Pharmacists Eulogize Past PSN President Yakasai; Confer Him With Leadership Award

Members of the National Executive Committee of the Association of Hospital and Administrative Pharmacists of Nigeria (AHAPN) led by the National Chairman, Dr. Kingsley Chiedu Amibor recently paid a courtesy call on the immediate past President of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) Pharm. Ahmed Ibrahim Yakasai FPSN, FPCPharm, FNIM, at Pharmacy House, Anthony Village, Lagos, shortly before he left office.

On the entourage of AHAPN were the National Secretary, Pharm Hafiz Akande, the National Publicity Secretary, Pharm. (Dr.) Francis Odigie, National Treasurer, Pharm. Bode Ogunjemiyo, and immediate past National Treasurer Pharm. Margaret Adedapo. Others were Director, Pharmaceutical Services National Orthopedic Hospital, Igbobi, Lagos, Pharm. (Mrs.) Margaret Obono, Pharm. Kayode Aiyegbajeje, and Pharm. Folake Adeniji, Financial Secretary of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN). On hand to welcome the delegation were the past President of PSN, Pharm Ahmed Ibrahim Yakasai FPSN, National Secretary Pharm. (Chief) Emeka Duru (MAW) and Pharm. Sesan Kareem.

In his opening address, National Chairman of AHAPN, Dr Kingsley Amibor said they were there to introduce the members of the newly elected National Executive Committee of AHAPN, and to commend Pharm Yakasai for the beautiful job he effectively executed as president of PSN. According to Dr. Amibor,“There is no doubt that Pharm Ahmed Yakasai FPSN, has carved out a niche for himself as one of the highest achieving PSN Presidents of our time. The list of your achievements include but are not limited to: greater respect for pharmacists and the Pharmacy Profession; grassroots advocacy to the royal fathers in various states which has tremendously helped the course of Pharmacy; our involvement in the fight against drug abuse in the last three years has been unprecedented; and the young pharmacists have become very visible such that they are able to partner with NAFDAC in the Youth against Drug Abuse (YADA)  Programme, as part of our efforts to stem the menace of drug abuse in Nigeria.”

Continuing further, The National Chairman stated “We are particularly delighted that through your activities, the Nigerian Universities Commission (NUC) granted approval for commencement of the Doctor of Pharmacy Programme (Pharm.D) in Nigeria which has meant that more pharmacists can now participate in the PharmD. programme. This will equip them with the necessary pharmaceutical care skills that will translate to better patient outcomes on the long run.” Dr Amibor said that recent inauguration of the PSN Technical Working Group will go a long way to foster closer working relationships between the various technical arms of the PSN.

The group then presented their requests before Pharm. Yakasai, which included securing an office accommodation for AHAPN, creation of more spaces for pharmacy interns and pursuing the release of consultancy circular for fellows of the West African Post Graduate College of Pharmacists (WAPCP) which was long overdue. Other requests tabled before him included restructuring of the Drug Revolving Fund Scheme to enable pharmacists who are project managers of the scheme to become signatories to the DRF account. That way, funds will be made continuously available to manage the scheme; removal of career Stagnation of our members on CONHESS 13, (this stagnation has gone a long way to cause disaffection among them with some of them contemplating withdrawing from the civil service) and registration of AHAPN as a trade union.  “This issue has become worrisome to all hospital and administrative pharmacists and we plead with you to intervene on our behalf so we can have a trade union of our own. We are ready to collaborate with the ACPN and other technical arms of PSN to achieve this.”

Other areas touched on included assistance in setting up Mini laboratories in their Pharmacy Departments; bringing pressure to bear on the government to pay the outstanding April and May salaries of their members as well as call duty relativity arrears outstanding since 2014; support of the PSN in their resolve to adopt Pharmaceutical Care as their new philosophy of practice in the hospitals and appointment of their member into the PSN Inter Professional Harmony Committee, since they are direct stakeholders in the healthcare sector.

The association then went on to announce the conferment of their highest award on the former president. “It is also our pleasure to confer the AHAPN Excellence in Leadership Award on you today, in recognition of your numerous sacrifices for the Pharmacy Profession.”  The NEC members thereafter donated copies of their association journals to the PSN.

Responding, Pharm. Ahmed Yakasai thanked them for the visit, and commended the AHAPN leadership for the smooth working relationship with the PSN. He then took time to address the EXCO members on all the issues raised. According to him, “The PSN is worried about the plight of fresh pharmacy graduates who are forced to stay at home long after the completion of their under graduate studies. We were the first to raise the issue of central placement of interns, but along the line, the process met with a brick wall. But I assure you that the PSN is not sleeping on her oars. We will continue with our advocacy efforts until a lasting solution emerges.” He also assured the delegation of the support of the PSN in their determination to adopt the pharmaceutical care philosophy of practice which has become the norm all over the world.

Thereafter, Pharm Yakasai took the delegation on a tour of the Pharmacy House, and there and then announced the allocation of an office accommodation to AHAPN in line with the association’s request. He also made some donations of official books to the association to enable them equip their Drug Information Centre.

Receiving the Excellence in Leadership Award, Pharm Yakasai commended the group for the gesture and said he would keep the award in his personal house. He said there was no going back on his resolve to reposition pharmacy practice in Nigeria. He also promised to look into their request for appointment of one of their members into the PSN Inter Professional Harmony Committee for peace in the health care sector, a promise he has since kept.

Pharm Ahmed Yakasai has since handed over the mantle of leadership of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria to the new President, Mazi Sam Ohuabunwa FPSN, OFR.

Dr. Kingsley Chiedu Amibor Pharm.D, FPCPharm, MPH

National Chairman AHAPN

Pharm. Hafiz Akande

National Secretary AHAPN

Picture 1: L-R  AHAPN Chairman, Dr. Kingsley Amibor presenting the Excellence in Leadership Award to Pharm Ibrahim Yakasai FPSN

Picture 2: L-R   Dr Amibor receiving official books from Pharm Yakasai (Centre) while the PSN Secretary Pharm (Chief) Emeka Duru looks on

Picture 3: AHAPN NEC members in a group photograph with Pharm Yakasai

Seated L-R Pharm Emeka Duru (PSN Secretary), Dr. Amibor, Pharm Yakasai, Pharm Obono

Standing L-R Dr Odigie Francis, Pharm. Folake Adeniji, Pharm Bode Ogunjemiyo, Pharm Hafiz Akande, Pharm Folake Adedapo and Pharm Kayode Aiyegbajeje

Picture 4: AHAPN NEC members with past PSN President Pharm Ahmed Yakasai FPSN at the Award Presentation