Chizomam Emeje strongly believes that pharmacists are the closest friends to any community in Nigeria. According to the pharmacist who is also the Managing Director and CEO of Troop Pharmaceuticals Limited, Nigerians should also ensure they go for regular health-checks to avoid sudden break down.
“So, the pharmacist is the best friend of the community. He/she ensures that the right medicine is provided at the right dose and in the most suitable formulation. We are always working with other healthcare professionals to ensure that every individual receives optimal treatment,” she said.
She added that while the profession has been bedeviled by quacks, technology has helped to differentiate best practitioners in the industry.
“It is amazing and heartbreaking when some ignorant practitioners too, would come around and tend to make mockery of knowledge. They see you as masquerading. However, we are not giving up, because Community pharmacy is a call to serve the people.
She made the remarks while speaking at Okota in Lagos during a free medical outreach organized by the Firm as part of its twenty-first year anniversary in collaboration with ViewPoint Specialist Eye Centre and Codix Pharmaceuticals Ltd.
She said the theme of this year’s anniversary- TROOP: Providing Better Patient Care was in line with the 2018 thrust of the International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP) thrust for 2018 – Pharmacy: Transforming Outcomes.
She noted that the free medical outreach was in line with FIP mandate for 2018 – to achieve a transforming outcome in the community through partnership with other health game players. It is one of the ways to bring home the theme of FIP to the doorstep of the common man
Troop Pharmacy provided free medical care, and counseling to the community residents. Services offered included free eye screening; blood pressure check; and a panel of biochemical investigations.
The CEO said: “Troop believes in professionalism; that informed our decision to align with FIP’s focus on the extensive expertise that pharmacists have and put to use every day to ensure better patient health. This expertise is applied through science and research, through educating the next generation, and through transforming patient needs into services.”
“In the last twenty-one years we have existed in this environment, the challenge has been lack of knowledge among some members of the Community. Most Nigerians do not read so many do not really have full grasp of whom a Pharmacist is.
“A pharmacist is not there just to dispense drugs. A pharmacist engages in counseling. What we have done today is Pharmacy; counseling the people and conducting free tests.
Expert recommends regular eye checkup
Delivering a lecture on “care for the eye”, Dr. Blessing Iro of ViewPoint Specialist Eye Centre, advised the residents to adhere to regular eye check-up, adding that early detailed eye examinations help to detect and correct eye diseases some of which could lead to irreversible blindness.
“It is good that outreaches like this are organized to help the people have access to medical-care. That informed our decision to partner with Troop Pharmaceuticals.
On her part, Mrs. Ngozi Emenike, a resident who received free treatment, said, “This platform provided by Troop Pharmacy and the partners has offered me and others the opportunity to access free medicare. In fact, I feel privileged to have gained from the community service and I thank the organisers.
