The bulk of Nigeria’s challenges are at community level where a huge population are misinformed, thereby making people more vulnerable to COVID-19 infection.
By Stella-Maris Okwaranyia
There are indications that the low acceptance of the covid-19 vaccine by the majority of the Nigeria citizenry is attributable to misinformation, the National Primary Health Care Development Agency, NPHCDA, has stated.
This is coming at a time the country is said to be experiencing increase in figure of new cases.
Dr. Faisal Shuaibu, Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of NPHCDA, while speaking at the 41st Annual Scientific Conference of Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria, ACPN, stated that the bulk of Nigeria’s challenges are at community level where a huge population are misinformed, thereby making people more vulnerable to COVID-19 infection.
He explained that over 26 million people have been fully vaccinated, representing 23.4 percent of the eligible population. “Currently, our data shows that 26,127,761 eligible persons have been fully vaccinated against Covid-19 in Nigeria, having received second dose of vaccine. The number of fully vaccinated persons represents 23.4 per cent of the 111,176,503 eligible population targeted for full vaccination against COVID-19 in Nigeria.
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Shuaib who was represented by Dr. Adefunke Adesope, South West Zonal Director of the Agency, said that COVID-19 crises provided the country with opportunities to improve routine immunization and at the same time opening doors for more health professionals to be fully integrated into primary health care service delivery. Speaking on the theme, “Never Waste a Crisis: Community Pharmacists Learning for Future Preparedness” He tasked ACPN to mobilize its members to rapidly increase the uptake of the Covid-19 vaccines in the communities by leveraging their influence, “NPHCDA will continue to provide technical support and policy guidance to the Association”
Also speaking, Adewale Oladigbolu, National Chairman of ACPN, Adewale Oladigbolu stated that with support from New Heights Pharmaceutical, the Association has produced documentation kits for Community Pharmacists, “The kit consisted of a prescription pad, a referral pad and booklet on the interpretation of Laboratory parameters. These have been distributed to all Community Pharmacists across the country.” “We now have a bespoke inventory control software for community pharmacists. “We therefore implore the Government to include Pharmacists in anything that has to do with the Health of the Society; as Primary Healthcare providers, in the National Health Insurance Scheme and by signing the new Pharmacy Bill. This will go a long way to engender a healthier nation.”
Corroborating his views, National President of Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria, PSN, Prof. Cyril Usifoh praised Community Pharmacists for being at the forefront of providing direct healthcare to patients during the COVID-19. “Not only have they played their traditional role of delivering medications to patients, but they also performed additional duties regarding patient education and triaging of patients to reduce the load on hospitals as well as screening for diseases and promoting clear treatment concepts regarding this disease.”
Also speaking, Chairman of the Occasion and Member Federal House of Representatives, Gboluga Ikengboju expressed the legislative readiness to support the association in performing its role towards a better society. “We are going to support Community Pharmacists to improve on healthcare delivery system and to be engage more in advance services. We are going to support you in promoting adequate training and technological support. “We will push to see government commitment to 2015 Abuja arrangement of 15 percent of budgetary allocation to healthcare system. We are also going to push for every Community Pharmacists to be paid for providing essential services through NHIS.”
