The Lagos State Chapter of the Association of Lady Pharmacists (ALPs) has provided free healthcare services to two hundred and fifty pregnant and nursing mothers in the Makoko community of Yaba, Local Government Area, in commemoration of ALPs Day, of the Annual Scientific Week of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria, Lagos State Chapter.
The health outreach, organised by ALPs in collaboration with the Lagos State Health Management Agency, (LASHMA), Santos Pharmacy Ltd, and Monsoon Food Company, saw the two hundred and fifty Makoko pregnant and nursing mothers benefitted from free screenings on hepatitis, HIV, blood pressure, and special Mama Pack, while 100 of them received access to free one year health insurance under the Ilera Eko scheme by LASHMA.
Speaking on the theme of the PSN Scientific Week, “The Imperative of the March Towards Achieving Universal Health Coverage in Nigeria”, the Chairman of the occasion, Pharm (Mrs) Taiwo Alliu, MD/CEO, Santos Pharmacy Ltd, noted that it is not only timely, but also crucial in their collective efforts to ensure that every Nigerian, regardless of socioeconomic status, has access to quality healthcare services.
She emphasisied that Universal Health Coverage (UHC) is a goal that all citizens must strive to achieve. It is a goal that transcends individual efforts, requiring a concerted, multi-stakeholder approach, she said, that involves not only healthcare professionals, but also policy makers, community leaders, and every entity.
“As pharmacists, we are integral to the healthcare delivery system. Our role extends beyond the precision of medication to encompass patient education. We need by focusing, as we are doing right now, on ensuring that healthcare services are accessible, to get your rents up very quickly, seamlessly, and affordable to all. The requirement of UHC cannot be successful without all-our participation.
“The theme of today’s event challenges us to reflect on our current practices, and consider how we can contribute more effectively to this national community. The topic we will discuss today, ‘Assessing quality healthcare: Community prevention of mother to child transmission in view’, that is to prevent HIV getting to our children, is a critical aspect of achieving UHC. PMTCT is a cornerstone of maternal and child health services, and an essential component of our healthcare system”, she stated.
The Guest Speaker, Pharm. (Mrs) Modupe Okeneye, who spoke on the topic for the day, “Assessing Quality Healthcare: Community Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission (PMTCT) in view’, highlighted the dangers posed by HIV to the human system, noting that it weakens the immune system, as it can develop into AIDS if left untreated. She underscored the essence of enlightenment for expectant and nursing mothers on HIV, which allows them understand the risks of mother-to-child transmission that can occur through blood, breast milk, and other bodily fluids.
While there is no cure for HIV, Okeneye asserted that it can be managed with antiretroviral therapy (ART), which suppresses the virus, allowing those infected to lead healthy lives and reducing the risk of transmission. Preventive measures, according to her include abstinence, being faithful to one’s partner, consistent condom use, and medications like PrEP and PEP.
“Regular antenatal visits are crucial to check HIV status and take steps to protect both mother and child. Even after childbirth, mothers should ensure their babies are tested, especially if they didn’t give birth in a healthcare facility. Knowing your HIV status is vital for protecting your family and ensuring a hopeful future”, she quipped.
Fielding questions from journalists at the community outreach, the Chairman, Lagos State PSN, Pharm. Babayemi Oyekunle, appreciated the lady pharmacists for their efforts in enlightening the Makoko women on PMTCT of HIV, especially with the free healthcare provisions. He noted that such healthcare interventions are the hallmarks of the Annual Scientific Week of the State Chapter, as there were about other twenty places where such healthcare advocacy was been conducted simultaneously.
Regarding the outcome of the screenings, he assured that the association is going follow-up in ensuring that any woman that tests positive to HIV, hepatitis, or high bood pressure will receive adequate care as early detection of the diseases are crucial to the survival of patients. “What we are going to do is that we will continue to work with our donor agencies to make sure that all the people that we have identified here, will continue to get their drugs as at when due. And to make sure that the young ones we are bringing up, that is young pharmacists are introduced to such health interventions in the community. This is major part of our professional services, which is monitoring of patients outcomes, and we will continue to do that.”
Earlier, in her address to the women, the State ALPs Chairman, Pharm. (Dr) Afusat Adesina, explained the essence of their visit to Makoko community, saying as an interest of PSN, ALPs usually organised impactful programmes to mark ALPs Day in the PSN Scientific Week. And this outreach is no exception, as they are intentional in touching the lives of expectant and nursing mothers in the area through education on PMTCT and the general wellbeing of mother and child.
Pharm. Adesina highlighted the benefits of the outreach to the beneficiaries stating that it will enable the two hundred and fifty women know their health status on HIV, hepatitis, hypertension, with a hundred of them gaining free access to health insurance for a year. She noted that the special Mama Pack given to all the women will also reduce their financial burden during child birth.
She further disclosed how the outreach will help in reducing the burden of infant and maternal mortality in the country, starting that once a pregnant woman tests positive for HIV, she will be connected to the agency where she will be receiving antiretroviral drugs freely, and will be encouraged to adhere to here medications, which will subsequently lead to her heathy living. And once she is ready to deliver her baby, the practitioners will ensure it is conducted in a special way to prevent mother to child transmission at birth.
She said, “First of all, when the pregnant mother takes antiretroviral, receives quality treatment, and adhere to the antiretroviral drug, it is certain that the child will be born without HIV. And then you have healthy babies. And for babies that are already positive, they too have a place for treatment. You’ve seen children that are positive, they are doing very well. Once they take their antiretroviral therapy.”
Two of the beneficiaries, Mrs Celistina Potan and Mrs Oluwaseun Ogunsewe, appreciated the Lagos State ALPs for the free healthcare provision brought to them, assuring the group that they will adhere to all the lectures they have received on regular checkup and maintenance of good hygiene.
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