Our Reporter
“The Greatest Achievements of the year 2020 is survival” This is part of the words of the National Chairman of the ACPN, Dr Samuel Adekola at the Ceremony of the National Conference Center, Abuja on the 1st of December 2020.
Dr Adekola while explaining the reason why the event which was originally scheduled for July 2020 had to be moved to the 1st of December stated that the body had to reschedule the conference as a result of the various events which had played a huge part in shaping the year 2020; one of which was the outbreak of the novel virus, Covid-19, the gruesome murder of the National Publicity Secretary, Pharm Ike Sunday Chukwujekwu on the 19th of July 2020 among many other events.
The National Chairman also stated that the Nigerian Community Pharmacist Practices in an environment which is arguably one of the most hostile in the world, he also highlighted some of the various challenges like lack of basic infrastructures to unfriendly government regulatory policies among others which are militating against the effective functioning of the Body.
He also praised members of the Association for their contributions to community health care system in Nigeria, stating that despite the fact that the body has or no access to 100 Billion naira CBN health sector intervention funds, it has continued to do it best to improve basic health care service delivery in the Country.
According to him,” During the heat of the Covid-19 pandemic for instance, Community Pharmacist who are the first port of call for health interventions of varying depths were not covered by any form of insurance and benefit package in Nigeria…”
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He also added that this year Conference is aimed at bringing to fore the avalanche of value and benefits which Community Pharmacist are capable of adding to primary health care delivery in Nigeria so that the government at all levels can be motivated to take the bold step of unlocking the pool of potentials inherent in this class of health care providers as being Advocated by the World Health Organization to the benefits of the greater percentage of the people of Nigeria.
In his words,” Community Pharmacist are the health professionals most accessible to the public and are a cornerstone of Primary health care. The role of Community Pharmacists is expanding globally”
He also stated that this year Conference is also aimed at making the clarion call to the government to ensure the formal recognition of Community Pharmacies as Primary Health care delivery facilities in Nigeria; Development of appropriate legal and regulatory framework for Community Pharmacies in Nigeria as being promoted by the WHO, the inclusion of Community Pharmacies in the National Emergency medical treatment Committee and full incorporation of Community Pharmacy in the National Health Insurance Scheme as it is done in other climes.
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