The Nigeria Academy of Pharmacy (NAPHARM) and the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) have collaborated to address all the challenges posed by COVID-19 pandemic in Nigeria.
Vice President of NAPHARM, Sir Ifeanyi Atueyi, stressed the need for the partnership at a news conference heralding the joint programme on: “COVID-19 Facts, Myths and Way Forward” on Wednesday in Lagos.
Atueyi said the collaboration would help to address the challenges posed by COVID-19 pandemic, while providing the right information needed to tackle it.
“It is the first time that a non-health sector group has been chosen as partner to underscore the need to create awareness around the COVID-19 pandemic.
“So, we strongly believe that the partnership and the programme will enable us to achieve the desired information and education needed to be passed to the public.
“I am confident that the fallouts from the programme will go a long way to clear all the doubts surrounding COVID-19, and the governments will hear and listen to us,” Atueyi said.
He said that the a week-long programme, would be declared open by the Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire, on April 12, and run till April 17, starting from 10 a.m daily.
Atueyi said that the programme organising committee had successful assembled expertise and authorities from various sectors to extensively deliberate on the topic.
He said the programme would comprise pharmaceutical professionals, government authorities, researchers, academia and editors from various media organisations.
In his remarks, the President of NGE, Mr Isah Mustapha, enjoined journalists to be vanguard of disseminating information and educating the public on the need to take the COVID-19 vaccines.
Mustapha said it was a good thing that the country got the COVID-19 vaccine, advising Nigerians to take it.
According to him, it is important to take the vaccine now in the midst of people who love you.
“Because, a time may come when one cannot travel to another country without the COVID-19 certificate and maybe forced to take it under duress and horrible condition,” he said.
Mustapha, however, advised journalists to disregard every rumour surrounding the vaccine, saying “the vaccine is safe and does not kill, rather it saves”.
Also, Dr Lolu Ojo, the Director Programmes, NAPHARM, said the programme would be a very unique opportunity for Nigerians to ask all questions concerning COVID-19 as it bothers them.
Ojo said the purpose of the programme was to provide the right information needed to contain the spread of COVID-19 pandemic.
He urged Nigerians to participate fully in all the days of the event.
Outlining the various activities for each of the six days programme, said: “We want all Nigerians to participate fully in all the days of the programme.
“Rather than stay at one corner and be lamenting, let everyone come and ask all questions bothering you about COVID-19.
“There will be knowledgeable experts from all fields of discipline to give you the desired answers,” he said.
