Community pharmacists in Akwa Ibom have frowned at the heavy reliance on imports of medications and Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs) from China and India, despite the nation’s local capacity to produce. They have commended Governor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom State, on his giant stride in financing healthcare for the poor, and called for the strengthening of the Akwa Ibom State Health Insurance Agency. According to them, there was need for the inclusion of a Pharmacist in the Akwa Ibom State Health Insurance Agency Board in view of “the pivotal role of pharmaceutical services in healthcare, proven expertise of pharmacist in Health economics/Pharmacoeconomics and a groundswell of research that identifies cost of medications as a significant component of catastrophic health expenditure.
” This was part of the decisions in a communique reached at the 3rd Annual Scientific Conference of the Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria (ACPN) Akwa Ibom State, held at Ibom Hall, Uyo, recently. The communique endorsed by Pharmacist Tony Anderson Chairman, Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria (ACPN) Akwa Ibom State, decried the soaring cost of medications occasioned by a depressed economy and exacerbated by the rising cost of energy; leading to an attendant spike in the operating costs of pharmaceutical businesses. This they said, has “left in its wake the withdrawal of some multinational pharmaceutical companies from Nigeria, such as GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), collapse of local manufacturers, such as Jubilee Syringe Manufacturing Company in Onna, Akwa Ibom State and threats to the sustainability of community pharmacies.
” The Conference noted that this gap represents a low-hanging fruit and urged the Akwa Ibom State government to adopt a sustainable model for local pharmaceutical manufacturing by expanding the ongoing Ibom-LED Entrepreneurship Accelerator Programme to support community pharmacies willing to venture into the production of pharmaceuticals and healthcare consumables. “This will leverage on the existing business acumen of community pharmacies in business management, distribution, market penetration and extemporaneous production of pharmaceuticals.” The pharmacists “observed that at a misery index of 85%, the Nigerian economy is depressed and may lead to increase in drug smuggling and counterfeiting.
” Accordingly, they sued for the authentication of medicines, traceability, tamper-proof packaging, quality control, secure transportation, storage, and monitoring, to ensure medicine security. “Conference therefore called on the Governor of Akwa Ibom State, His Excellency, Pastor Umo Bassey Eno to consider the re-activation and funding of the Akwa Ibom State Counterfeit and Fake Drug Monitoring Committee as a public health emergency. They highlighted the pivotal role played by Akwa Ibom State Community Pharmacists in providing primary healthcare services in the State, such as vaccination, family planning, health checks, health education and promotion, mental health services, drug information services, and point of care testing.
They highlighted the participation of community pharmacists in COVID-19 vaccination exercise, which assisted immensely in ramping up COVID-19 vaccine uptake in the State. They maintained that “Community Pharmacies have also played a tremendous role in curbing the prevalence of HIV/AIDS in the State”. They also “expressed commitment in partnering with the government in tackling the menace of drug abuse among youths.
The Anti-Drug Abuse School Competition (ADASC), organized by the Association of Community Pharmacists in Nigeria, Akwa Ibom State Chapter, is one of the innovative ways the Association has developed to nip drug abuse in the bud and give back to our communities.” The community also “called on the Akwa Ibom State government, in line with her ARISE AGENDA, to support the ongoing public health awareness campaign of the Association, aimed at raising the health consciousness of Akwa Ibom residents by discussing vital health topics weekly across various electronic media.” The communique also applauded the Chairman Opening Ceremony, Engr Ekemini Amos, for the construction of the first Infusion Manufacturing Factory in Akwa Ibom State by his company.
The conference also thanked the Akwa Ibom State government for creating a congenial environment for investments and enjoined other investors to follow this trail to boost employment and guarantee availability of essential medications.” Held under the theme, “Medicine Security in An Unstable Economy: The Role of Community Pharmacists”, the conference had among others in attendance, Pharm Prince Adewale Oladigbolu, FPSN, National Chairman, Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria (ACPN); Chief Dr Effiong Afiakurue, MD/CEO Rootcare Pharmacy and Ewet Luxury Apartment Ltd; Mrs Blossom E. Okorie, Registrar, University of Uyo, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, the Registrar, Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (PCN), Pharm Babashehu Ahmed FPSN (represented), the Director of Pharmaceutical Services (DPS) Akwa Ibom State Ministry of Health, Pharm Ottobong Amana, the Akwa Ibom State Co-ordinator NAFDAC, Pharm John Nnaji, the FIRS Tax Controller Uyo, Prince Mukoro O.
Johnson, the Country Director, Howard University Global Initiative Nigeria (HUGIN), Dr Dorothy Oqua, the State Pharmacy Manager HUGIN, Pharm Anthony Achanya, the Immediate Past Chairman, Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) Akwa Ibom, Pharm Dr Akwaowoh Akpabio and a plethora of other seasoned speakers and training resource persons. ALSO READ THESE TOP STORIES FROM NIGERIAN TRIBUNE.
