Pharmacists Advocate Campaign, Rehabilitation To End Drug Abuse

Chioma Umeha

The Board of Fellows (BOF) of Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) has reaffirmed that only widespread intervention involving every stakeholders led by pharmacists would curb high incidence of drug and substance abuse in the country.

The pharmacy group said that the intervention includes advocacy, campaign against drug abuse and rehabilitation of victims which would reduce the adverse effect of the scourge.

Addressing journalists at a press conference in Lagos to announce the 2019 BOF- PSN mid-year lecture and first public lecture, Chairperson, BOF, Prof. Mbang Nyong Femi-Oyewo said that the body is positioned to interface with the policymakers and opinion shapers for the advancement of the pharmacy profession in addition to tackling drug abuse.

Femi-Oyewo said, “It is no longer news that the incidence of drug/substance abuse in Nigeria has assumed an epidemic dimension especially among children/adolescent and youths, which calls for widespread intervention. As a result of the threat posed by the scourge, the BOF unfolded a holistic approach of combating this problem at last year’s Mid-Year Meeting.

“As you are all aware, pharmacists are custodians of medicines which include drugs, vaccines and biological. It has therefore become very necessary for the BOF to get involved in checkmating this menace through Advocacy, Campaign against Drug Abuse and Rehabilitation of victims of Drug Abuse. Remember our children and youths are our future and harbinger of progress,” the Professor of Pharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Technology added, saying, “They must – Think wise, Act Smart and Say ‘No’ to Drugs.”

Announcing the theme of the public lecture as, ‘Rebirth Of Nigeria: Harnessing The Great Potentials,’ the Consultant Pharmacist said rhetorically that Nigeria is indeed a great nation with great potentials, but the question is, how do we harness, grow and sustain these potentials?

The astute scholar and distinguished academic said the essence of the lecture and mid-year meeting of the BOF is to afford the Fellows an opportunity to examine the positions of the Board, PSN and profession and strategise for their better positioning.

Femi-Oyewo continued, “It is also a time to participate in national discuss and make our contributions. The Board through her mandate promotes lectures on issues of contemporary importance within and outside the profession of Pharmacy.”

The astute pharmacist said that Professor Ibrahim Agboola Gambari a world-class scholar, diplomat and Nigeria’s foremost Ambassador to the United Nations shall deliver this year’s BOF-PSN mid-year lecture.

“I am confident the lecture will be incisive and discerning. It will be a good tool for unlocking and harnessing the great potentials of this great nation and the Chairman of the Public Lecture is Chairman, Guaranty Bank Plc. Mrs. Osaretin Afusat Demuren,” she added.

On his part,  Pharm (Sir) Nnamdi H. Obi, Chairman,  Planning Committee, mid-year meeting, Board of Fellows (BOF) of Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) announced that  111 New Fellows will be formally received as members into the BOF-PSN at the august event.

Obi, who is a seasoned industrial pharmacist, explained that the event would be an opportunity to recognise and reward industry not only among pharmacist, but in other fields.

He said, “Over the years, some of our colleagues and organsations have worked hard to improve the lot of humanity. We have identified some of them for recognition and decoration.”

According to him, the selection for this year’s awards emphasise the theme and therefore accommodates organisations that benefit such distinction as harnessing the great potentials that Nigeria presents.

The event will hold at Sheraton hotel, Ikeja Lagos from Tuesday, July 16, 2019, to Wednesday, July 17, 2019