Involve us in tackling Ebola, other diseases – Pharmacists urge FG, States

The Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria, ACPN, has called on President Bola Tinubu and state governors to involve community pharmacists in efforts to contain the spread of Ebola and other infectious diseases in the country.

The association made the call in reaction to the recent confirmation of Ebola in Nigeria, urging the Federal Government to adopt a nationwide ‘Pharmacy First’ protocol.

The call was contained in a press release signed by ACPN National Chairman, Pharmacist Ambrose Ezeh, and made available to DAILY POST on Friday evening.

Ezeh urged the Federal Government to position community pharmacies as frontline centres for the early identification of suspected Ebola cases and other infectious disease outbreaks.

He also called for the integration of community pharmacists into the national disease surveillance system to strengthen Nigeria’s epidemic preparedness.

According to him, the federal and state governments should formally recognise community pharmacies as critical partners in epidemic surveillance and primary healthcare delivery.

He said the initiative would expand community pharmacy practice beyond dispensing 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.

The statement read, “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 association said adopting the protocol would strengthen community-level disease surveillance and improve early identification and referral of suspected cases.