World Pharmacists Day : Emegwara Decries Poor Numerical Strength of Pharmacists

The newly elected Chairman of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria, PSN, Imo State chapter, Dr Stanley Emegwara, has decried the poor numerical strength of pharmacists in the country.

Emegwara stated this while briefing journalists shortly after the election of the organization held on World Pharmacists Day in Owerri on Wednesday.

The pharmacist and lawyer said that with a population of almost 200 million persons, Nigeria needed more hands to address her health needs adding that this was a major challenge in addressing the problem of quackery in the country.

He assured that PSN in Imo under his watch would work with the Pharmacists Council of Nigeria and the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control in order to stamp out quackery.

Commenting on the theme of this year’s Observance, Safe and Effective Use of Medicine, the Role of the Pharmacist, Emegwara, said the Imo PSN had engaged in public enlightenment campaigns to educate the public on proper use of drugs.

He stressed that the PSN would partner with government with the aim of providing best quality services to the public.

“The ratio of pharmacists to Nigerians is a cause for concern because we have very few pharmacists serving about 200 million Nigerians and this is a major challenge in the fight against quackery.

“But we will partner with government, the PCN which is our regulatory body and the NAFDAC so as to satisfy the yearnings of Nigerians who are looking up to us for quality health services”.

On his part, Mr Ikenna Mbata, the newly elected Secretary of the body, charged the public to insist on quality services as against quackery.

Mbata added that although some persons complain of the cost of quality services, it was not a good enough reason to patronize quacks and risk lives, pledging to work in synergy with the government to improve the welfare of pharmacists in the state.

...NAN