The President of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN), Pharm. (Prof.) Cyril Odianose Usifoh, along with other officials, planning the 95th Annual National Conference of the society, has outlined the events marking the conference, as well as the society’s readiness to host pharmacists and other stakeholders across the nation.
In his press briefing held on Wednesday, 26th October, 2022, at the Pharmacy House in Lagos, ahead of the conference, the award-winning scholar, who started by expressing his gratitude to the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari, for signing the Pharmacy Bill into law, decries some of the challenges facing the health sector, explain that the 2022 conference was planned in line with addressing them.
Emphasizing the importance of the conference, with the theme, “Medicine Security in an Unstable Economy”, Prof. Usifoh stressed that in addition to achieving the signing of the Pharmacy Act, his administration is worried about the rate at which pharmacists, together with other health officials, flee from the country, making the already fragile healthcare in the country more worrisome.
He added that the conference is planned against the backdrop, while stressing that funding, remuneration and welfare, leadership, shortage of staff, among other problems contribute to experts leaving the shores of the country, adding that the situation could be ameliorated through fair financing, career progression, recognition and remuneration, sociocultural networks, training and development.
Observing that Nigeria has many healthcare providers abroad, the former Dean of Pharmacy at the University of Benin stated that brain drain can be both a blessing and a curse for the country.
Prof. Usifoh further explained that some presidential aspirants have been invited for an interactive forum with pharmacists, which will give them the opportunity to enlighten the public on their vision for the health sector.
In his opening remarks the Chairman of the Conference Planning Committee, Pharm. Victor Adekanye (MAW), who gave the details of all the plans that have been made for safety, welfare, leisure and other logistics for the participants, added that the invited presidential candidates will not be allowed to use the platform as a campaign ground.
In an interview with CEOAFRICA, Prof. Usifoh added, among other things, that the COVID-19 pandemic exposed the weaknesses of many countries healthcare, including Nigeria, which made a lot of them to ban the export of pharmaceuticals; he noted that it is time for Nigerian pharmacists to come together, in partnership with the government, to salvage the country’s healthcare delivery.
Also, speaking in interview, the National Publicity Secretary of the society, Pharm. Felix Ndiukwu (MAW), explained that one of the beauties of the national conference is that it fosters opportunity for tourism and exploration of the boundaries of the country, while explaining that many do not know that the things that attract them abroad can be found in Nigeria.
In addition to various media organizations, many members of the society as well as officials from the Lagos state branch were present, including, Pharmacist Gbenga Falabi, National Secretary, Pharm. Gafar Lanre Madeyin, National Treasurer, Pharm. Ikenna Mbata, Assistant National Secretary.
Others are Lagos Branch Chairman and his Vice, Pharm. Iyiola Gbolagade and Pharm. Babayemi, respectively. 
Pharm. Queensly Ogbeide, a member of the conference planning committee and Pharm. Osamuediamen Umweni, the Personal Assistant to the President, Prof. Usifo, and a host of other stakeholders were there also.