2023 world pharmacy day:- Kaduna health commissioner Commends Pharmacists for effective medication

By Gambo Abubakar Kaduna

The Kaduna state commissioner of health, Hajiya Umma Katume Ahmed, has encouraged all stakeholders including pharmacist, health care professionals, regulatory agencies, and communities, to work hand in hand to achieved the common goals of accessible, safety equality, equity and sustainable health care.

 Hajiya Katume made the called during the 2023 annual celebration of world pharmacy day, which recently held at Arewa House in Kaduna.

According to her, pharmacists have long regarded as the custodians of safe and effective medication, they are also indispensable partner in health care.

   "Working hand in hand with the physicians, nurses and other health care professionals to optimized patients outcome, manage chronicles disease, and promote well ness within the community leading to improvement in health status of the society."

 While briefing the pressmen shortly after delivering a lecture, the director College of Allied Medical Science, Nigeria Air force School of Medical Science and Aviation Medicine Kaduna, Group Captain K Folani, said pharmaceutical industry are facing serious challenges from the communities for not differentiate the genuine and bad pharmacist amongst the society.

  He however noted that, the implementation of laws that guiding the pharmacy industry, despite the efforts from making in preventing quarks by the law enforcement agencies; NDLEA, NAFDAC and Police will be additional effort. 

  "We are calling  on the government to make effort  and commitment on protecting the industry for ensuring that any body found with illicit drugs or  quark pharmacy should be arrested and charge to court for prosecution."

  Earlier in her remarks, the Kaduna state Chairman pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN),Mrs Talatu Uwa Ebune, explained that, the world pharmacy day  is celebrated to encourage  the activities that promote and advocate the role of the pharmacist in improving health in all part of the world.

  "In some nation around the world, pharmacy teams provided clinical intervention, especially during the  covid 19 era, like testing equipment, vaccination, treatment of  patients and taking care of them during the pandemic.

 The chairman also explained that," pharmacist helps in various ways, the patients centered pharmaceutical medical care, medications care, policy development, regulatory oversight, public health initiative advocacy for health equity and inter discipline collaboration, among others.

 Also interviewed with media men at the event, the co ordinator Kaduna state young pharmacist of Nigeria, Pharmacy Samir Adam Makarfi, said "We are gathered here to celebrate  this year's world pharmacy day,  this year's theme is,  "Pharmacy Strengthening Health System"

  He also charged the young pharmacist to be committed and dedicated while discharging their duty in promoting the industry for effective medication to the society.