Community pharmacists have identified underfunding of medical research as a major factor delaying the breakthrough for an African cure for Ebola Virus Disease.
The pharmacists, under the aegis of Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria, Lagos branch, said that if Nigeria invested in research and development, it would have been in the frontline to seeking a cure for Ebola.
The ACPN state Chairman, Adeyinka Aminu, who stated this during an awareness walk on EVD at the Yaba Motor Park on Monday, said the government had yet to motivate local researchers through funding.
Aminu said, “Medical and pharmaceutical research is usually complex. It is not just a long journey but also a costly venture that is beyond the means of many individuals. But if you have a system where the government will really support research, the pharmacists are capable of finding solution to some of these medical problems, especially remedies for emerging diseases in the country.”
He called on the government to improve budgetary allocation to research, adding that its outcome would help improve the health status of Nigerians.
“It is the government that really needs to come into the picture on this research area so that we can play our part actively as people who can make drugs available to solve health-related problems in the community,” he added.
He added that the sensitisation was to increase awareness on preventive measures among those in the grassroots.
He said, “As pharmacists, who traditionally live in the community and we are very close to the people, we have responsibility to play our part to ensure that the public are enlightened about this disease so that we can prevent new infections and transmissions of the disease.
“We have come to Yaba Motor Park, where we will see a lot of people, especially those travelling, so that we will give them information that can help in prevention.”
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