The 2013 Annual National Conference of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) is scheduled to hold in Ilorin, Kwara State, from 4th to 8th of November, 2013.

The theme of the conference tagged “Harmony 2013” is “Evolving Best Practices in Patient Care.”

Prof. Fola Tayo, pro-chancellor, Caleb University and former president, West African Postgraduate College of Pharmacists is the keynote address speaker, while Hon. Justice Mustapha Akanbi, former president, Court of Appeal, former chairman, Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) is expected to chair the event.

His Excellency, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed, executive governor, Kwara State, will be the special guest of honour at the event holding at Kwara State Government Banquet Hall, Ilorin.

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Medical Reps:

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(By Temitope Obayendo)

A professor of pharmaceutical chemistry, Pharm. Magaji Garba has frowned at the numerous challenges facing pharmacists in the academia, in the course of training greenhorns in the profession, stating that if these difficulties are not resolved, they might prevent the lecturers from giving their best to the students.

Prof. Garba, who is the dean, School of Pharmacy, Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, spoke to Pharmanews in an exclusive interview recently.

According to him: “Chief among the challenges are poor remuneration; inadequate exposure, due to acute financial difficulties; inadequate facilities and substandard laboratories, coupled with inconducive environment for learning.”

He further condemned the situation, stating that if actions are not taken immediately by the government to remedy the predicament, by upgrading the facilities in the schools of pharmacy, as well as increasing the salary of the lecturers, pharmacy education in Nigeria may not be interesting, as it used to be.

The dean however did not fail to mention the attempt his institution is making to improve the amenities in the school. “In ABU, for example, efforts are now geared towards providing new learning technologies and an ICT-driven university, and a lot has been achieved, but one can still see that remuneration and exposure to tally with the international community are lacking.”

Assessing the activities of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) and those of its technical arms, in relation to the progress of the profession, he said if PSN would go by what the Pharmacy Summit reached at the retreat early this year, “we will make a lot of progress towards meeting international standards”.

“All technical groups must be encouraged to take the profession to greater heights. Academia, for example, should be supported to establish private practice, while massive training should be given good encouragement by taking mandatory continuing education seriously, since it has been improved. There should be a lot of linkages between the  industrial group, academia and industries, in order to uplift the quality of pharmaceuticals in the country,” he submitted.

When asked about his view on the performance of pharmacists in the society, he said pharmacists are living up to the expectation of their clients within allowable limits determined by state. However, with more facilities and high infrastructure in pharmacy schools and very good regulatory facilitation, more will be achieved.

Speaking on the need for an improved health care system in Nigeria, he noted that the year 2013 is half way, and it is not certain if the budget is operational. He opined that the massive investments in MDGs will assist in reducing  maternal and child mortalities; improve enrolment in schools (primary); create easy aaccess to basic health facilities at primary level etc., which will all go a long way in improving the standard of living.

“At the tertiary level, the provision of more up-to-date facilities, trained health professionals would improve the treatment of common ailments and other organic diseases. Medical tourism is one area the Ministry of Health must crack brains to solve. Above all, genuine and effective pharmaceuticals should be ensured.”

The don urged pharmacy students, as future pharmacists, to study hard, in order for them to surpass him and his counterparts, as well as to take the profession to greater heights. He also advised pharmacists to be united, so that they can enjoy every bit of the profession, not giving room to non-professionals to reap where there is even no rain for them to sow.

He also acknowledged the good performance of pharmacy students, when compared with that of non-pharmacy students, adding that there is room for improvement. “The performance of pharmacy students has always been above average. This is because of the raised standard. Whereas other non- professional courses require to have a minimum CGPA of 1.00, the pharmacy students have to maintain a CGPA of 2.40. If therefore you compare the performance of pharmacy students along this line, then you would correctly say they are doing well.”

“However, if you mean the general decline in the standard of education now in the country, then certainly it has also affected pharmacy students, as such. You would find that fewer are  graduating with high CGPA, say above 3.50. The standard of  pharmacy students therefore has not been down and all those who graduated from any accredited school of pharmacy are professionally alright.”

The Managing Director of Pharmanews Limited, Pharm. (Sir) Ifeanyi Atueyi, was among the eminent Nigerians that recently bagged awards of the West African Postgraduate College of Pharmacists (WAPCP), Nigeria chapter.

Pharm. Atueyi received the appreciation award during the opening ceremony of the Annual General Meeting (AGM) and Scientific Symposium of the WAPCP, Nigerian chapter, held at Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja, last May.

Dr. Muazu Babangida Aliyu, executive governor of Niger State was also made a patron of WAPCP at the event chaired by Pharm. (Prof.) Fola Tayo, immediate past president of WAPCP.

Other awardees at the event were: Pharm. (Prof.) Paul I. Akubue, Pharm. (Prince) Julius Adelusi-Adeluyi, Pharm. (Prof.) Fola Tayo, Pharm. Moses C. Azuike, Pharm. (Dr.) Uford S. Inyang. They all bagged the appreciation award of WAPCP for their contributions to the college.

In his opening speech, the chairman, Prof. Fola Tayo, said that WAPCP has gone through years of serious challenges, but today, have become a formidable force all across West Africa, adding that Nigeria, Ghana, Sierra-Leone, have approved WAPCP’s fellowship for consultant’s grade.

He also acknowledged and commended the Niger State Government for its support to students of the college and for being the first state to implement the consultant’s status of the college, before any other state, immediately the National Council on Establishment granted WAPCP recognition.

Once upon a time, Opeda, the great grandson of Adam could not find enough wheat flour to make bread for his visitors and had to go visit his cousin, Padam, to borrow some flour. It would not be the first, the second or the third time that Opeda had made the short trip to his cousin’s.Opeda had a penchant for wheat flour and this time Padam was determined to get something better than promises in return. On his arrival, Padam gently asked him to give him a ram for the previous 12 jars of wheat plus this last one. Opeda screamed at the request and so the barter began.

 They took a while to haggle over the worth of one ram, in comparison to wheat flour, and finally they settled for fourteen jars of wheat and a new wineskin as the worth of one ram. Opeda left, carrying the two jars of wheat and the new wineskin, with a promise to Padam to send the ram over the next day… and so began trade by barter in the ancient town of Seth.

Trade by barter thrived for a long while until someone invented money. History had it that it was Padam’s grandson. He had returned from a distant land, after years of sojourn, to see the earth with some precious items. He had a leather bag full of the smooth round beautiful objects that everyone admired. The whole village gathered to look at them and soon everyone was trying to exchange something for them. Then men would travel far and wide to bring more of it and so this smooth sea shells became our money.

Until we saw silver…

Money is an Invention

The story above is a fictitious account, it seeks to illustrate that money, as in the currency we use today, is an invention of man. We invented money, as we know it, to overcome the limits of trade by barter. Chief of these limits is the storage function; money allows us to store value.Naira notes are official units of exchange designed and approved by the relevant authorities for the representation of economic value in Nigeria. When stored in a bank, these currencies represent accumulated value.

As demonstrated in the story above, a billion naira could allow one to potentially store several million kilogrammes of wheat flour, provided there is someone who has the ability and desire to sell. The rationale behind the volume of money a nation can print is the representative economic value of that nation. Assume a nation’s economy depends on wheat alone, when a nation prints more currencies than the proportionate volume of wheat, you would have more currencies chasing wheat, hence inflation. More money would be needed to buy the little available wheat. This would be manifested as artificially high cost of wheat. It is therefore correct to say that it is not the ability to print money that is the problem in a nation but rather, the volume of wheat available. In Nigeria, the majority of this “wheat” is crude oil.

Meaningful Societies exist to Create Value

It is common parlance to say that it is the job of the entrepreneur to create value for customers but really, it is everyone’s work. The government, the academic, religious and business institutions exist to create, manage and exchange value. The human, material and social infrastructure upon which the prosperity of any nation is judged is a reflection of the value-capital of that nation. This is often reflected in the size of their budget and gross domestic product; these reflect the degree of productivity of the nation. Since these productivities represent value, they often need to be stored as money e.g. Nigeria’s foreign reserves.

The nation of Nigeria can be said to be rich, not because she has billions of Naira notes but rather because of her abundant natural resources, which happen to have a lot of economic value at present. Of late, some OPEC member nations are not a trifle concerned that China is focusing on exploring her shale oil and gas deposits. What this means is that if there is more oil around, the price of oil would fall, though its usefulness is still the same. Countries like Nigeria would be in trouble. The key word here is estimated economic value.

There are two basic sources of value:

The natural raw material/resource– e.g. oil and gas, man (labour), trees, coal, etc.

The immaterial resource – ideas, techniques, skills, competencies, processing procedures, strategies and software etc.

Natural raw materials like crude oil and human population are relatively fixed in supply and come at their lowest economic value. Immaterial resources on the other hand, are not fixed and are the major determinants of the estimated economic value of the productivity of any nation. They constitute “processing factors” and can improve the value of other raw materials. By increasing the ownership and capacity of these “processing factors”, a nation can indefinitely multiply her economic value.

This is why Singapore, with a population of just above 5 million people (2012 Census) has a GDP (PPP) of $325,557 billion, while Nigeria with a population of above 170 Million people (2012 Estimate) has a GDP of $448.495 Billion.

One could say that though we have so many natural resources and have 34 times more people than Singapore, we are just about 1.37 times more productive than Singapore that does not have many natural resources. The resource of Singapore therefore is the people of Singapore; each of them, on the average, generates about 23 times what a Nigerian does.

Entrepreneurship

Business institutions play two cardinal functions:

1. They manage the factors of production that decide the “estimated economic value” of items and systems.
2. They manage the stored economic value of every nation (banks, stock market, insurance companies, pension funds, government funds and budgets).

By default, though business organisations are, most times, created and managed by individuals who arrived at their charge by sheer dint of hardwork and a good dose of favour, they play crucial social functions. Their acts and inactions greatly affect the rest of the populace. They do not perform these roles in isolation. Together with the government that provides the rules and, sometimes, material and the academic institutions that provide human capital, business institutions go about creating and managing the pooled resource of every society, sometimes for profit, sometimes not.

Nigerian Pharmaceutical Industry

From the above, stakeholders in the Nigerian pharmaceutical industry have a social function. It is a function that, when executed effectively, would determine the collective prosperityand posterity of the general society and the stakeholder’s themselves. Just like the shale oil situation, when we do not have the capacity to find alternative value for our crude oil, especially in a more competitive setting, there would be problems. At present, Nigeria does not own the systems, the processing factors, which determine the economic value of her crude oil.

The same applies in the pharmaceutical industry; we do not own the systems that determine the economic value of the industry. The highest asset in the industry right now is the size of the purchasing power of Nigerians, which is the numeric power.The other potential assets like production capacity, innovative processes, proprietary rights and human resources are clearly not owned by Nigeria. Apart from the fact that there are many mouths to serve, the industry does not really exist. In other words, there is really no “wheat” in this case. The stakeholders are mainly playing a distributive function, as the systems to increase our capacity to create and own such relevant processing systems are not functional. What this means is that we cannot, as it is, increase our economic value. We can have a lot of competition and activity, but the economic value can only be increased and sustained when there is a greater capacity to create value. Right now, we are re-distributing value, not creating it and this situation does not assure sustainability.

The responsibility to change the status quo cannot be left to the government alone. The government needs active engagement and the only way I believe it can be achieved is for institutions to adopt the paradigm that their responsibility is even much more than that of the government. At the end, it is the business institutions that make governments and not the other way round. Hence, the government and academic institutions must of necessity be engaged by businesses to avoid a certain bleak future.

Entrepreneurs who adopt this understanding know that the profit motive would not be enough, in the short term. The term “profit” should of necessity be redefinedbefore we find out, like America is finding out, that at the end of the day, the collapse of society’s economic value capital would lead to the collapse of businesses, eventually.

There is a great opportunity. The nation’s productivity is gradually increasing.We need individuals with audacious goals and this social function paradigm to see beyond the challenges band rise to the opportunities of today. Collaborations would be needed, massive investments must be secured, and the government would be radically and proactively engaged. It would involve a lot of risks no doubt, but I believe, just like OPEC members know – that to do nothing is far more risky.

Against the backdrop of criticism that medical bodies are in the habit of protecting their members who are on the wrong side of the law, Dr. Osahon Enabulele, president of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), has refuted the claim, saying the allegation does not reflect the true state of things.

Speaking at the just-concluded 53^rdAnnual General Conference / Delegates Meeting of the association, which took place at the University of Lagos, Akoka, on 2^nd May, the medical doctor explained that it will be wrong for anybody to openly condemn medical bodies in such manner.

The conference with the theme, “e-Health and its potentials for improving health care delivery in Nigeria,” attracted several medical doctors, top health officials, government functionaries and representatives of NMA state branches.

According to him, a lot has been written in the media and said at different times, even at the National Assembly, about the seeming inability of the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) to sanction erring members.

“This has culminated in the sponsoring of a bill in the National Assembly by an honourable member, obviously seeking to criminalise medical negligence and malpractice, as well as causing the Nigeria Police to now prosecute doctors who are alleged to have erred in their responsibilities,” he noted.

The NMA president reiterated that his association does not shield any of her members proven to have erred in their duties. He declared that NMA, as a body, has always taken action on proven cases, including referral of some cases to MDCN, for necessary action.

Enabulele further said that the nation should note that the MDCN is handicapped by the fact that there is currently no judge / council chairman to preside over investigated cases brought before it. He recalled that the Medical and Dental Practitioners’ Act (MDP Act) provides that only the chairman of council shall preside over the tribunal (which has the status of a high court).

“In the last 10 years or more, the Governing Council of the MDCN has cumulatively not been in place for more than four years. The last council was dissolved in 2010, with no replacement. All calls made to the government to inaugurate the council have, so far, not yielded any result,” he stressed.

While bemoaning the development, the president intoned that, rather than enacting another bill that will simply complicate matters and end up producing no positive result, the National Assembly can help the situation by incorporating the MDP Act into the Nigerian constitution.  This would be like the Federal Judicial Service Commission and the National Judicial Council, with clear uninterrupted tenure for members of council.

“The council should be allowed to exist in perpetuity. This is the only way for progress, and not by multiplicity of Acts. As it stands, the Nigeria Police has too many outstanding cases it has competence to handle, and should not be further burdened with matters it has no competence or knowledge about,” he said.

In his words, “Medicine and dentistry are professions, like law, and are therefore self-regulatory.”

In a related development, Enabulele also made a clarion call on the National Assembly to do all they can to quickly pass the National Health Bill, despite the temporary setback suffered during the consideration of the bill by the senate.

“We wish to repeat that no amount of resources, including allocation of a minimum of 2 per cent of the consolidated fund of the federation to the National Primary Health Care Development Fund, should be considered too much to invest in health, which is a critical ingredient for engendering national prosperity,” he emphasised.

As expected, the NMA president addressed the Lagos State Government over its sustained policy on ‘casualisation’ of doctors, and its refusal to implement CONMESS salary structure for health practitioners in public service.

“We wish to appeal to His Excellency, our executive governor. Since you have done well in other sectors, we believe you can and would put a smile on the faces of your doctors once again,” he pleaded.

In his earlier address, Enabulele defined e-health as a safe, secure, ethical and cost-effective transmission, as well as exchange of health data and information. He declared that the NMA is willing to collaborate with the Federal Government through the Ministry of Health, as well as the Ministry of Communication and Technology, to urgently put in place an effective strategy for implementation of e-health in Nigeria.

  It appears Pharm. (Mrs.) Juliana Nyiyam Agbatse, chairman, Benue State Association of Lady Pharmacists (ALPs), has answers to the ongoing controversy on how to regulate the practice of herbal practitioners, who churn out herbal drugs for the society without accurate dosage.

Agbatse, who is also the assistant director, pharmaceutical services, with the Benue State Ministry of Health, has opined that ALPs, as a group of women scientists, can embark on the development of medicinal plants, in partnership with research institutes, to the benefit of the masses.

Agbatse, who spoke with Pharmanews in an exclusive interview, said ALPs can achieve more success in the production of herbal remedies than the traditional herbal practitioners, adding that the group can focus on plants with antimalarial substances and work on them, for the reduction of malaria burden in the country.

In this interview with Temitope Obayendo, Agbatse reveals more on how ALPs can achieve this goal.

Could you tell us about yourself and  your background?

I am Pharm. (Mrs.) Juliana Nyiyam Agbatse (JP)(MAW). I was born into the family of late Pa Shar Kunde and late Mrs. Kumamyol Shar in Shangev Tiev District of the then Gboko LGA, now Vandeikya LGA, in Benue State.

I had my primary education at the RCM Bature, Shangev-Tiev, from 1971 to 1977; attended Queen of the Rosary secondary school, Gboko, where I completed my secondary education with good grades between 1978 and 1982. I could not go ahead with my education but got married to Mr. Benjamin B. Agbatse of Mbatiav, Gboko LGA in 1982.

Thereafter, I was admitted for a remedial program at the University of Jos in 1986. Eventually, I gained admission to study Pharmacy in 1987 at the University of Jos, and completed the programme with a Bachelor of Pharmacy (B. Pharm) in 1992.

In 1995, I returned to the Ministry of Health and changed cadre from clerical staff to the Pharmaceutical Services Department. I rose through the ranks from pharmacist 1 and I am currently an assistant director, pharmaceutical services, with the Benue State Ministry of Health.

As a lady pharmacist, I joined the state branch of the Association of Lady Pharmacists (ALPs) in 1995. I was made the state secretary in 1998 – 2006; then the vice chairman in 2008 – 2010.  I was then elected chairman of ALPS Benue State from 2010 till date. Before being elected as chairman, I was the secretary of Girl Child Project Committee. I was honoured with the ALPs Merit Award at the just concluded ALPs Biennial Conference in Port Harcourt by the national ALPs.

As the Benue State chairman of ALPs, how would you describe ALPs performance at the last PSN conference at Abeokuta?

The performance by ALPs at the opening ceremony of the PSN conference at Abeokuta was commendable.

Aside from the usual activities of the group, what are the projects the body wants to execute this year?

ALPs national wants all state branches to get more committed to Project 91, whose focus is on research on plants with medicinal and cosmetic value. At my state level, in addition to this which we already started working on, we have put in place a plan to engage in massive career education of secondary school students across Benue State, alongside talks on drug abuse and HIV/ AIDS, which we have not been so involved with.

Benue State ALPs will be picking the fourth girl child to sponsor through secondary school. We pick one at a time. Under the girl child training program, ALPs Benue will select two girls by the second half of the year and sponsor them to be trained in any trade of their choice. We picked one last year and sponsored her to learn tailoring. She completed the training and we bought her a sewing machine, and she is running her small shop at the moment in Ikpayongu settlement in Benue State.

As women, do you think your members can do well in plant research to the benefit of their patients?

Yes, I think we can do well in plant research. Remember that not every ALPian will be involved in research, but many will be involved in planting of the plants. Remember, also, that research on plants can be done at various levels, in collaboration with research institutes, to achieve the expected results. ALPs will collaborate with relevant establishments like the Pharmaceutical Research Institute (NIPRID), Nigerian Medicinal Plants Development Company (NMPDC) and others, both within and outside Nigeria, to achieve our aim. Not all research will be directly for the benefit of our immediate patients, but for the development of drugs and cosmetic products in the long run.

 In what ways do you think ALPs can help in achieving the health components of the MDGs?

There are three components of the MDG that are health-related. They include: reduction of child mortality, improvement of maternal health and combating HIV/ AIDS, Malarial and other diseases. In the recently concluded ALPs Biennial Conference, which was held in Port Harcourt, the conference topic was: “Safe medicines, the roadmap to child and maternal health”. This topic was well presented by the keynote address speaker and properly deliberated upon by professionals who are directly involved in handling women and children. New ideas were shared among the professionals and ALPians rose from the meeting with new and better ways of handling this group of patients in their various places of work.

 ALPs has engaged in talks on HIV/AIDs to sensitise teenagers and the general public that AIDS is real and can be avoided in all the states.

An ALPs member is currently the chief executive of the NMPDC, which has succeeded in domesticating artemisia annua, the antimalarial plant.

ALPs, through Project 91, can develop plants of medicinal value of local indigenes that would help members of the public, since we are scientists and would do better in standardising herbal drugs, as compared to traditional herbalists.

ALPs could work with traditional herbalists to train them on standardisation of herbal collections, so that those that receive treatment from them will get the best, in terms of quality of the active ingredients in the herbs collected.

What are the challenges of ALPs in the state and how could these be resolved?

The challenge of ALPs in Benue State is the low numerical strength, which is mainly due to the fact that lady pharmacists are few in the state, but also due to the fact that some are not willing to participate in ALPs activities. This leads to low financial muscle and inability to effectively execute planned programmes. We have started developing a bulletin or pamphlet that will carry our activities in pictorial form, and we will distribute them to all ALPians in the state and even to the larger society. We hope this will encourage the ladies to be part of the success stories, and the society to reckon with our efforts in serving the Benue community. ALPs is about giving service to improve the lives of people.

 What is your advice to all pharmacists across the nation?

I advice all pharmacists to know who they are: members of the only trusted profession. We must be proud of this profession. We must therefore live above board, giving service to our unsuspecting clients in a way and manner that will uphold the ethics of the profession. We must not think of copying bad actions and behaviours of many who have infiltrated the profession and are peddling fake and adulterated substances in an uncoordinated manner, thus making monitoring and supervision very difficult for those involved in safeguarding the health of the nation. We must all partner with the government to achieve the full implementation of the new national guideline on drug distribution, which is the answer to fake drugs, open drug markets and chaotic drug distribution.

Could you list some of the offices you have held before?

In the service of Benue State Government as a pharmacist, I have been appointed to the following positions of responsibility:

• Member/ secretary, State Task Force on Fake and Counterfeit Drugs
• Member/ secretary, State Drug Abuse Control Committee
• Member, Pharmaceutical Inspection Committee
• Member, State Committee on Review of Registration of Business Premises
• Member, State Ministerial Security Committee of the Ministry of Health
• Essential drug program manager, Benue State EDP
• Member, Technical Team on the Establishment of the Benue Bulk Medical Store, now known as Essential Pharma Limited, Makurdi
• Procurement and regulatory affairs manager, Essential Pharma Limited, Makurdi
• General manager / chief operations officer, Essential Pharma Limited, Makurdi

As a pharmacist, I was elected into various positions of responsibility, serving on several committees in service to the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria. They include:

• Treasurer,  PSN Benue State
• Assistant secretary,  PSN Benue State
• Treasurer, NAHAP Benue State
• Secretary, Pharmacy Week Planning Committee (1999)
• Member, Pharmacy Week Planning Committee (2012)

In what many described as a remarkable moment in the Nigerian pharmacists’ circle, professional colleagues, friends and relatives gathered to celebrate the 90^th birthday of Pharm. (Chief) Bayo Ogunyemi, a fellow and former president of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN).

The colourful ceremony took place at the banquet hall of NAN Media Centre, behind the National Arts Theatre, Lagos on May 22.

In attendance were the dignitaries: Prince Julius Adelusi-Adeluyi, chairman, Juli Pharmacy; Pharm. Ade Popoola, chairman, PSN Board of Fellows; Oba Funsho Ogunkoya, monarch of Ijebu-Iseyin; Prof. Oladele Akila (retired), a veteran obstetrist and gynaecologist; Pharm. Deji Osinoiki, CEO, Deyo Pharmacy and Mrs Yetunde Ogunyemi, wife of the celebrant.

Arguably the oldest pharmacist in Nigeria, Pharm. Ogunyemi described by many as resilient and innovative, was the president of PSN from 1985 to 1988.

Eulogising his virtues, Pharm. Popoola said that the entire Board of Fellows felicitates with him and his family.

“Not many pharmacists have attained this age. He is about the oldest visible pharmacist we know because we can see him. We know there could be others in some parts of the country. I think the closest one would have been Pharm. Festus Ukueke, who just passed away yesterday at the age of 89. Pharm. Ogunyemi has done well and is worthy to be celebrated,” he enthused.

Sharing the same views, Adeluis-Adeluyi remarked that the celebrant enjoyed the grace of God in his younger days. As a former PSN president, he was quite active, dependable and professional in his approach.

“He tried his best to bring peace, progress and stability to the society. Even in times of challenges, his leadership remained solid. My prayer for him is: may his evening be better than his morning and afternoon. May God continue to grant good health of mind,” he said.

According to Mazi Sam Ohuabunwa, former managing director of Neimeth International and a fellow of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (FPSN), he once served with Ogunyemi, back then, as assistant editor of Nigerian Pharmacy Journal.

“He was the then president. Unlike the other big men, he has a full presence. He was not easily lost in the crowd and exuded dignity. As a leader, he was very articulate and strongly fought for recognition of the profession,” he said.

Describing him as quite instrumental, Ohuabunwa declared Ogunyemi as a very strong professional pharmacist.

“During his presidency, the profession was well regarded,” he intoned.

Safe medicines to Nigerians can only be guaranteed when pharmacists in the country are available to provide the pharmaceutical care, as well as when patients and the general public patronise only registered pharmacies, where experts are available to provide safe medicines and pharmaceutical care.

This was disclosed by Pharm. (Alh.) Ahmed I. Yakassai, managing director, Pharmaplus Nigeria Limited, Kano and former commissioner of commerce, industry, cooperative and tourism, land and physical planning, Kano State, at the 32^nd Annual National Conference of the Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria (ACPN). The event tagged “Land of Paradise 2013”, was held at the prestigious Cultural Centre, Calabar, Cross River State between 3^rd to 7^th of June, 2013.

The conference, which had in attendance community pharmacists in their hundreds from across the nation, had Pharm. (Dr.) Mrs. Dere Awosika, former permanent secretary, Federal Ministry of Power, as the chairman, first plenary session. It also had in attendance several eminent guests, such as Pharm. Olumide Akintayo, president, Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN); Pharm. Azuibike Okwor, immediate past president, PSN; Pharm. Deji Osinoiki, former chairman, Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria (ACPN); Pharm. (Dr) Lolu Ojo, chairman, Association of Industrial Pharmacists of Nigeria (AIPN); Pharm. (Dr) Gloria Abumere, acting registrar, Pharmacists Council of Nigeria (PCN); Pharm. (Alh.) Adebayo Ismail Olufemi, national chairman, ACPN; Pharm. (Dr.) Ejiro Foyibo, immediate past chairman, ACPN; Pharm. Alkali Albert Kelong, national vice-chairman, ACPN; Pharm. (Engr.) Olatunji Koolchap, national secretary, ACPN, among others.

Speaking further, Pharm. Ahmed Yakasai, who was the keynote speaker at the event, said he was delighted with the choice of the main theme for the conference, which was: “Safe Medicine for Nigerians – Community Pharmacists’ Perspectives”.

According to him, safe medicines, as defined by World Health Organization (WHO) standard, are those that satisfy the priority and health care needs of the population, adding that they are selected with due regard to public health relevance, evidence on efficacy and safety and comparative cost- effectiveness.

“Safe medicines are intended to be available within the context of functioning health systems, at all times, in adequate amounts, in the appropriate dosage forms, with assured quality and adequate information, and at a price the individual and the community can afford. In other words, the vision of WHO is that people everywhere have access to the safe medicines and health products they need, that the medicines and health products are safe, effective and of assured quality, and that medicines are prescribed and used rationally.”

He explained that Nigerians have a right to safe, qualitative and efficacious medicines, adding that access to safe medicines is part of the human right to health. He, however, lamented that this is not the case in Nigeria, as the country is faced withan uncoordinated drug distribution system, which is not in line with the good drug supply management that the national drug policy stipulates.

He also explained that it has been established that the uncoordinated drug distribution is the major reason why we still have some level of fake, adulterated and substandard drugs in circulation in the country, which is not in the interest of the health care delivery system.

Continuing, “The physical distribution of medicines from manufacturers to pharmacists in this country is chaotic. In order to ensure the availability of good quality, safe, efficacious and affordable drugs in the health care delivery system, the Federal Government developed national guidelines on drug distribution; and the main attraction of it is that drugs will no longer be sold in the open market. All the health care facilities, including private and public, will be guided by the guidelines in their drug procurement activities, in order to establish a well ordered drug distribution system for Nigeria.”

Speaking on the reasons drugs should be properly regulated, Yakasai noted that the use of ineffective, poor quality and unsafe medicines can result in therapeutic failure, resistance, exacerbation of diseases and sometimes death. He added that it would also undermine confidence in health systems, health professionals, pharmaceutical manufacturers and distributors.

He therefore advised that, in order to improve access to safe medicines in Nigeria, all stakeholders in the health care delivery system must play their respective roles in the manufacture, supply system management, prescription and use of drugs.

He added that safe medicines to Nigerians can only be guaranteed where pharmacists are available to provide the pharmaceutical care, while community practice must be ethical and should fall within the ambit of the law. He further said that, as stipulated in the PCN code of ethics, every pharmacy, should have a superintendent pharmacist in personal control of the premises.

While launching the Pharm. Ahmed I. Yakasai Community Service Award in Community Pharmacy Practice, with a price tag of N300,000 (three hundred thousand naira) annually for 10 (ten) years,  with N250,000 (two hundred and fifty thousand naira) for the award and N50,000 (fifty thousand) for transportation fees to the awardee, Pharm. Yakasai urged all pharmacists to have the fear of God in carrying out their daily activities and to act with honesty and integrity.

In her goodwill message at the conference, Pharm. (Mrs.) Gloria Abumere, acting registrar, Pharmacists Council of Nigeria (PCN), explained that the important place and responsibility of the community pharmacists cannot be overemphasised, given the pivotal role they play in health care delivery services in the country. She said that medicines are very essential to life, whether or not the individual is well.

“Medicines are crucial to human existence; so, if not properly handled and advice and counselling are not properly given, strictly followed or adhered to, medicines can become very dangerous, if not lethal, when handled by the wrong people or in the wrong way. Lives have been terminated through the wrong use of drugs, while medical conditions can also be made worse through inappropriate use of medicines. And this is where the community pharmacist comes in.”

The acting registrar noted that the community pharmacist is one of the most trusted healthcare professionals, who provides, not only medicines, but also psychological support to the patients. She also added that community pharmacists are trusted community health advisers with requisite educational skills and competence to offer professional services, particularly in the area of dispensing, counselling, patients’ follow-ups, rational use of drugs and appropriate documentation of both medicines and patients.

“I am happy to inform this gathering that, in line with current international trends and demands, some pharmacists are to be trained as trainers towards training other community pharmacists on management of childhood illness, including malaria, diarrhea and pneumonia, towards the end of this week. We believe that, together, we can make pharmacy great and impactful.”

Earlier in his address, the national chairman, ACPN, Pharm. (Alh.) Adebayo Ismail Olufemi, said he was delighted with the main theme of the conference, “Safe Medicine for Nigerians – Community Pharmacists Perspectives”. This, he said, is appropriate for this period in the history of the country. He added that it is the responsibility of the community pharmacists, as custodians of medicine, to provide safe medicines to the public.  He also declared that it is the fundamental human right of an average Nigerian to have access to safe medicines.

“A lot of events have happened in the last one year. I want to cast an optimistic look on issues we have been grappling with, as a profession; seeing them all as pharmacy practice passing through the refiner’s fire. Meanwhile, I am optimistic that, at the end of the day, the practice of pharmacy will evolve into an ideal one.”

Pharm. Olumide Akintayo, president, Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN), in his message, appreciated the recent collaboration between Pharmacists Council of Nigeria, the Clinton Foundation, the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria, and the Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria, which aimed at training community pharmacists in some selected states to tackle the menace of diarrhoea, malaria and pneumonia, which  are major clinical disease states that worsen the depressing indices on child and maternal healthcare in the country.

He also urged the community pharmacists across the nation to embrace the labelling software initiative, which redresses irrational drug use and medication errors. He added that the community pharmacist can truly showcase the difference in his practice from that of drug sellers in the manner drugs are dispensed and labelled for use. “Community pharmacists would have no choice, in the long run, than to adopt this initiative, as a regulatory tool in the not too long future.”

Meanwhile, another highlight of the event was the official unveiling of the new logo and mission, as well as vision statement, of the association, which was done by the chairman of the first plenary session, Pharm. (Dr.) Dere Awosika. The chairman, who was assisted by Pharm. Olumide Akintayo, president, PSN and Pharm. (Dr.) Gloria Abumere, PCN acting registrar, commended the association for the successful presentation of the new logo, and encouraged them to make sure its vision and mission statement are professionally adhered to.

While speaking on the unveiling of the new logo, both Akintayo and Abumere agreed that the new logo and vision, with the mission statement, followed due process before approval and were in line with the transformational agenda in the health care sector. They however urged the leadership of the association to strive to actualise the objectives of the vision and mission statement.

Former Managing Director of Neimeth International and a fellow of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN), Mazi Sam Ohuabunwa, has thrown his weight behind Chike Okoli Foundation, saying it has touched so many lives.

Ohuabunwa, who disclosed this to Pharmanews during the foundation’s 7^thAnnual Heart &Soul Gala, which took place at Muson Centre, Lagos, on 7^th June, 2013, noted that the essence of living is not in the number of years one lives but on the impact one makes while living and the legacy left behind.

“Some people know how to turn grief to something spectacular. This foundation is one of them. What happened was a tragedy, having to die at such a young age.

“But God sustained the parents and gave them courage to turn it to a cause to promote healthy living and entrepreneurial initiative. What this means is that we will always remember Chike Okoli for good,” he said.

The Heart &Soul Gala, which attracted high profile personalities, both from the pharmacy circle and other sectors, is held annually to raise funds, as well as create awareness for heart attack and entrepreneurial training in memorial of the late Chike Okoli.

In attendance were Pharm. Ike Onyechi, managing director of Alpha Pharmacy; Fola Adeola, former vice presidential candidate of ACN and chairman of Fate Foundation; His Royal Highness, Dr. Laz Ekwueme; Senator Joy Emordi, special adviser to the president on National Assembly Matters; Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, secretary to the Government of the Federation and Prof. Boniface Egboka, vice chancellor, NnamdiAzikwe University, Awka.

Others were Mrs. Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, Lagos State deputy governor; Oba Otudeko, chairman of Honeywell Group; Mrs. Chinyere Dozie, wife of Diamond Bank’s chairman; Hon. Halima Hassan of Kebbi House of Assembly and Chief JumokeAkinjide, representing Dame Patience Jonathan.

Corroborating Ohuabunwa’s statement, Pharm. Onyechi praised the virtue of the foundation, saying that it has succeeded in empowering many Nigerians.

“Mrs. Stella Okoli has done well with the creation of this foundation. It is creating so much awareness and support for others to benefit and that is why we all gathered here today to show solidarity to her. As a former PMGMAN president, Stella has proven herself to be a committed person who acts and supports others. Despite owning one of the biggest pharmaceutical companies in Nigeria, she likes to come in person, when you extend an invitation to her,” he said.

On his part, Adeola relived the moment he met late Chike Okoli, adding that he never knew the young man was going to leave so soon after spending just 25 years on earth.

In an emotion-laden voice, the former vice presidential candidate, who contested alongside Mallam Nuhu Ribadu in the last elections, described Stella as a counsellor and supporter for the downtrodden.

“That probably explained why we have the foundation. There is no reason for anybody to leave university and still spend four years at home doing nothing. Today, the world is embracing entrepreneurship. We need to continually empower people, not create room for kidnapping. I am hoping that even if we cannot meet the target of N455 million, as expected, let’s try to raise a minimum donation of N51 million to cover the foundation’s expenditure,” he canvassed.

For faculties of pharmacy in Nigerian universities to meet emerging health challenges in the country, and the world at large, the introduction of relevant courses like Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Drug Logistics Studies, Pharmaceutical Gerontology and Geriatric Drug Studies is inevitable, Professor Emmanuel O. Osazuwa, dean, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Benin (UNIBEN) has said.

The dean, who spoke to Pharmanews in an exclusive interview, hinted on the ongoing curriculum review in his faculty, and efforts being made at introducing relevant courses, which will enhance the faculty and other pharmacy schools meet emerging health challenges.

“In fact, a review of our curriculum is going on presently. Here in Benin, efforts are being made to introduce new but relevant courses such as Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Drug Logistics Studies, Pharmaceutical Gerontology and Geriatric Drug Studies. These courses are inevitable, if we are to meet emerging health challenges.”

The don, who submitted that the courses are well structured in the curriculum, however stated that it is imperative to review it from time to time, in order to keep up with new trends in the profession.

Having trained abroad and one who has been teaching pharmacy students in Nigeria for the past three decades, he asserted that pharmacy students are more stressed in Nigeria by the work-load than those trained in England. “Our curriculum is overloaded but can be excused by our peculiarities and level of development.”

Speaking on the progress made so far in the faculty, since he took over the leadership, he said numerous achievements have been recorded, so far. Some of the achievements listed include: the possession of a purpose built faculty building, provision of a borehole (which was donated to the faculty by his humble self), prompt availability of examination results,  reduction in  examination malpractices, decrease in  failure rates at the faculty examinations, improvement in staff strength, renovation of laboratories, among others.

Asked about the faculty’s role in teaching the students ethics, he noted that the faculty has been encouraging good ethics, discipline and good moral character among students, to the extent that a student cannot graduate, if found wanting in learning and character. “The majority of our graduates are well behaved. It is only natural to expect a few bad eggs in the population.”

To all students of pharmacy, the don advised them to work hard at their studies, in order to graduate as pharmacists, as and when due. He also urged all pharmacists to embark on good pharmacy practice, as well as embrace the new trend of patient care and update knowledge, as often as possible.

On his choice of pharmacy as a career, he revealed that he was fascinated early in life by the ability of pharmacists to produce drugs, medicines, remedies etc. from natural or artificial sources. It is amazing what knowledge pharmacists have of live-saving drugs.

Speaking on his academic attainment, he said he was trained at the  Edo College, Benin City, the University of Ife (now OAU), Ile-Ife and the University of Manchester, England, where he bagged B. Pharm, M.Sc and Ph D degrees.  “Before now, I held several faculty and university positions, including assistant dean; faculty examinations officer; faculty admissions officer; member of several faculty and university committees; chairman, Pharmacy Students Disciplinary Committee; chairman, Post University Matriculation Examination (PUME) and others.”

By TemitopeObayendo

 The Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN) has charged all nurses across the country to aim at achieving professional excellence, amidst several challenges rocking the profession, which are capable of distracting the nurses from their core responsibility as caregivers in the society.

NMCN representative, Ms Ijeoma Ohajuru, made this remark, while addressing nurse leaders in Lagos at the 3^rd interactive forum for nurse leaders in Lagos State, organised by Healthy Living Communications, which was held at the Nigerian Institute for Medical Research (NIMR),Yaba, Lagos, on April 19^th, 2013.

Attesting to the fact that technological advancement is on the rise in the health care delivery system where the nurse is a key player, she said professional excellence in nursing would only be achievable through Professional Development Programmes (PDP), as these encourage nurses to apply learning directly to their field of practice.

She defined professional development as “the conscious updating of professional knowledge and the improvement of professional competence throughout a person’s work life.”

Since PDP is a must for every nurse to attain professional excellence, she highlighted the various means through which this could be obtained to include:in-house courses and external courses, which are further divided into: work-based learning; distance learning programmes; self-directed private study; preparation and delivery of lectures and presentations; attendance at lectures; seminars or conferences.

“The sole essence of PDP is to assist nurses in the continued acquisition of new knowledge, extension of professional responsibilities, expansion of personal skills and the improvement of problem solving approaches in profession” she explained.

Encouraging nurses to overlook their challenges, while striving to attain professional excellence, she enumerated some of the difficulties encountered in the process of professional development to include shortage of manpower, inadequate infrastructure, poor remuneration, hostile work environment and lack of academic backing for graduates of hospital based programme.

She also added that this PDP is mandatory for all nurses, especially those in government employment, because the renewal of their licenses will not be possible, except they have undertaken at least two modules within three years.

Speaking on the topic “The challenges of the nurse leaders today”, Mrs A.O. Oluwatayo, a retired matron, urged younger nurses to upgrade their academic portfolio by going for their degrees and masters in nursing science, adding that this will serve as a great relief to the shortage of human resources currently delaying the commencement of the colleges of nursing.

Oluwatayo, who recalled from the last nurse leaders conference she attended, said the commencement of the colleges of nursing was one of the main issues discussed, and the major factor delaying this operation is the lack of nurses to serve as lecturers in the colleges. Thus, she encouraged as many nurses as possible, who are still agile, to upgrade themselves for this purpose and others.

On the roles of nurse leaders in the hospital, she highlighted them as follows: envisioning goals, affirming values, motivating, managing, achieving workable unity, explaining, modeling and renewing.

Earlier, Mr. Emmanuel Oriakhi, managing director, Healthy Living Communications, appreciated the nurses for attending the conference, despite their tight schedules and assignments. He said the issues of focus in the forum have been geared towards uplifting nursing practitioners and the nursing profession, as a whole.

“I have received several testimonies of how many lives have been transformed professionally by the issues discussed at this forum. Of particular note is the awareness on the need for nurses to improve their education, as a way of not only advancing professionally, but also competing and coping with other healthcare professionals,” he remarked.

L-R, Ms Ijeoma Ohajuru, NMCN representative, Mr. Emmanuel Oriakhi, managing director, Healthy Living Communications, and Mrs A.O. Oluwatayo at the event.