you.
Sometimes you just have to live, not caring what they think of you. Shake off the drama, and prove to YOURSELF that you’re better than they think you are.
Resentment hurts you, not them. Always forgive people and move on, even if they never ask for your forgiveness. Don’t do it for them – do it for you. Grudges are a waste of happiness. Get that unnecessary stress out of your life right now.
You’re not alone. Everyone has problems. To lose sleep worrying about a friend. To have trouble picking yourself up after someone lets you down. To feel like less because someone didn’t love you enough to stay. To be afraid to try something new for fear you’ll fail. None of this means you’re dysfunctional or crazy. It just means you’re human, and that you need a little time to right yourself. You are not alone. No matter how embarrassed or pathetic you feel about your own situation, there are others out there experiencing the same emotions. When you hear yourself say, “I am all alone,” it is your mind trying to sell you a lie.
You still have a lot to be thankful for. Although the world is full of suffering, it is also full of brave people who are overcoming it. Sometimes you have to forget what’s gone, appreciate what still remains, and look forward to what’s coming next. Henry David Thoreau once said, “Wealth is the ability to fully experience life.” Even when times are tough, it’s always important to keep things in perspective. You didn’t go to sleep hungry last night. You didn’t go to sleep outside. You had a choice of what clothes to wear this morning. You hardly broke a sweat today. You didn’t spend a minute in fear. You have access to clean drinking water. You have access to medical care. You have access to the Internet. You can read. Some might say you are incredibly wealthy, so remember to be grateful for all the things you do have.
Conference Highlights
