The Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria, ACPN, has referred to as on President Bola Tinubu and state governors to contain neighborhood pharmacists in efforts to comprise the unfold of Ebola and other infectious diseases in the nation.
The affiliation made the decision in response to the current affirmation of Ebola in Nigeria, urging the Federal Government to undertake a nationwide ‘Pharmacy First’ protocol.
The name was contained in a press launch signed by ACPN National Chairman, Pharmacist Ambrose Ezeh, and made out there to DAILY POST on Friday night.
Ezeh urged the Federal Government to place neighborhood pharmacies as frontline centres for the early identification of suspected Ebola circumstances and other infectious illness outbreaks.
He additionally referred to as for the combination of neighborhood pharmacists into the nationwide illness surveillance system to strengthen Nigeria’s epidemic preparedness.
According to him, the federal and state governments ought to formally recognise neighborhood pharmacies as crucial companions in epidemic surveillance and first healthcare supply.
He mentioned the initiative would broaden neighborhood pharmacy follow past meting out medicines to incorporate early symptom recognition, well being schooling, primary screening and immediate referral of people presenting signs suggestive of Ebola or other infectious diseases.
The assertion learn, “We consider it necessary to sensitise and mobilise the Federal Government to approve specific investment plans to leverage the Pharmacy First Initiative as a front-line Ebola detection protocol, which stands as one of the best mechanisms to catalyse Universal Health Coverage, UHC, in Nigeria.
“The initiative would expand community pharmacy practice beyond the dispensing of medicines to include early symptom recognition, health education, basic screening and prompt referral of individuals presenting with symptoms suggestive of Ebola or other infectious diseases.
“We urge President Bola Tinubu to issue the enabling policy directive today, and our national network will activate the ‘Pharmacy First’ screening protocol within 48 hours.”
The affiliation mentioned adopting the protocol would strengthen neighborhood-degree illness surveillance and enhance early identification and referral of suspected circumstances.
