As Nigerian pharmacists join the rest of the world to mark this year‘s World Pharmacists Day, which is usually celebrated every September 25, the Drug Information Centre (DIC), of the Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria (ACPN), has called on all pharmacists in the country, especially those in the community practice, to strategize on attaining the global goal of the pharmaceutical profession, which is moving from research to healthcare, and service delivery.
Speaking at the event organised to commemorate the “World Pharmacy Day 2017”, held at Akinwumi Ambode Primary Health Care Centre, Shomolu, Lagos, the Chairperson, ACPN national, DIC, Pharm. Bukola Folorunsho explained that the World Pharmacists Day is celebrated to commemorate and honour the contribution of pharmacists to the world, saying the community pharmacists were at the community to show the public that pharmacists are at their service always.
She noted that in line with the theme of the global event, “From Research to Health Care: Your Pharmacist is at your service”, which was chosen to reflect the numerous contributions of the pharmacy profession to the healthcare sector, she assured the populace of their selfless services including medicine information, patient counselling, drug information and medication review, counselling as well as enlightenment.
“In our day to day practice, we have realized that a lot of people are ignorant of how medicine works and as a result, series of abuse is ongoing in the country, to the extent that people now use drug for different purposes, other than the purpose the drug is meant to serve. Antibiotic abuse is on the increase, as well as abuse of so many other drugs. Thus, as pharmacists, we have set today being a very special day; globally aside to attend to people free of charge and meet their needs in the aspect of drug need and pharmaceutical care.”
Other pharmacists at the event that also spoke include, Pharm. Jonah Okotie , publicity secretary, HCPAN; Pharm. Okame Okah-Avae, manager, DIC, ACPN national; Pharm. Christy Ediomo-Abasi, former national treasurer, ACPN; Pharm. Oby Ikwu, Publicity Secretary, ACPN, Lagos State and Pharm. Lawrence Ekhator, former national assistant secretary, ACPN, among others.
The programme also offered free counseling and screening as well as free distribution of drugs to about 500 beneficiaries from Shomolu community and its environs
“World Pharmacists Day was the brainchild of the International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP), with the FIP council voting to establish the event in the late 2000s during a conference they staged in Istanbul, Turkey. The aim of the day is to bring attention to pharmacies and the positive benefits they offer when it comes to health, and FIP encourages all its members to get involved to make the event a success.”
