Healthcare professionals in Kwara State, including doctors, nurses, and pharmacists, have received specialised training to improve the monitoring and reporting of adverse drug reactions (ADRs) which are the harmful unintended side effects of some drugs. The initiative, organised by the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital (UITH) in collaboration with the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), was aimed at enhancing patients’ safety and ensuring the efficacy of medications. The one-day training, held at the Kwara State University Teaching Hospital (KWASUTH) Seminar Room in Ilorin recently focused on equipping healthcare workers with the necessary skills to effectively contribute to Pharmacovigilance, which is the practice of monitoring the effects of medical drugs after they have been licensed for use.
State Coordinator of NAFDAC, Pharmacist Ndabo Nathan, reiterated the Agency’s commitment to ensuring that all medical products are safe and of high quality for public use, noting that while no drug is entirely without side effects, the need to document and analyse the effects is crucial. “By reporting adverse drug reactions, healthcare professionals are not only protecting their patients but also contributing to the overall safety of the drugs in circulation,” he added. In his address, Dr.
Abdulraheem Malik, the Executive Secretary of the Hospital Management Bureau and also the Chairman of the occasion, highlighted the importance of exte.