The Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) has announced plans to elevate its Medicine Information Centre (MIC) to a National Drug & Poison Information, Emergency Response and Research Centre, which will be a coordinating centre to responses on suicide attempts, rehabilitation of drug addicts and people injured by poisons.Dr Nwaiwu disclosed that the Pharmacy Towers Project will be formally unveiled during an event tagged ‘Dinner with the President of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria’ scheduled for Thursday 8 August at Sheraton Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos. The event, he said, will be graced by Governor Nyesom Wike, of Rivers State; Governor (Dr) Okezie Victor Ikpeazu of Abia State and Mrs Hadiza Balarabe, deputy governor, Kaduna State and other distinguished Nigerians.
The centre, he explained further, while serving as information and research warehouse for retooling pharmacy and pharmacists towards greater relevance will provide every state in Nigeria with a dedicated line and personnel from each state who will be fluent in the local language and respond to all poisoning issues, adverse drug reactions, and enquiries on drug use.
Dr Nwaiwu disclosed further that the centre will also connect health professionals in hospitals, community pharmacies and other healthcare facilities as to the availability of emergency drugs, orphan drugs and help mobilize and connect ambulance services, Red Cross, State Emergency Response Units, community pharmacists with hospitals and special care centres nationwide.
According to the PSN Project Committee Chairman, the centre will equally partner with and share relevant information with NAFDAC Pharmaco-Vigilance Centre and collaborate with governments and non-governmental agencies involved in the safety and health of the nation.
He further revealed that the centre will also be opened to all healthcare professionals for training, be a window for an internship programme for pharmacy graduates, promote collaborative work between pharmaceutical companies and the National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRD) and promote research into the production of herbal remedies of wholly local content.
The centre, Dr Nwaiwu said, aside from helping to foster strong inter-professional collaboration with health workers in the emergency response chain will equally help provide jobs for different cadres of Nigerians.
Source: Pharmanews
