As a means of reducing the prevalence of infectious diseases in Lagos State, the Association of Lady Pharmacists (ALPs) Lagos State Chapter, has commissioned two hand washing points at the Divisional Headquarter of the Ketu Police Station.
The lady pharmacists, who converged at the Ketu Fruits Market on Tuesday, in celebration of the ALPs Day in the Pharmacy Week, of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria, (PSN) Lagos State Chapter, enlightened the market women and men on best practices in control and prevention of diseases, through regular hand washing with soap and water, maintenance of clean environments, as well as healthy eating habit.
Members of the association also conducted free vital signs on participants, distributed face masks, hand sanitizers and deworming tablets to the traders.
Speaking with Pharmanews shortly after addressing the audience at the programme, Dr Owoyele Wasiu, medical officer of health, Ikosi-Isheri LCDA, said the most important thing for everyone to know is how to control and prevent diseases, knowing fully well that your health starts with your hands, as long as you have good culture of sanitation.
He emphasised that diseases are likely to be mitigated, if people cultivate proper hand washing culture.
“What the Association of Lady Pharmacists has done today is a laudable efforts and it will go a long way in mitigating the spread of emerging infectious diseases within the market and the community as a whole”, he quipped.
Fielding questions from journalists at the public health awareness creation programme, Lagos State ALPs Chairman, Pharm. (Dr) Afusat Adesina, explained the essence of the programme, noting the importance of healthy lifestyle and environment in diseases prevention and control.
She said: “Today is ALPs Day in the Pharmacy Week of the Lagos State PSN. We have come to Ikosi- Isheri LCDA to enlighten the people about the best practices in control and prevention of diseases. We demonstrated to them hand washing and gave them health talk on control of diseases.
“So we demonstrated to them that they can actually prevent diseases, because as it is commonly said, prevention is better than cure, and it it cheaper to prevent diseases. That is why we have come to the people of Ikosi-Isheri, precisely the fruit market, to tell them about best health practices in prevention of diseases, and that is our topic.
“The theme of the week is “Multi-level prevention of diseases”. We also commissioned two points of hand washing at the Divisional Headquarters of the Ketu Police Station, just to demonstrate our token to the Ikosi-Isheri community dwellers”.
Also present at the sensitisation programme was the PSN Chairman, Lagos State Chapter, Pharm.Gbolagade Iyiola, who lauded the efforts of his female colleagues in educating the masses on the benefits of living an hygienic lifestyle and environment.
The chairman also appreciated the traders for leaving their markets to come and participate in the lecture, as he urged them to practicalise all that have been passed across to them.
The DPO, Ketu Police Station, CPS Oluwafunmilayo Oke, commended the efforts of the association, saying they have done wonderfully well, which makes him not too surprised at the fact that women saw Christ first. They are very innovative in bringing useful concepts in place.
“These two hand washing points are very useful, not only for the police, but for everyone that will come into the Police State. We really appreciate them”, he stated.
Speaking with Pharmanewsonline, Pharm.(Mrs) Chinyere Ogudu, planning committee chairman for the 2021 ALPs Day, disclosed all the rigours the committee went through in putting the awareness campaign together, saying it was a tough order, but expressed her delight in the success of the programme.
Pharm. (Dr) Modupe Ologunagba, former chairman, Lagos State ALPs, who represented the National ALPs Chairman, Pharm.(Mrs) Victoria Ukwu, commended the executives for their giant stride in enlightening their environs on best practices in diseases control and prevention. She also prayed God to keep blessing them with new ideas in preserving the health of their communities, which will transform to a healthy nation.
For the Former National ALPs Chairman, Chief (Mrs) Yetunde Morohundiya, “ALPs has done very well today, because everyone knows what we have passed through in the past one and half year. So such topic is welcoming at such critical time of pandemic as this. The theme is very apt and relevant, these hand washing points in the front of the police station is a very good initiative and I wish ALPs greater heights”.
Chief (Mrs) Amupe Adesanya, iyaloja Jakande Market, also appreciated the Lagos ALPs members, on behalf of other market women, as she prayed God to keep renewing their strength and wisdom, in order for them to keep brimming up with new health initiatives to improve the healthcare of the traders.
