Nigerians have been warned against self medication, as it is dangerous to health.
The minister of health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire gave the advice during a walk to commemorate the 2022 World Patient Safety Day on Saturday, in Abuja.
He said that, self-medication poses more danger to the human body than the ailment itself.
The ministry also said that the walk was to sensitise the public to desist from the harmful act.
“It is not enough for you to have headache and grab Paracetamol or panadol from the pharmacy. Although, it is an out-of-the-counter medication one still needs to know the underlying condition,” he said.
Dr Ehanire noted the day was also aimed at sensitising the public and healthcare professionals, to comply with best practices.
The walk was organised by the health ministry in partnership with the World Health Organisation (WHO).
Speaking during the walk, a community physician and Patient Safety Consultant, FMOH, Dr. Stephen Abah, said that the government was currently drafting policy on patient safety for Nigeria.
He said that patient safety is taking centre stage globally.
“We need to educate Nigerians on the danger inherent in this kind of practice. You need to know the drugs you are consuming, the consequences and empower patients’ families so that they can ask questions on the kind of medications they are given,” Dr. Abah said.
Similarly, a Patient Safety Ambassador, Dr. Ehi Eden, said medication safety has become a critical issue globally as it is one of the leading causes of death in healthcare.
He pointed out that about 50 percent of deaths are from medication safety.
Noting that such cases are underreported hence the need to create more advocacy, and awareness and engage stakeholders in possible ways to manage medication safety.
“Many families have lost their loved ones through preventable ways caused by medication safety. He that has to live has no reason to die due to error caused by medication safety,” he said.
The World Patient Safety Day is celebrated on 17 September every year with focus on “medication without harm.”
The campaign which started in 2017 calls on stakeholders to prioritise and take early action in key areas associated with significant patient harm due to unsafe medication practices.
