APBN, PSN chart ways to promote professional harmony in sector

Towards resolving the age-long rivalry among health professional in the country, the Association of Professional Bodies (APBN) has solicited support of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) to end the conflict for the well being of the patients.

The APBN president, Dr Idris Omede who led his members on a friendly visit to the president of PSN at the Pharmacy House in Lagos, frowned at the inter-professional rivalry, which he said has not only affected the health workers, but the patients and the health outcomes in the country.

He said the body, which was set up in 1983; comprising, for now, 27 professional bodies is actively involved in promoting and enhancing the status of the bodies by ensuring maximal utilisation of talent, skills and knowledge of the Nigerian professionals, with the believe that human welfare problems are multi-dimensional in nature and for this reason, employs a multidisciplinary approach to problem solving.

He said the body discourages traditional professional prejudice, intolerance, and self-centeredness, as it also believes that, in the interest of the wider society, “no profession needs to operate in isolation of the other professional bodies and by that very fact advocates frequent interfacing and cooperation amongst professions.”

Omede appreciated the contribution of PSN to APBN for decades, which he said the pharmaceutical body has played a pivotal role in the advancement of professionals and professionalism in Nigeria being a founding member of APBN and also the oldest professional body in the country.

He also appreciated the PSN’s president, Pharm. Ahmed Yakasai’s immense support to him as the president of APBN serving meritoriously as the Chairman of his inauguration ceremony and Chairman of APBN strategy committee.

He, however, urged PSN to keep playing its big role in APBN as the one of its most vibrant members.

In his response, the PSN president Yakasai, who welcomed the APBN President and his entourage to the National Secretariat of the pharmaceutical body lauded Omede, who he said has raised the bar of APBN as posterity will be grateful to him for his meritorious service to the body.

He pledged the PSN’s continued support towards the advancement of professionals and professionalism in Nigeria as a formidable member of APBN.