From Asteroid Bassey
The Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) has called on the Akwa Ibom Commissioner for Agriculture to partner with the association in providing a research farm for pharmaceutical growth in the state.
Speaking during a courtesy call on the Honorable Commissioner for Agriculture, Dr (Mrs) Offiong Samuel Offor, the State Chairman of PSN Akwa Ibom, Dr Akwaowo Akpabio, stated that local plants and herbs such as Artemesia Anua could be used in medical research and provision of locally produced clinical drugs.
The PSN noted that the Ministry of Agriculture is saddled with the responsibility to plan, devise and implement the state policies on agricultural resources; hence PSN move to collaborate with the ministry in areas of medicinal plants research and development.
The PSN chairman noted that such collaboration will further improve the utilisation of untapped medicinal plants in healthcare services in the state and the country at large. Dr Akpabio stated that the research and development will also help in the development of high-standard active pharmaceutical ingredients from various plant and animal sources. This, the PSN believes, will grow the industrialisation agenda of the present administration.
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Dr Akpabio also used the medium to invite the commissioner to her 2022 Pharmacy week which is scheduled to hold in October 2022.
The chairman added that one of the highlights of Akwa Ibom State Pharmacy Week will be the fundraising ceremony for the completion of the maiden Drug Information centre here in Uyo. The project when completed will serve as a central point where drug information will be given to the public leading to the right use of drugs.
Responding, the Commissioner for Agriculture Dr (Mrs), Offiong Offor, thanked the chairman and members of exco, Akwa Ibom PSN, for the visit. She hinted at her ministry’s readiness to immediately commence the paperwork for the research farm which she noted was apt and timely.
The commissioner also pledged to be part of all future programmes of the association as pharmacists depends on plants and livestock to produce pharmaceuticals.