Anambra State Government has reassured of determination to eliminate circulation of fake and adulterated drugs across the state.
The Commissioner for Health, Dr Afam Obidike gave the assurance at an event organized by the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria, Anambra State Branch to mark the 2022 World Pharmacists’ Day in Awka.
The World Pharmacists’ Day is celebrated every September twenty-five to promote the pharmacy profession and has “Pharmacy United in Action for A Healthier World” as the theme for the 2022 celebration.
Dr Obidike described Governor Chukwuma Soludo as pharmacists friendly going by the reforms he has already introduced in the sector in just six months of assuming office.
Also speaking, the Anambra State Commissioner for Housing, Honourable Pauly Onyeka who is also a lawyer and pharmacist, emphasized that despite the wide range of expertise of pharmacists in the medical sector and society, they are underutilized, calling on the professionals to take their prime position in drug value chain administration, manufacturing, distribution, supply, use and policy making.
In his speech, the Chairman of the event and Vice Chancellor, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Professor Charles Esimone said any policy formation in the medical and health sector without the involvement of pharmacists is bound to fail because of the centrality of the profession in health care service delivery.
Professor Esimone, a pharmacist and professor of biopharmaceutics and pharmaceutical biotechnology regretted that pharmacists are neglected in policy making in different medical interventions in the country.
He called on them to unite and lead in the action to improve the health of the citizens of the country, adding that the business of improving health care should not be in the hands of government alone.
In a keynote address, the Permanent Secretary, Anambra State Ministry of Environment, Dr Emman Udeh-Akpeh, also a pharmacist, while commending pharmacists for their efforts in ensuring a healthier society, told the Federal Government that it was high time pharmacists are granted prescription rights as is now being practiced in different parts of the world.
Earlier in a press conference ahead of the event, the Anambra State Branch Chairman, PSN, Pharmacist Josephat Obasi, commended the Anambra State government for reforms it had already introduced in the pharmaceutical sector in the state especially the groundbreaking of the Coordinated Wholesale Drug Centre in Oba, Idemili South Local Government Area and the Federal Government for the enactment and assent to the new Pharmacy Council of Nigeria Law.
Miss Maryann Ekesi of Girls Secondary School, Amaenyi, Awka beat other eight contestants to win the essay competition organized by the PSN to mark the World Pharmacists Day while members came together to cut the cake for the day.
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