Prof. Noel Wannang, a prominent pharmacologist and clinical pharmacist, has expressed worry about the rise in breast cancer cases and infant death rate in Nigeria.
He urged pharmacists to develop novel solutions to stop the problem.
This was said by Wannang of the University of Jos on Thursday in Uyo, the state capital, at the pharmacy week seminar organized by the Akwa Ibom State chapter of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria.
He revealed that Nigeria continues to rank top in the West African region for breast cancer cases and second overall for newborn mortality, trailing only the neighboring Niger Republic.
Wannang lamented that health outcomes in Nigeria remained poor despite higher expenditure since 2001 when he addressed attendees at the event under the theme “Pharmacists Strengthening the Health Systems,” pointing out that better outcomes were seen in nations with comparable and even lower expenditure.
He also pushed for a robust healthcare system with strong regulations, oversight, and accountability, paying particular emphasis to system design.
According to him, Nigeria continues to lead the region of West Africa in terms of breast cancer cases. On the subject of infant mortality, the nation ranks second only to the neighboring Niger Republic.
In Nigeria, the average life expectancy is currently 64 years for women and 60 years for men. The infant mortality rate is 54, or 74 deaths per 1,000 live births.
Pharmacists need to change practice, science, education, and the labor force. They should develop their leadership abilities in order to guide and transform Nigeria’s healthcare system.
Akwa Ibom State will soon have a drug information center, according to Pharm Abasiama Uwatt, State Chairman of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria.
She bemoaned the high foreign currency rate, claiming that it had caused the huge spike in drug costs because pharmacies now import nearly all of the raw materials needed to make medicines.
Uwatt argued that the industry was suffering from brain drain as a result of low pay and urged the government to create laws that would support it.
“We have pharmacists who have completed the fundamental training, go on to specialize, but are still viewed as recent graduates,” she said.
“We have consultants in the areas of clinical pharmacy, community pharmacy, and public health, but they are underutilized and nevertheless given the same respect as first-degree holders.
“Pharmacists are graduating without a location to complete the one-year internship that is a requirement for their training. Additionally, we have negative policies that do not assist the development of local capability.