ACPN to set up pharma centres in 36 states to boost healthcare system

The Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria (ACPN) has reiterated its determination to set up pharma centres across the 36 states of Nigeria.

The out-going National Chairman of ACPN, Adewale Oladigbolu, who disclosed this in his opening address during the just-concluded 43rd yearly international scientific conference tagged, “Oluyole 2024,” held at the Conference Centre of the University of Ibadan, (UI), lamented the inequitable distribution of healthcare facilities with its attendant setback to the primary healthcare delivery scheme.

The ACPN outgoing national chairman said that the data for the spread of community pharmacare across the 774 local councils of Nigeria was so alarming that “part of the administration’s initiative is the creation of pharma centres across the underserved areas in the country.’

He cited the newly commissioned model building at Afijio Local Council of Oyo State “as part of the association’s initiative to support and motivate members to reach the underserved areas.”

Oladigbolu, while highlighting the achievements of his team, said: “We were able to enhance members’ access to credit facilities. We partnered with various financial institutions to empower members.”

He said that the theme of the conference, “Advancing Community Pharmacy Practice Through Innovation and Collaboration,” had been carefully chosen to impact community practice and improve national health indices.

He, however, commended the chairman of the conference planning committee, Grace Ikani and chairman of the local organising committee, TaofikOdukoya, for their sacrifice in making the conference a huge success.

In his speech, National Chairman of Association of Pharmacists in Academia (NACAP), Prof. Ezekiel Olugbenga Akinkunmi of the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, appealed to the Federal Government to fund research in the universities to maximise healthcare delivery system.

“We need support in the form of empowering research and educating future pharmacists to ensure maxim he said.

He also disclosed that the National Universities Commission (NUC) stipulated “one lecturer to six students but what obtains is one lecturer to 17 students in some of the universities.”

This, according to him, impacts negatively on the quality of the pharmacists we turn out every year from universities.

Meanwhile, the weeklong conference was rounded off with the election of new executives to run the affairs of the association in the next three years that including Ambrose IgwekammaEzeh and AdegboyegaOgunloye elected as chairman and vice chairman respectfully, among others.