– parleys NAFDAC to check menace
The Association of Community Pharmacist of Nigeria, ACPN, has raised alarm over high rate of fake drugs in circulation and vowed to synergise with the National Agency for food and drugs administration and Control, NAFDAC, to checkmate and tackle the menace which is one of the leading causes of death among Nigerians.
The new National President of the Association of Community Pharmacist of Nigeria, ACPN, Samuel Adekola gave the charge in Akure, Ondo state capital when he led members of his new national executive for a victory thanksgiving at All Christian Fellowship Ministry, FUTA Assembly, Akure after they were elected in Benin, Edo state recently.
According to Adekola, such partnership between NAFDAC and community Pharmacists nationwide will help government to stamp out uncertified drugs dealers and end activities of unqualified pharmacists who usually sell counterfeit drugs in the country.
“We are going to cooperate, we are going to support strongly, NAFDAC which is the agent of government that has the primary responsibility to fight fake and counterfeit drugs, we are going to all the states of the federation to mobilise support from the government of each state to fight fake drugs”.
“Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria will work with NAFDAC and Pharmaceutical Council of Nigeria to ensure that the taskforce on fake and counterfeit drugs are fortified and supported to be more functional”.
“I am happy we are starting from Ondo state, which is my state, we have taken the campaign against fake drugs to the government of Ondo state, we appreciate them because Ondo state is taking a lead in the fight against fake drugs through the use of scanning machine, is the only state in Nigeria that has the machine which can detect fake drugs on the spot”.
Pharmacist Adekola advised Nigerians against patronising unregistered pharmaceutical stores and chemists to prevent consumption of fake drugs that serves as a silent killer.
The ACPN President urged the Federal Ministry of Health and its state counterparts to address the delay in mobilising graduate pharmacists for NYSC scheme due to inadequate of offices for their one year compulsory internship.
Adekola said, “Our colleagues, young pharmacists who are graduating, are not having places for their compulsory one year internship. As I speak to you, we have most of them that have spent two years after graduation, they couldn’t go for (NYSC) service because they have not done their compulsory one year internship, and without the one year training, you can’t go for service, we therefore call on the Federal Government to initiate and implement central placement for internship purposes for our young colleagues”.
Earlier, a former commissioner for Health in Ondo state, Dr Dayo Adeyanju urged the new national leadership of ACPN to give greater attention to eradication of counterfeit drugs which had been rendering health care useless.
Also speaking, a renowned Pharmacist, Taiwo Babalola and the National Vice President of ACPN, Daniel Ajayi said all stakeholders in the health sector must work with community Pharmacists to wage a sustainable war against circulation of unwholesome drugs and pharmaceutical materials across the federation.
The Officiating clergyman at All Christian Fellowship Ministry, FUTA Assembly, Akure, Elder Samuel Ogunade urged the new national executive of ACPN led by Pharmacist Adekola to discharge their duties with fear of God and for the benefit of all Nigerians who need their services.
