On this year’s World Pharmacy Day, Community pharmacists have warned on wrong usage of drugs by Nigerians, noting that every drug is a potential poison if not properly used.
According to them, wrong use of certain drugs may expose patients to chronic illness such as liver and kidney problems. At a public enlightenment campaign organised by the Drug Information Centre (DIC), of the Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria, ACPN), to mark 2017 World Pharmacy Day in Lagos, ) they urged all pharmacists in the country, especially those in the community practice, to strategize on attaining the global goal of the pharmaceutical profession, which is moving from research to healthcare, and service delivery.
At the event held at Akinwumi Ambode Primary Health Care Centre, Shomolu, Lagos, Chairperson, ACPN national, DIC, Pharm. Bukola Folorunsho explained that the World Pharmacists Day is celebrated to commemorate and honour the contribution of pharmacists to the world, saying the community pharmacists were at the community to show the public that pharmacists are at their service always.
“In our day to day practice, we have realized that a lot of people are ignorant of how medicine works and as a result, series of abuse is ongoing in the country, to the extent that people now use drug for different purposes, other than the purpose the drug is meant to serve. Antibiotic abuse is on the increase, as well as abuse of so many other drugs. Thus, as pharmacists, we have set today being a very special day; globally aside to attend to people free of charge and meet their needs in the aspect of drug need and pharmaceutical care.”
Noting the theme of this year’s celebration is “From Research to Health Care: Your Pharmacist is at your service”, which was chosen to reflect the numerous contributions of the pharmacy profession to the healthcare sector, she assured the populace of their selfless services including medicine information, patient counselling, drug information and medication review, counselling as well as enlightenment.
“World Pharmacists Day was the brainchild of the International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP), with the FIP council voting to establish the event in the late 2000s during a conference they staged in Istanbul, Turkey. The aim of the day is to bring attention to pharmacies and the positive benefits they offer when it comes to health, and FIP encourages all its members to get involved to make the event a success.”
Speaking, the Publicity Secretary, HealthCare Providers Association of Nigeria, Pharm. Jonah Okotie called on the Federal government to shut down open drug markets across the country as part of measures to reduce abuse of drugs among Nigerians.
Okotie noted that when drugs are abused, people tend to come down with several life threatening illnesses such as kidney and liver problems.
He stressed the need for Nigerians to source their drugs from registered pharmacists in their various communities.
The high point of the event was free counseling and screening for various illnesses as well as free distribution of drugs to over 500 beneficiaries from Shomolu area of Lagos.
