Avoid self medication: Pharmaceutical Society advises Nigerians

Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria, Nasarawa state chapter, has advised Nigerians to avoid self-medication and seek medical examination before taking drugs.

Mr Agada Vincent-Agada, the state chairman of the association, gave the advice on Saturday in Keffi at an event to mark the 2016 World Pharmacists Day with the theme, “Pharmacists care for you.”

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that World Pharmacists Day is held on Sept 25 each year to create public awareness and engage in activities that promote and consolidate the profession’s role in the society

Vincent-Agada said that the call had become imperative considering the negative effects of self-medication on human health and to societal development.

He said: “the role of the pharmacists in the society cannot be over emphasised.

“Right from the points of manufacturing, handling to administration of medicine to the last point, needed to be handled by trained professionals in the pharmaceutical industry.

“That is why as key players in the health sector, there is the need for us to create awareness on the need for Nigerians to avoid self-medication and seek medical examination before taking drugs.

“We condemn the attitude of those who cultivate the habit of taking drugs indiscriminately without medical examination.’’

Vincent-Agada called on Nasarawa state government to establish Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences at the state-owned University, Keffi to bridge the gap in accessing good and quality healthcare services in the state.

Also speaking, Dr Luka Samuel, Head, Clinical Unit, Federal Medical Centre, Keffi, called on pharmacists to adhere strictly to the ethics of their profession.

He urged them to be of good behaviour at all the time in order to improve on the health status of patients.

Earlier, Dr Luka Samuel, Director and Head of department Pharmaceutical service, Federal Medical Centre, Keffi, said that the role of the pharmacist in the society is indispensable.

He called on policy makers and other stakeholders in the health sector to formulate policies that would ensure effective healthcare service for the people.