The Imo chapter of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) has donated drugs worth about N500,000 to the state government, as part of its contributions to the fight against Coronavirus.
The state PSN Chairman, Dr. Stanley Emegwara, presented the drugs to the state COVID-19 Task Force in Owerri on Monday.
Emegwara, who is also a member of the task force, commended the body for its efforts at keeping the state COVID-19 free.
He said that the drugs were donated by PSN as part of its corporate social responsibility and in line with the protocols for the treatment of Coronavirus patients as prescribed by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).
Emegwara thanked the state government for its efforts at protecting health workers in the state from possible infection, while calling on them to do more, especially in the provision of personal protective equipment (PPE).
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the PSN boss also urged health workers in the state not to give up in the face of current challenges, adding that every sacrifice made in fighting the pandemic would be worthwhile.
He also enjoined the people of the state to accept the government’s lockdown order in good faith, adding that it was in the best interest of the state.
“The taskforce, aided by its pharmacist-members, has agreed on the drugs we are going to use in the event of an index case, in line with the NCDC recommendations.
“So we have decided, as a body, to donate the drugs to aid the state government and the people of Imo.
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“We thank the state government for the level of support and urge them to do more, especially in the area of protecting health workers.
“We also enjoin all health workers to support government’s efforts and to always remember that we all swore to protect lives, even though these are challenging times,” Emegwara.
In his response, the Chairman of the task force, Prof. Maurice Iwu, expressed surprise at the donation, saying that the pharmacists had already donated themselves by being members of the task force.
He, however, thanked the PSN for what he described as its “quintessential contributions”, assuring that the drugs would be used judiciously.
“I’m surprised that health workers, who have already donated themselves, are making more donations and this is quite commendable.
“Let me assure you that the drugs will be used to serve the right purposes,” he said.
NAN reports that the donated drugs included 200 tablets of 250mg Chloroquine phosphate for 142 patients, 300 tablets of 500mg azythromycin for 60 patients and 140 tablets of 625mg augmentin for 14 patients.
Others were 160 tablets of 375mg Augmentin for 16 patients, 200 tablets of 20mg zinc sulphate for 100 patients, 30 bottles of 200mg azythromycin suspension for 30 patients and 360 tablets of 100mg zinc gluconate for 20 patients.
Also included were 6,500 tablets of 100mg vitamin C for 250 patients and 1,920 tablets of 500mg paracetamol for 164 patients.
