World Pharmacist Day 2018: Professionals celebrate high day, poised to weed quacks, abuse

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Nyok|26 September 2018
Cross section of Members of Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria and Community Pharmacists in Nigeria (credit: Ukorebi Esien) 

The Pharmaceutical Society in Nigeria (PSN), Cross River State branch in collaboration with the Association of Community Pharmacist in Nigeria (ACPN), Cross River branch has celebrated the 2018 edition of World Pharmacists Day vowing to weed out quackery and abuse in the state NegroidHaven can report authoritatively. 
PSN in collaboration with ACPN have reemphasized their commitment to combat and stamp out drug abuse and quackery from the state as they joined their colleagues all over the world to celebrate this year’s World Pharmacists day. 
Speaking with newsmen shortly after a city advocacy walk, the state chairman of PSN, Pharmacist Ekpenyong Effiong, said this year’s celebration which has “Pharmacists: Your medicines experts” as it’s theme is unique in the sense that it focuses on the extensive expertise that pharmacists have and put to use every day to ensure better patient health. 
‘The theme of World Pharmacists Day emphasizes that pharmacists are a trusted source of knowledge and advice, not only for patients but for other healthcare professionals. For every patient who walks into a pharmacy, pharmacists ensure that the right medicine is provided at the right dose and in the most suitable formulation. Effiong said.

‘We work with other healthcare professionals to ensure that every individual receives optimal treatment. Moreover, as one of the most accessible health care professionals globally, pharmacists use their learning to protect the health and prevent illness.’
Finally, the state chairman said the Cross River State chapter of Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria is combat ready to comb out drug abuse and all its related vices in the state through constant education and sensitization of the public and the young ones.
Also speaking, the state chairman of Association of Community Pharmacist in Nigeria, Pharmacist Mrs. Udeme Egbehor said the activities of the Association in Cross River state has helped to drastically reduced drug abused to a minimal level.
She added that the city road walk was an avenue to sensitize the public on the role of the pharmacist which she enumerated to include but not limited to drug production, distribution and dispensing.
  
‘Pharmacists are responsible for patient safety in the drug use process, they also promote drug therapy as well as foster optimal patient outcomes from medication use. She added.
‘We are excited and we are so happy to be doing this. The community pharmacist is the most accessible healthcare professionals the patient goes to, they help to interpret prescription, help to advise the patient on how to use the drug effectively to reduce adverse and side effect, we also advise the doctors in terms of prescriptions. I just want to use this opportunity to wish pharmacists world over a happy pharmacists day. 
Talking about the activities lined up for the day, Pharmacist Egbehor said aside the city walk, the association will also visit secondary schools in the state to educate them on the dangers of drug abuse, and there will also be a media chat later in the day on radio to sensitize the populace on the use of drugs as well as expose quacks who have infiltrated the profession. 
‘We have a lot of issues now, we have a lot of fake drugs, we have a lot of quacks and pharmacist are united today to say No to fake drugs! No to quackery! We want the public to know that in terms of effective management of drugs, effective handling drugs, the pharmacist is the expert in managing and handling drugs and no other person, no other person. She concluded.
Pharmacist Musa Orenyi who is the State Chairman of Association of Hospital Pharmacist of Nigeria said his Association have been working tirelessly to reduce drug abuse as they have taken the campaign against drug abuse to the market place, churches, school, and even in local communities.
He revealed that before now 10 out of every 50 youth in Calabar where involved in drug abuse but today that statistics have reduced.
The road work was flagged off by the Honorable Commissioner for Information; Barr. (Mrs.) Rosemary Archibong. She commended Pharmacists for their immeasurable contribution to the improvement of the health care system. She also appreciated the Governor Sen. Ben Ayade, for establishing a world class Pharmaceutical company in Calabar (CalaPharm) to improve access to essential medicines in the State and it’s environs.
It should be recalled that In 2009, the International Pharmaceutical Federation, FIP Council in Istanbul, Turkey, designated 25 September as a day marked the annual World Pharmacists Day, as such, Pharmacists world over have continually celebrated the day as it is used to organize activities that promote and advocate for the role of the pharmacist in improving health in every corner of the world.

Nyok
Is the Blogger-in-Chief, Editor-in-Chief & Publisher of NEGROIDHAVEN