Don Laments Alarming increase in Breast Cancer, Infant Mortality In Nigeria, Tasks Pharmacists on change narratives in Health Sector
By Our Reporter
A university don, Prof Noel Wannang, has disclosed that Nigeria is the leading nation with breast cancer disease in the West Africa region.
Wannang, a renowned Pharmacology and Clinical Pharmacist, who made the disclosure at the Pharmacy week seminar held by the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria, Akwa Ibom state chapter on Thursday in Uyo, said the country is also second only to the neighboring Niger Republic on the issue of infant mortality.
Participants at the event
Addressing participants at the event with the theme, “Pharmacists Strengthening the Health Systems,” Prof. Wannag, who is also a council member West African Post- Graduate College of Pharmacy, lamented that health outcomes remain poor in Nigeria despite higher expenditure since 2001, adding that better outcomes are seen in countries with equivalent and lower expenditure.
He further disclosed that life expectancy in Nigeria now stands at 60 years for males and 64 years for females, infant mortality stands at 54 and 74 deaths per 1000 live births which places Nigeria only second to Niger republic.
The Don said: "The non- natal mortality rate globally and with 640 daily deaths, Nigeria’s ranks second to India in the world.
“Maternal mortality rate stagnated at 290,000 annually since 2015. It is sad to say that India and Nigeria rank for 1st and 2nd respectively.
"I urge pharmacists to strengthen health system in ways that achieve more equitable and sustainable improvements to health outcome with requites technical and political knowledge and action.
“Pharmacists should transform practice, science and education and workforce. They should acquire leadership skills to lead and change the healthcare system in Nigeria.
“They should have overall interest to develop model for patient safety adding that there is no health without drugs or hospital with prayers department, he stated.
Prof wannag advocated for a "strong health system with effective policies, oversight and accountability with special attention to system design and appropriate regulation.
“Pharmacists in the world must participate in the development of the framework that advance the delivery of effective and safe healthcare and ensure access to high quality medicines”.
He noted that a strong health system needs adequate funds so that people can use the services they need and afford to pay for those services.
Speaking at the event, the state chairman of Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria Pharm. Abasiama Uwatt, highlighted the importance of advocacy in ensuring the success of the job of pharmacists explained that Akwa ibom state will soon have a drug information centre.
According to her, “drug Information Centre is one of the requirement from World Health Organisation from developing countries. In Nigeria, currently we have very few and Akwa Ibom State do not have drug Information Centre for now.
“What the center offers is enormous. It is avenue for communication and publicity, there will be publications and enlightenment campaigns. It will also serve as point of research and critical support management.
“The drug Information centre can also help us collate data, which is one of the biggest challenges we have in Nigeria is data.
"The Drug Information Centre will help in policy making, research and help in giving direction to our health drive. Akwa Ibom people will be the biggest beneficiary when established.”
The chairman explained that the challenges faced by pharmacists are enormous including gross under utilisation because of the difficult of fitting in properly in the scheme of things due to overlap of functions in the health sector which is not good.
She further averred that “there is a challenge of pharmacists importing practically every raw materials which we call active pharmaceutical ingredients.
"We import it with high foreign exchange which keep soaring the value of the products well beyond the reach of the common man on the street to access basic health care and high cost of drugs will definitely hamper effective health care coverage.
"We also acknowledge the issue of the pharmacy consultancy cadre as another worrisome development. It has been on for sometimes and it is being difficult to accept though accepted in some States and at the Federal level but yet to be implemented”.
“Therefore, you have pharmacists, who have finished the basic training and go ahead to specialise but still regarded as fresh graduates.
"We have consultants in the field of public health and clinical pharmacy, community pharmacy but they are not utilized and still regarded as first-degree holders.
"That is a big challenge facing us. We also have the Japa syndrome affecting pharmacists as poor remuneration brings poor recognition, we have pharmacist passing out without a place to do their mandatory one-year internship which is part of their training. We have also have unfavorable policies that do not support local capacity building”.
She promises to complete the drug information Centre and pharmacist secretariat, increase advocacy and presence at the policy table and be part of the people who formulate policies for the association and create awareness on the functions of the pharmacists just as the association has participated in the development of the ARISE Agenda blueprint.
Chairman PSN Abasiama Uwatt and Member Representing Ikono, Moses Essien
In his goodwill message, the Deputy Commandant Nigeria Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Mr Adedoyin Nuredeen, said it is necessary for Akwa Ibom Pharmacists body to work with NDLEA to control, supervise and cutting off supply of illicit drugs by reducing the demand for illicit drugs, engage in the enlightenment of the populace on the psychological, physical and social effects of psychopathic substance in the body, since we know the consequences of these drugs to the body system.
“Drugs demand reduction calls for multi-sectorial approaches involving qualified personnel like pharmacists for education on health issues in order to achieve the needed target and result. There should be a balanced approach between illict drugs demand reduction and suppression by pharmacist” he added.
Earlier in a welcome address, the chairman planning committee of pharmacy week 2023, Phar Dighenyong Sam Udiminune, had described the health system in Nigeria as not only weak but asphyxiated.
He listed weak governance, institutions, structures and operational inefficiencies as basic causes of Nigeria's deteriorating health care system.
Dignatories at the event include the chairman, Dr Chris Eromosele, representative of Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Pastor Umo Bassey, the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Health/ Personal Physician to the Governor, Dr Emmanuel John, Speaker of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, Rt.Hon. Udeme otung, and represented by the Chairman House committee on Health, Rt. Hon. Moses Essien.
Others are the Dean Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Uyo, Prof. Emmanuel Attih, the Director of Pharmaceutical Services, Hospital management Board, Pharm. Ubam Etim and the Director of Pharmaceutical Services , University of Uyo Teaching Hospital, Pharm. Bella Etukudo and representative of Cancer disease in the West Africa region.
