-As UNILAG Holds Ladipo Mobolaji Abisogun-Afodu 2nd Annual Lecture in Pharmacy
For the realisation of fundamental factors to the attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which are access to quality health care services, safe and effective medicines and vaccines, pharmacists must be prepared to play key roles in a dynamic public healthcare system, for effective and positive health outcomes.
This was the submission of stakeholders at the Ladipo Mobolaji Abisogun-Afodu 2nd Annual Lecture in Pharmacy, held at the Old Great Hall, College of Medicine, University of Lagos (UNILAG) Idi-Araba, Lagos, on 6 September, 2018.
Dignitaries in attendance at the annual lecture were: The Vice-Chancellor, University of Lagos (UNILAG) Professor Oluwatoyin T. Ogundipe; Dr (Mrs) Ajoritsedere J. Awosika; keynote speaker and chairman, Bio-Generics’ Integrity Award for Pharmacists in Public Hospitals; Dean, Faculty of Pharmacy, UNILAG, Prof. (Mrs) B. A. Aina, Head of the Da Rocha-Afodu Clan, Mama A.O. Branco; Director, office of Advancement, Oluwarotimi O.A. Shodimu, Esq.; Pharmanews Publisher and Chairman of the ocassion, Pharm. (Sir) Ifeanyi Atueyi; Dean, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, UNILAG, Prof. Olubunmi Magbagbeola; Distinguished Professor H.A.B. Coker; Prof. E. A. Ogunlana; Prof. Festus A. Ogunbona; Mrs Olaide Sasegbon, executor of the Estate; and others .
Speaking on theme of the lecture: “Enhancing the role of pharmacists in public health in the context of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)”, Dr Awosika explained the responsibility of pharmacists in the healthcare delivery system, noting that as drug experts, pharmacists play key role of improving health outcomes through the responsible use of medicines and optimising effective choice and use.
She explained that pharmacy practice however took a new dimension in 1990 through the introduction of the term “Pharmaceutical Care” by Hepler and Strand, as a philosophy and standard of provision of care for patients.
Awosika, who stressed the need for Nigerian pharmacists to key into the concept of pharmaceutical care in its entirety said Nigerian pharmacists cannot be different from others around the globe, thus they must conform to the latest trend in the practice now, else they fall out of place in the profession.
According to her: “Pharmaceutical care concept has transformed the pharmacy profession to be more accountable in patient care, especially to ensure that a patient achieves positive outcomes from drug therapy. Therein lies the mutually reinforcing role of pharmacy in public health”.
Thus for pharmacists to fit successfully into public healthcare roles, she said they must acquire required skills set in public health, apply the skills accordingly, and advance needed evolution of the pharmacy profession to ensure they make critical, unique and available contributions, to healthcare delivery system in the country.
The Vice-Chancellor, University of Lagos (UNILAG) Professor Oluwatoyin T. Ogundipe, represented by Prof. S.A. Okunuga, in his opening remarks appreciated the donor, late Mrs Frederica Abimbola Omololu- Mulele for bequeathing such huge donation of the sum of N36 million for the endowment of two professorial chairs at the University of Lagos in the fields of Obstetrics/Gynaecology and Pharmacy.
He however explained that when it was clear that the total amount available for the two chairs would not be enough to sustain them in perpetuity, a decision was taken to have it changed to annual lectures to boost the two areas of study in perpetuity.
While calling on other Nigerians to emulate the good example of the donor, in supporting education and research, he said this is one of the special ways of funding education, in the face of dwindling resources for that purpose in Nigeria.
The UNILAG VC expressed his heartfelt gratitude to the executors of the Estate, for executing the donor’s Will to the later.
In his contribution, the Chairman of the occasion, Sir (Pharm.) Atueyi urged all participants to leave a worthy legacy behind, as the legacy left by Late Mrs Frederica Abimbola Omololu- Mulele, has brought them together for the occasion of the day.
He also narrated how the keynote speaker, Dr Awosika had impacted the country positively as a former National Coordinator/Chief Executive Officer of the National Programme on Immunisation, and she even assisted a lot of families then, during the economic recession that occured from 1998 to2015, of which his own family benefitted too.
The Pharmanews boss mentioned how a group of PANS national executives established an Annual Essay and Debate Competition for Pharmacy Students in his name in 2015, and he consented to the idea because it is a worthy legacy to leave behind.
Quoting from the Holy Bible in Nehemiah 5:19 which says “Remember me, my God, for good, according to all that I have done for this people”, he asked the audience:”What do you want to be remembered for, what are you living for”?
He therefore concluded with the scriptural saying which states that “Whatever you do, do it heartily as to the Lord, and not to men”.
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