Written By: Dr. Ifeanyi Okeke
Every year, pharmacists worldwide mark ‘World Pharmacists Day’ on 25th September.
This year, according to International Federation of Pharmacists (FIP), the theme is: ‘Safe and Effective Medicines for All’. The theme aims to highlight the key role of pharmacists, who have been consistently ranked among the most trusted professionals globally, in protecting patient safety through improved medicine use and reduced medication errors.
According to the FIP President, Dominique Jordan, ‘Pharmacists use their broad knowledge and unique expertise to ensure that people get the best from their medicines’ This is ensured through improved access to medicines, counseling on appropriate use of medicines and adherence. Pharmacists are charged with the responsibility to ensure that when a patient uses a medicine, it will not cause harm.
It is worrisome that death due to medication errors is one of the leading causes of death globally. Today is the right day to ask for sound epidemiological insight into medication errors in Nigeria and pharmacists, as intelligent intermediaries, can help to reduce such incidents drastically.
Pharmacists are well equipped by training to render pharmaceutical care to all patients. This is a clarion call for the placement of trained pharmacists in all healthcare delivery centers in line with the duty of making safe medicines available to all Nigerians.
In community pharmacies, industries, research and development centres, hospitals, politics and policy making, these men of honour have been making tremendous impact in safeguarding the health of the Nation. Remembering an amazon, late Professor Dora Akunyili, Prof. Oleka Udeala, Professor Iwe Akubue, Professor Mike Adiukwu, Professor Charles Esimone, Vice Chancellor of the prestigious Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Julius Adelusi Adeluyi and a plethora of names too numerous to mention, has made pharmacists synonymous with excellent services to humanity.
We rejoice with pharmacists worldwide today and, as men of honour, they should continue to join hands in ensuring adequate healthcare. People should feel free to go to any pharmacy next door and check their health. The pharmacist is always there to serve you.
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