ACPN Calls for Recognition of Pharmacists as Primary Healthcare Providers

Mr. Adewale Oladigbolu, the National Chairman, Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria, has called out for pharmacists to be recognized as primary health care providers. Punch reports that Oladigbolu made this call while he was inaugurated as the Chairman of the association. He will be taking over from Dr Samuel Adekola.

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He also pointed out the strikes in the healthcare sector had further cemented the need for the Government, both on Federal and State level, to recognize their community pharmacists as primary health care providers. According to Oladigbolu, one of the gaps which is missing when it comes to achieving better health outcomes is to accord the community pharmacists the rights to do more.

“This is very important in a country like ours where maternal and child mortality is very high. Pharmacists can stand in the gap because people have trust in them and they are very close to the community.” He stated. He further called the other executives to support him so he can take the association to a greater height.

Read Also: Pharmacists Urge Nigerian Government to Develop Uniform Salary Structure for Healthcare Workers

“Where I had the opportunity to serve in the past, what I enjoy doing most is bringing people together for greater harvest and that will be my focus. I will celebrate each and everyone and raise your potential, tap into it in such a way that pharmacist services in Nigeria will be better.” He explained.


He also seized the opportunity to show gratitude to all  the community pharmacists in Nigeria for their trust repose. He assured them that they will ride on the shoulders of our leaders’ past and with innovation to take the association to a greater height.

This comes a few days after the Lagos Chapter of ACPN complemented the Government’s efforts in providing healthcare by taking its free screening services to 14 Area Commands of the Nigerian Police Force in Lagos. Pharm Lawrence Ekhator, the Chairman of APCN, Lagos State, explained the purpose of the exercise, stating that it was to bring healthcare to the doorsteps of security officers.

The exercise consisted of donating drugs to the 14 Area Commands. It also included screening for blood sugar, Body Mass Index (BMI), cholesterol, diabetes, blood pressure, hepatitis, hypertension, and others. The exercise was carried out to mark the “World Pharmacists Day 2021.”

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