Pharmacist alerts Nigerians on breast cancer increase, infant mortality

Ini Billie, Uyo

Pharmacology and Clinical Pharmacist, Prof. Noel Wannang has alerted Nigerians on the increase of breast cancer and infant mortality in the country.

According to Wannang, Nigeria is currently ranked first in breast cancer disease in West Africa, and second in infant mortality after Niger Republic.

Speaking on Thursday during the Pharmacy week held in Uyo by the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria on the theme: “Pharmacists Strengthening the Health Systems”, Wannag revealed that Nigeria ranks second to India globally in non-natal mortality rate with 640 daily deaths.

He lamented that healthcare remains poor in Nigeria despite higher expenditure since 2001, adding that better outcomes are seen in countries with equivalent and lower expenditure.

“Life expectancy in Nigeria now stands at 60 years for males and 64 years for females, infant mortality stands at 54. 74 deaths per 1000 live births which places Nigeria only second to Niger Republic.

“Maternal mortality rate stagnated at 290,000 annually since 2015, it is sad to say that India and Nigeria rank for 1st and 2nd respectively,” he stated.

Prof Wannag who is also a council member of the West African Post-graduate College of Pharmacy urged Pharmacists to strengthen the health system to achieve more equitable and sustainable improvements to health outcomes with requisite technical and political knowledge and action.

He advocated for a strong health system with effective policies, oversight and accountability with special attention to system design and appropriate regulation, saying a strong health system needs adequate funds so that people can use the services they need and afford to pay for those services.

“Pharmacists should transform practice, science and education and workforce. They should acquire leadership skills to lead and change the healthcare system in Nigeria.

“They should have an overall interest in developing a model for patient safety adding that there is no health without drugs or hospital with a prayers department.

“Pharmacists in the world must participate in the development of the framework that advances the delivery of effective and safe healthcare and ensure access to high-quality medicines,” he stated.

While speaking, Chairman, Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria, Pharm. Abasiama Uwatt announced that Akwa Ibom would soon have a drug information centre, and noted the importance of advocacy in ensuring the pharmacists’ success in their jobs.

“Drug Information Centre is one of the requirements of the World Health Organisation from developing countries. In Nigeria, currently, we have very few and Akwa Ibom State does not have a drug Information Centre for now.

“What the centre offers is enormous, it is an avenue for communication and publicity, there will be publications and enlightenment campaigns, it will also serve as a point for research and critical support management.

“The drug Information centre can help us collate data, one of the biggest challenges we have in Nigeria is data. The Drug Information Centre will help in policy making, and research and help in giving direction to our health drive. Akwa Ibom people will be the biggest beneficiary when established,” she stated.

Uwatt mentioned that the Pharmacists were underutilized, and an overlap of functions in the health sector makes it difficult for them to fit properly in the scheme of things.

“There is a challenge of pharmacists importing practically every raw material which we call active pharmaceutical ingredients, we import it with high foreign exchange which keeps soaring the value of the products well beyond the reach of the common man on the street to access basic health care and high cost of drugs will definitely hamper effective health care coverage,” she said.

In his goodwill message, Mr Adedoyin Nuredeen, Deputy Commandant, Nigeria Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) said It is necessary for Akwa Ibom Pharmacists body to work with NDLEA to control, supervise and cut off the supply of illicit drugs by reducing the demand for illicit drugs.

Adedoyin tasked them to engage in the enlightenment of the populace on the psychological, physical and social effects of psychopathic substances in the body since we know the consequences of these drugs to the body system.

“Drugs demand reduction calls for multi-sectorial approaches involving qualified personnel like pharmacists for education on health issues in order to achieve the needed target and result. There should be a balanced approach between illicit drugs demand reduction and suppression by pharmacists,” he said.