Pharmacists under the auspices of the Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria (ACPN) said it administered over 76,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccines on clients from 256 community pharmacies across the country.

The National Chairman, ACPN, Adewale Oladigbolu, who disclosed this in Lagos, recently said that the community pharmacies continuously offered vaccination during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2022.

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He spoke during a valedictory address at the 43rd Annual International Scientific Conference of the ACPN.

According to him, with the strong support of the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (PCN), and the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) the ACPN team secured a memorandum of partnership with the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) in 2021.

“This MOU saw the administration of over 76,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccines in 256 community pharmacies that continuously offer vaccination during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2022.”

Highlighting activities under his administration to curb fake drugs, Oladigbolu said considering that as of September 2021, close to 70 per cent of local government areas (LGAs) in Nigeria do not have a community pharmacy.

“This subjects those who live in such areas to the dangers of substandard and fake medicines, inadequate health education and harm from the inappropriate usage of even genuine medicines, Oladigbolu affirmed.

To this end, he stated that together with his colleagues at the executive council and committee levels, “We developed a vision to plant community pharmacies in every state, especially in under-served areas. The vision is also to encourage state chapters of ACPN and well-meaning Nigerians to do the same thing. The vision is clear, the templates are ready, and it has left the drawing boards and became a reality.”

He said the first Pharm-Care Centre in Nigeria was commissioned on July 20 in Afijio LGA of Oyo State to the glory of Almighty God and the benefit of humanity.

“Kano and Kwara state branches have also set the balls rolling with the setting up of pharmacies in under-served and underprivileged areas. The two states have benefited from the system and financial support from the national secretariat of ACPN.”

According to him, COVID-19 activity marked the very first involvement of community pharmacists in vaccination, which has the federal government of Nigeria’s recognition.

The executive committee of the ACPN developed a vision to plant community pharmacies in every state of our conferences, especially in under-served areas; the vision is also to encourage state chapters of ACPN and well-meaning Nigerians to do the same thing. “Kano and Kwara state branches of our association have also set the balls rolling with the setting up of Pharmacies in under-served and underprivileged areas,” he added.

Similarly, Oladigbolu said in partnership with technical partners he also created an online supply chain coordination system for the distribution of medicines in Nigeria, which essentially offers transparency and clean distribution of medicines with avoidance of substandard and fake medicines.

“Currently, there are over 1,000 direct-to-consumer pharmacies, 90 wholesalers/distributors and close to 90 manufacturers/importers on the system; and as we sit here this afternoon ordering and distribution are being done on the platform at conference prices on a per-second basis.”