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Tag: Pharmacists

  • NYSC to deploy doctors, pharmacists, others to IDPs camps

    NYSC to deploy doctors, pharmacists, others to IDPs camps

    The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) is to deploy medical doctors, nurses, pharmacists and other medical professionals to Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camps nationwide.

    The Director General of NYSC, Brig-Gen. Sule Kazaure, made this known Thursday while flagging-off the NYSC intervention programme at Damare IDPs camp in Yola.

    Kazaure said that the deployment of NYSC to the camps was part of the scheme’s contribution to government’s efforts in assisting the IDPs.

    “This programme, which is designed to bring succour to the inmates in this centre, is also intended to compliment government’s efforts towards provision of the welfare needs of members of IDPs nationwide.

    “The scheme, therefore, will deploy the services of corps professionals such as medical doctors, nurses, pharmacist, etc to the centre to assist Federal Government in the provision of medical and other sundry needs of the IDPs.

    “Specifically corps members will be participating in medical outreaches, environmental sanitation, educational intervention and general awareness creation on healthy living,” he said.

    Kazaure also said that the scheme would use the opportunity provided by the programme to distribute food items and other materials to the IDPs.

    He said that the flag-off of the intervention programme was his major official assignment outside Abuja and this was an indication of the importance the NYSC attached to the plight of the IDPs.

    Kazaure urged other wealthy Nigerians and corporate organisations to assist government in rehabilitating IDPs in the country.

    He commended the military, NEMA, Red Cross, NGOs and various faith based organisations for their contributions to welfare of IDPs.

    “I want to thank you all, especially, the corps members who despite all odds are currently serving in the state,” Kazaure said.

    The leader of IDPs in Damare camp, Mallam Modu Gana, lauded the intervention programme of the NYSC which he said was timely.

    Gov. Muhammadu Jibrilla of Adamawa and the State Coordinator of NEMA, Mr Sa’ad Bello, also lauded NYSC for the gesture, which they said, reflected one of the objectives of the scheme.

     

  • UNILAG graduates 92 pharmacists

    Ninety-two pharmacists have graduated from the University of Lagos (UNILAG) with 10 of them bagging distinctions.

    The induction held at the school’s main campus.

    The  Vice Chancellor, Prof Rahamon Bello, who was represented by the Deputy  Vice Chancellor (Academics), Prof Duro Oni, said UNILAG stands for excellence and distinction.

    He enjoined the graduands to continue striving for excellence in  their various disciplines.

    Dean, Faculty of Pharmacy, Prof Boladele Silva, enjoined them to buckle up ahead of a new beginning which, according to him, would come with some challenges.

    His words: “Giving up after a few failed attempts make you a loser. Every successful person was persistent and relentless.”

    Registrar, Pharmacists Council of Nigeria Elijah Muhammed, said the graduands have just completed the first phase of their training.

    He said: “You are coming into the profession to lessen the disease burden.”

    According to him, a little mistake can cost the loss of many lives, adding: “You are not coming to toy with the lives of Nigerians.”

  • Faculty inducts pharmacists

    No fewer than 27 graduates of Pharmacy were inducted by the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences of the Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto (UDUS) at a ceremony witnessed by officials of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN).

    The event was held at the school auditorium and had in attendance, the Vice-Chancellor (VC), Prof Abdullah Abdu Zuru, represented by his deputy for Academics, Prof A.G. Yahaya, former VC, Prof Rizkuwa Arabu Shehu, VC of Federal University of Technology, Birin-Kebbi, Prof A.N. Bilbis, Director of Education and Training, Pharmaceutical Institution of Nigeria, Dr Anthony Udoko, and PSN member in Sokoto State, Mr Ibrahim Binji, among others.

    Prof Shehu, who chaired the event, hailed the leadership of the faculty for what he called “excellent training” the graduands received. He said: “I don’t think any institution in this country can boast of adequately-trained pharmacists as UDUS, considering the level of modern learning facilities which the school put in place.”

    He told the graduands to justify their knowledge by adhering to the ethics of the profession and uphold the values of their alma mater.

    While presenting the graduands for oath taking, the Dean of the faculty, Dr Musa Ismail Abdulahi, said: “We are presenting the best graduating students so far in the history of the faculty for licence to dispense and manufacture drugs.”

    He said six students graduated with distinctions, with the best among them having Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of 4.76. Despite appreciable level of facilities, Abdulahi said the faculty had been facing inadequate lecture hall and staff office, pleading with the school management to do more.

    The Kano State chapter of the Association of Industrial Pharmacy of Nigeria donated two projectors to the faculty during the event.

    Abba Abubakar, the outstanding students, received PSN award of excellent with N35,000 cash. He also received the award for the Best Graduating Student in Clinical Pharmacy. His colleague, Siraju Yunusa, went home with Best Graduating Student award from Association of Industrial Pharmacy of Nigeria in Pharmaceutical Microbiology and Pharmaceutical Chemistry. Gloria Idris, another graduand, was awarded Best Graduating Student in Ethical Dispensing.

    Gloria said: “I received this award based on my ability during the course of study. This will enable me to specialise in administrative pharmaceutics, where I think I can perform better.”

  • Faculty inducts pharmacists

    No fewer than 27 graduates of Pharmacy were inducted by the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences of the Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto (UDUS)

    at a ceremony witnessed by officials of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN).

    The event was held at the school auditorium and had in attendance, the Vice-Chancellor (VC), Prof Abdullah Abdu Zuru, represented by his deputy for Academics, Prof A.G. Yahaya, former VC, Prof Rizkuwa Arabu Shehu, VC of Federal University of Technology, Birin-Kebbi, Prof A.N. Bilbis, Director of Education and Training, Pharmaceutical Institution of Nigeria, Dr Anthony Udoko, and PSN member in Sokoto State, Mr Ibrahim Binji, among others.

    Prof Shehu, who chaired the event, hailed the leadership of the faculty for what he called “excellent training” the graduands received. He said: “I don’t think any institution in this country can boast of adequately-trained pharmacists as UDUS, considering the level of modern learning facilities which the school put in place.”

    He told the graduands to justify their knowledge by adhering to the ethics of the profession and uphold the values of their alma mater.

    While presenting the graduands for oath taking, the Dean of the faculty, Dr Musa Ismail Abdulahi, said: “We are presenting the best graduating students so far in the history of the faculty for licence to dispense and manufacture drugs.”

    He said six students graduated with distinctions, with the best among them having Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of 4.76. Despite appreciable level of facilities, Abdulahi said the faculty had been facing inadequate lecture hall and staff office, pleading with the school management to do more.

    The Kano State chapter of the Association of Industrial Pharmacy of Nigeria donated two projectors to the faculty during the event.

    Abba Abubakar, the outstanding students, received PSN award of excellent with N35,000 cash. He also received the award for the Best Graduating Student in Clinical Pharmacy. His colleague, Siraju Yunusa, went home with Best Graduating Student award from Association of Industrial Pharmacy of Nigeria in Pharmaceutical Microbiology and Pharmaceutical Chemistry. Gloria Idris, another graduand, was awarded Best Graduating Student in Ethical Dispensing.

    Gloria said: “I received this award based on my ability during the course of study. This will enable me to specialise in administrative pharmaceutics, where I think I can perform better.”

     

  • Pharmacists seek local production of HIV drugs

    Pharmacists seek local production of HIV drugs

    The Federal Government has been asked to create for  local production of antiretro-viral drugs and vaccines.

    The President, Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN), Mr Ahmed I. Yakasai, made this suggestion during  an appraisal of the health sector at Pharmacy House, in Anthony Village, in Lagos.

    He said  the creation of such funds had become imperative because of the gradual withdrawal of Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation Initiatives (GAVI) from Nigeria.

    Yakasai said: “I need to advocate that there is a need to review our dependence on donor agencies, hence the government should strongly do something urgent on preventing grave development. I must appreciate the Federal Government through the National Health Care Development Agency for organising Stakeholders forum on Vaccines production to stimulate interest and develop a business plan for local vaccines production in Nigeria.”

    He said as the country marches on in the year, the Federal Government must embrace universal health coverage to give teeth to global norms which presume that access to health must be the right of all citizens. “The fastest way to achieving this is to embrace primary healthcare which places a premium on preventive care. Nigeria’s first National Health Act was passed into law in 2014, but nothing serious has happened in terms of operating the basic tenets of the enabling Act,” he stated

    He said if this Act is implemented, it will be funded from one percent of Nigeria’s consolidated revenue and grants by International donor partners through the National Health Care Development Agency which will manage 45 percent of the fund as follows: Essential Drugs and Vaccines 20 percent, Laboratory Equipment and Transport 15 percent, and Human Resources 10 percent.

    Yakasai added: “While the National Health Insurance Scheme which will manage 50 percent of the fund will cover pregnant women, children who are less than five years, the elderly from 65 years and physically challenged persons. The Federal Ministry of Health will manage five percent of the fund for the provision of basic minimum package of health facilities (Emergencies).”

    He identified other areas that needed to be addressed without delay for the health sector to be robust and without hiccups to include, “The welfare issues which have lingered for so long must be redressed.Adjustment of the CONHESS scale like was done with CONMESS scale to ensure parity must be achieved through the 2016 budgets. The clamour for consultancy cadre must be approved for those health workers who have met the condition precedent with regards to due process.

    “Also this year, the legal and moral teeth must be given the Health Act as part of an agenda to energise healthcare plans for Nigerians. It is our hope that the 2016 budget (3.65 percent) will be fully implemented. The country’s health sector is still battling with poor access to public health interventions, while diseases like HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, etc are still with us. The Federal Ministry of Health must promote a true Public Private Partnership agenda which is fashioned out in conjunction with the relevant regulatory agencies and professional bodies with regards to the health professions,” Yakasai added.

  • Jega to pharmacists: Check drug abuse

    Jega to pharmacists: Check drug abuse

    Former Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) chairman, Prof Atahiru Jega has urged the Pharmaceutical Council of Nigeria (PCN), Nigeria Academy of Pharmacy (NAP) and other key players to check counterfeiting and how ‘prescription’ drugs were being sold over the counter.

    According to him, people, especially youths, buy drugs over-the-counter, which should not be.

    Jega, who was conferred with the Nigeria Academy of Pharmacy (NAP) Lifetime Achievement Award at the Investiture/Award Dinner of NAP in Lagos, said the practice was destroying Nigerians, especially the youths because the drugs are addictive.

    He said: “Any youth can just walk into any patent medicine store or pharmacy to buy as many bottles of these drugs as they wish without restraint.”

    “Many youths as a result of easy access are now addicted to the drugs”, he added.

    He continued: “This has consequences as it has created many problems in many parts of the country, especially where I come from.

    “So, I believe having been given the award, that has given me the opportunity to urge leading Nigerian pharmacists to begin to pay attention to ethical issues associated with selling prescription drugs over-the-counter because the damage this is doing to our youths, really, is going to be phenomenon. It needs to be addressed appropriately.

    “I hope my suggestions will find receptive ideas. But, it is not just the pharmacists alone, the society needs to start addressing this issue by regulation,”he said.

    He urged the country to take a cue from other countries that have a functional policy to guard against purchase of prescription drugs over-the-counter.

    “In every country, walk across the borders, they are very serious about what is sold as prescriptions and over-the-counter drugs.

    “In our country, regrettably, we are very complacent on this process. And that is why as my contribution I have drawn attention to this phenomenon and the need to urgently do something to tackle it,” Jega said.

    He said Nigeria needed progress in many fundamental areas of the health sector.

    “If you look at the statistics, whether it is infant or maternal mortality, our incidences are very high and we need to do something serious and I hope that we would be able to get a very good minister of health, who can pay a lot of attention to address some of these challenges and to generally re-position the health sector so that Nigeria can become a leading country in terms of health provisions,”he said.

    According to him, it was shameful that most Nigerians travel abroad for ailments that could easily be treated in the country.

    The Federal Government, Jega said, has the responsibility of creating a legal/policy framework and enabling environment to ensure that those challenges are adequately addressed.

    On Jega’s conferrement, former Head of State General Yakubu Gowon said the award was well deserved.

    Advising NAP on counterfeiting, he said although the National Agency for Food Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has done well over the years to rid the country of fake drugs, more needed to be done by professionals in the sector.

    On why fake drugs litter the markets, Gowon, who was the special guest of honour, charged NAP to join hands with other agencies of government to ensure that drug counterfeiting is checked.

    “We can achieve that if we all join hands,” he said.

  • Pharmacists Council seals 160 drug dispensing premises in Akwa Ibom

    The Pharmacists Council of Nigeria (PCN) has sealed 160 drug dispensing premises in Akwa Ibom State. These comprise five pharmacies and 155 patent medicine shops.

    They were sealed for offences ranging from dispensing poisons without the supervision of a pharmacist, poor storage conditions, selling medicines above the approved list for patent medicine vendors and non-registration of premises with PCN, among others.

    Three other premises were issued compliance directives for poor documentation and untidy environment, the Council stated.

    Addressing reporters at the Southsouth Zonal Headquarters of PCN in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State capital, the Deputy Director and Head of Enforcement, Stephen Esumobi, said the Council which is a Federal Government parastatal charged with the responsibility of regulating and controlling the education, training and practice of pharmacy was in the state to enforce its core mandates.

    Giving a breakdown of their activities, Esumobi said: “Our enforcement teams have been in Akwa Ibom State since the beginning of this week. The teams were in the state capital and also visited 17 out of the 31 Local Government Areas which include Uruan, Itu, Abak, Oruk Anam, Mkpat Enin, Ikot Abasi, Etim Ekpo, Onna, Etinan, Eket, Esit Eket, Nsit Ibom, Nsit Ubium, Ikot Ekpene, Ibiono Ibom and Ikono”.

    He noted that while the level of compliance by premises in the state capital is encouraging, the situation in most of  the local government areas visited were not. He said PCN observed that many premises began operations without following laid-down guidelines.

    While many of the premises are located in environments that are not conducive for the sale of drugs, some others failed to meet minimum requirements for storage and personnel, thus, exposing members of the public to dangers of consuming medicines whose quality, safety and efficacy cannot be guaranteed, Esumobi noted.

    According to him, another category of offenders are  those who failed to renew their premises certificates with PCN. ‘Annual renewal of premises certificate is mandatory and it is to ensure that registered premises continue to maintain or improve on the standards that made them qualified for licensure’, he warned.

    He said the exercise was not punitive but to ensure practitioners operate according laid down guidelines, to preserve the lives of medicine consumers. Those premises sealed will be unsealed once the operators comply and rectify observed irregularities, he assured.

    He said the rule for those wishing to establish a pharmacy or patent medicine shop is to apply for location approval. When the location is approved the premises applies for facility inspection to ensure that the structure and personnel are adequate.

    He urged stakeholders to follow the laws warning that PCN will not tolerate the sale of medicines without submission to regulatory control.

    For members of the public who wish to operate patent medicine shops or pharmacies, the PCN Director advises them to visit the PCN state or zonal offices for proper guidance.

     

  • Pharmacists donate to orphanage, elderly people homes

    Pharmacists donate to orphanage, elderly people homes

    The Rivers State branch of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) has donated drugs and food items to the home for elderly and motherless babies home.

    The visit, which started with sensitisation awareness on fake drugs and the operation of quack in the profession, gave pharmacists operating in the state the opportunity to suggest the way forward for a healthy society.

    Speaking after the donation at the orphanage home, the Chairman PSN Rivers State chapter, Godson Chukunda, said his group had   identified quack in the profession as one of the major challenges facing the organisation.  He said they need security officers to arrest the imposters who he alleged have sent many people to early grave by their fake practices.

    Chukunda said in spite of their effort to ensure access to medicines and good pharmacy practice in the state many criminals are still fighting hard to defile all laws and make mockery of the practice.

    “The bitter truth is that in Rivers State we are working round the clock to make sure that we sanitize the system. We need security officers to arrest the imposters; of course security is not free again in Nigeria. We have always warned the public that the Neon sign is a symbol of professional pharmacist. Drug is an ingredient and if you don’t store it well you will be taking poison, I want to use this medium to inform Nigerians that taking drugs deserve information and whenever you take drugs without information it’s as good as jeopardising your health.”

    In the same vein, Donatus  Ijezie, the Vice President  Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria (ACPN), said they are at the motherless home and the home for the elderly as part of the sensitisation awareness on accessibility of drug to the public.

    He noted that the responsible use of medicines depends on the synergy between pharmacists and other members of the health care team.

    “This partnership must be based on agreed vision, shared goals and commitment, vital skills, rapport and ability to dialogue positively.  Health as a fundamental human right is indispensable in achieving other rights especially the right to development and right to living a life of dignity.”

  • Pharmacists urge Buhari to reconstitute PCN board

    Pharmacists urge Buhari to reconstitute PCN board

    The Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN), Oyo State branch, has called on President Mohammadu Buhari to reconstitute the Pharmaceutical Council of Nigeria (PCN) which was recently dissolved alongside the boards of other parastatals. The chairman of the society, Pharm Ishola Adeyinka, spoke yesterday in Ibadan on the occasion of the 2015 World pharmacist Day with the theme” Pharmacist: Your Partners in Health”.

    According to him, practice in the sector  has gotten to a most wretched level which logically cannot afford another vacuum in terms of regulatory control. Adeyinka said disciplinary procedures must be a continuous phenomenon on erring Pharmacists or pharmaceutical companies.

    “The absence of PCN governing council in a strategic profession like ours boosts the fake drug syndrome, albeit tragically. The situation in our profession is replicated in some other healthcare professions which are now justifiably issuing ultimatums.

    “Other issues like the accreditation of training facilities for pharmacists and support staff in the pharmacy are almost jeopardised. The routine practice in the area of monitoring and control are not in the best of health as it has also been impossible to get council to strategise to boost efforts of the registry of PCN,” he said

    Adeyinka implored federal government to halt the drift in the operational efficiency of the Pharmacists Council of Nigeria by reconstituting its board now and subsequently invoking the spirit of the law that provides for perpetual succession in the enabling act.

  • Pharmacists canvass govt’s support

    For the nation’s pharmaceutical companies to maintain the lead in the production of quality drugs in West Africa and be competitive globally, the Pharmaceuticals Manufacturing Group of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (PMG-MAN) has called on the Federal Government to earmark a N200 billion intervention fund for the sector, coupled with other initiatives.

    The manufacturers and other stakeholders, who met at the opening of the 3rd Nigeria Pharma Manufactures’ exhibition 2015 in Lagos, said the call was in line with relevant industrial policies to help the sector maximise its potentials.

    The exhibition, whose theme was: “The Nigerian pharmaceutical manufacturing industry and international competitiveness”, was an initiative to draw global attexntion to the nation’s pharma sector, which is now vibrant. The sector is currently estimated to be in excess of $3B (N500b) and is serving Nigerians and about 100 million citizens in the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) region. The pharm industry, according to PMG-MAN secretariat, has the potential to remain a pharmaceutical power house in the continent with capacity to supply regional needs, and participate in international tenders.

    According to the Chairman of the PMG-MAN, Okey Akpa, with the recent milestones recorded by companies in the sector, the Nigerian pharmaceutical industry was already positioned to operate at the global level, should government assent to these demands. “Nigeria is currently the biggest pharmaceutical manufacturing country in West Africa, accounting for more than 65 per cent of local manufacturing of medicines that are relevant to the region,” he said.

    Akpa said among the drugs are anti-malarial medicines, anti-retrovirals, herbal medicines and medicines for sickle cell diseases.   To make impact on the global stage, he said, several manufacturers had processed Expression of Interest (EoI) with the World Health Organisation (WHO) for pre-qualification of products, with cummulative investment worth of over $50 million in the last five years for facility upgrading.

    The chairman said four companies had been certified by the WHO, and at least 10 local companies had complied with the requirements of International Standards Organisation and were already supplying drugs to the United Nations Commission on Life-Saving Commodities for Women’s Children’s Health (UNCoLs).

    Others who made a case for the sector are the Lagos State governor, Akinwunmi Ambode; Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Health, Linus Awute; National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) Director-General, Dr. Paul Orhii; President, Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN), Olumide Akintayo and President of West African Manufacturers Organisation, Bunmi Olaopa and representatives of India and Chinese companies.

    He said the achievements in the sector had been by individual manufacturers’ investment and years of hard work, and that the government and other stakeholders have to do more. “Without doubt, patronage of Nigerian pharmaceutical manufacturers by government, donors and international procuring agencies is critical and must be backed by political will. We are, therefore, calling on the Federal Government to implement the Domestic Preference Policy of the Public Procurement Act 2007 as well as the implementation of the Presidential Directive on Patronage of Nigerian Manufacturers,” he said.

    To ensure success of the policy, the chairman recommended “an import adjustment tax of 20 per cent on imported finished pharmaceutical products; HS Codes 3003 and 3004 should be imposed immediately as applied to other sectors where Nigeria has capacity as allowed by the Common External Tariff of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).”

    “Input into pharmaceutical manufacturing and packaging should be allowed to be imported at zero per cent by bonafide pharmaceutical manufacturers,” he said.

    Orhii, who chaired the event praised the manufacturers for the feat so far achieved, saying NAFDAC would continue to collaborate with them and rid the Nigerian market of fake products.

    He appealed to the government and Bank of Industry to revisit an earlier proposal for N200 billion intervention trust fund for the pharma manufacturer. He recalled that the proposal was considered by the last administration, but nothing was heard of it.

    The NAFDAC DG was happy that the National Drug Distribution Policy, which regulates drug distribution national wide, is due to take effect, but expressed concerns that stakeholders have not done enough to put the necessary infrastructure in place.