Oyo spends N70 million on Covid-19 treatment and isolation centers on monthly basis

The cost also included maintenance of the isolation centers, feeding, and payment of hazard allowance, according to Dr Mufutau Ayoola, Permanent Secretary, Oyo State Ministry of Health. He made the disclosure at the opening of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria, Oyo State chapter’s 2021 Pharmacy Week.

Dr. Ayoola stated that some doctors who contracted covid 19 while working at the state’s isolation centers were receiving treatment. He claimed that doctors contracting covid-19 as a result of working in isolation centers was a risk.

Mr Adegboyega Oguntoye, Chairman, PSN Oyo State, stated that pharmacists, in collaboration with other members of the health team, are frontline care providers in responding to public health epidemics and pandemics.

“We don’t just advise patients on how to use their medicines anymore,” Mr Oguntoye continued, “pharmacy practice in Nigeria now takes a holistic approach to patient care.” Our abilities and knowledge have significantly increased.

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“It is not surprising that the International Pharmaceutical Federation advocated for and the World Health Organization approved pharmacists as frontline care providers in public health services, from patient counseling to ethical referral processes, health promotion, vaccination and immunization services.”

Mrs Folasade Lawal, the keynote speaker, suggested that Nigeria should take advantage of the country’s large number of community pharmacists to combat vaccine apprehension and achieve the goal of immunizing all Nigerians against COVID-19.

She stated that pharmacy-based immunisation, as it is currently practiced around the world, allows pharmacists to actively participate in immunisation. “There are over 4,400 registered community pharmacists in Nigeria,” she stated. The story will change for us if they are empowered. As a result, it must be thoroughly investigated.”

Mrs Lawal stated that patients prefer going to community pharmacists because they are trusted, and as primary care providers, they are in the best position to provide disease prevention and health promotion to both the healthy and the sick.

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The pharmacist, on the other hand, warned of a looming epidemic of drug abuse and antimicrobial resistance fueled, among other things, by the COVID-19 pandemic.

She advocated for the necessary environment and policy support for pharmacists to provide immunization services, ensuring COVID-19 vaccines can reach more people at the grassroots as well as vulnerable groups who are afraid of contracting the infection if they visit public health facilities.