Pharmaceutical Society Of Nigeria Holds Scientific Conference, 29th AGM

Pharmacists under the aegis of Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) Anambra State Branch, converged in Awka, the state capital for their twenty-ninth annual general meeting and scientific conference.

The conference with the theme, Broadening and Strengthening the Nigerian Pharmaceutical and Health Sector: The Anambra State Perspective, provided a platform for practitioners to discuss, proffer solutions and work out implementable strategies to solve different challenges facing the sector.

The keynote address, lectures and remarks made by industry experts and academics at the conference, highlighted the importance of pharmacists maximizing their potential, playing key roles in the health sector and increasing pharmaceutical based and health service research. These are expected to expand the horizon of the members of the profession and consequently improve general health care access and services.

Significantly, the keynote speaker and dean, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Professor Festus Okoye identified areas where pharmacists must pay close attention to including community pharmacy, primary health sector, traditional medicine, taking up leadership roles in the health sector and also engaging in periodic and regular skills update.

Professor Okoye asked the professionals to take up slots in the new Coordinated Drug Wholesale Centre, Oba which Governor Chukwuma Soludo recently laid its foundation as a way to increase better control of drug distribution and supply value chain in the state.

Contributing, the Chairman of the Occasion and Commissioner for Housing, Honourable Paully Onyeka, encouraged pharmacists to get involved in politics and run for elective offices that will put them in a better place to influence policy making in the health sector and incentivise research and other collaborations.

Speaking earlier, the Chairman, Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria, Anambra State Branch, Pharm. Josephat Obasi said the conference gives members of the profession the opportunity to identify ways to solve the collective problems facing the pharmaceutical subsector.

The scientific conference also had in attendance the Vice Chancellor, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Professor Charles Esimone and the Special Adviser to Governor Chukwuma Soludo on Medicals and Pharmaceuticals, Dr Godwin Nnadozie. It also featured exhibitions on recent academic and industry based researches and products.