ACPN To Train 200 Community Pharmacists On Covid-19 Vaccination, Routine Immunization.

As part of efforts to bridge the gap on human resource in the health sector,  the Association of Community Pharmacist of Nigeria(ACPN) in collaboration with the National Primary Health care Development Agency is to train no fewer than 200 community pharmacists on Covid-19 vaccination and routine immunization.

The National Chairman of the Association, Pharm Adewale Aderemi Oladigbolu FPSN stated during a press conference as part of activities to mark
the 41st Annual Scientific Conference of the Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria “AJUMOSE EKO 2022”, which is scheduled to hold between 25-29th of July, 2022 in Festival Hotels, Festac , Lagos state.

The National Chairman stated that the annual National Scientific Conference is the association most outstanding gathering in any given year, adding that it is a unique opportunity for practitioners to deliberate on contemporary issues affecting the practice of Pharmacy and, matters related to the health and well-being of Nigerians as well as the population.

He stated that the theme of this year’s Conference is entitled” Never Waste a Crisis: Community Pharmacists Learning For Future Preparedness”, pointing out that the theme is a reflection of the Covid-19 global crisis which led to the death of more than 15 million people globally.

According to him, the Executive Director of the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency (NPHCDA), Dr. Faisal Shuaib will be the Keynote Speaker at the event while the Chairman of the Opening Ceremony is Pharm (Hon.) Gboluga Dele Ikengboju, member, house of representative, representing Okiti pupa/Irele federal constituency, Ondo state.

“Part of the enlisted agenda for this epoch-making event is the Mandatory Continuing Development Program (MCPD) as stipulated by the Pharmacists Council of Nigeria (PCN) for all Pharmacy Practitioners in Nigeria”

” About 200 hundred Community Pharmacists will be trained for vaccination at the event. Our country is in dire need of more resources for health and Community Pharmacists are available to close that gap. Currently, about 100 pharmacists are administering Covid-19 vaccination nationwide out of 6,530 willing and able community pharmacists”

“The National Health Insurance Act is now at the implementation stage and we as Community Pharmacists cannot shy away from our responsibilities of care to Nigerians in guaranteeing the totality of care. The health of Nigerians cannot be said to be guaranteed without the input of pharmacists. We shall be deliberating on the National Health Insurance system in one of our sessions” he said

Pharm Adewale stated that Pharmacy practice is a scientific endeavor with a huge commercial window, hence the association will leave no stone unturned in guaranteeing the financial health of the practice of it’s members, adding it is partnering with Polaris Bank and Leadway insurance in crafting a workshop titled financial intelligence for Community pharmacists.