by Bezawit N. Demissie (EPA Media & Publication member/Asst. Lecturer at Addis Ababa University) – January 22, 2022
On September 26th, 2021 Ethiopian Pharmaceutical Association (EPA) announced the plan to celebrate the 8th Ethiopian pharmacists’ day on December 4th, the day on which EPA was founded 47 years back. It started by calling EPA members to propose themes for the celebration and topics for presentation. After collecting members’ recommendations on October 19th, 2021, the celebration theme was officially announced to be, “Pharmacists: Your Medicine Experts and Health Service Front Liners”. Meanwhile, the president of EPA requested all members and fellow pharmacy professionals to celebrate the 8th Ethiopian Pharmacists’ Day in their respective work organizations assigning one day within December 01-08, 2021.
Before the beginning of the event, more than 90 members have taken an active role in making graphics on social media for the 8th Ethiopian Pharmacists’ Day spreading the important message “Pharmacists: Your Medicine Experts and Health Service Front Liners.”
On December 4th, 2021, the event started with the registration of attendees by volunteer pharmacy students at Friendship Hotel, Addis Ababa Ethiopia. The event started as per the scheduled program, Mr. Sufiyan the program coordinator announced the opening of the event. The event officially commenced with all members singing the national anthem of Ethiopia. Mr. Tesfaye Seifu the president of EPA was ecstatic to celebrate the 8th Ethiopian Pharmacists’ Day. He gave a welcoming speech mentioning the key roles of pharmacists in the health sector from drug discovery to its disposal and providing important information and advice to the community and other health care professionals about drug use. Mr. Seifu also thanked the Ministry of Health for establishing institutions that can lead the sector such as Ethiopian Pharmaceutical and Services, the Ethiopian Food and Drug Authority, as well as the Directorate of Pharmaceuticals and Medical Equipment within the FMOH, and integrating pharmacy services into the Transformation Plan. On the other hand, he commended the ongoing efforts to enhance the success of the pharmaceutical sector. He added that the association is ready to work with the government to identify this gap and fill it as appropriate. He finalized his welcoming speech by reminding the current challenges the country is facing and its implications on the health sector and to overcome this challenge, extra mile travel is required of all pharmacists. The Ethiopian Pharmacy Association called on all health professionals to donate money, materials, and to volunteer.
Mr. Tesfaye Seifu the president of EPA
“Recognizing Ethiopia’s limited resources and enforcement capabilities, Ethiopian Pharmacists working in community pharmacy, hospital and health care, education, manufacturing, regulatory as well as pharmaceutical supply and service and other areas set an example for other health care professionals thus, I would like to respectfully request to keep the good works. Greatness is the ability to stand up for what is right. Therefore, I would like to remind you that we should do our part for the sake of our country, regardless of these limitations.”
Keynotes were given by Mr. Tibebu Mekonen from Danon Notrecia, a global food production company. He addresses the company’s longstanding partnership and its plans for upcoming training and continual strengthening with the association.
Mr. Tibebu Mekonen From Danon Notrecia, a Global Food Production Company
Another keynote was addressed by Miss. Heran Gerba, Director General of Ethiopian Food and Drug Authority. She mentioned how the association is highly recognized within the country and how it should encourage all pharmacists to take advantage of every opportunity to be recognized and realize their potential in all areas of health care delivery. She mentioned the importance of strengthening the necessary training and accreditation to provide health care and safe and effective drug use to citizens and communities. She added to ensure the quality and reliability of pharmacy experience, pharmacists need to be constantly monitored and supported to practice innovative thinking and evidence-based health care delivery that promotes high-quality professional development. On the other hand, she stated the health sector needs to be given the necessary support to enable pharmacists to make a significant contribution to the use of drugs and to play an active role in prevention and health care. Finally, she mentioned the way forward on the role of a pharmacist in vaccine manufacturing COVID vaccine campaign and safety monitors and local manufacturing capacity. She made a call to all pharmacists to contribute to the relief of the current crisis the country is facing.
Miss. Heran Gerba, Director General of Ethiopian Food and Drug Authority
The third keynote was given by Dr. Hillina Taddesse, General Director of Medical Service General Directorate, Ministry of Health (MOH). She emphasized the importance of medicine to the health sector and its role in public health intervention. She added the need for rational drug use. She mentioned pharmacies are more accessible to the community rather than hospitals or clinics and it is appropriate to say “Pharmacist: Your Medicine Experts and Health Service Front liners” The MOH is currently implementing the second health sector transformation plan (HSTP II). From a single overarching objective, it had four main goals which are to make universal health coverage. Increasing availability is one of the ways the MOH can accelerate access to universal health care. The HSTP II has considered the role of the pharmacist in achieving this and given one strategic direction from the 14 strategic directions. Finally, she recommended discussing anti-microbial resistance and the appropriate use of drugs and initiatives on local manufacturing. She mentioned that ministry would like to continuously accept feedback from the association and is improving its drug policy, and national drug list accordingly.
Dr. Hillina Taddesse, General Director of Medical Service General Directorate, Ministry of Health (MOH)
Mr. Alemayehu Lemma (Pharmacist and enabler in EPSS) gave a presentation on “The role of pharmacists in public emergency preparedness and responses.” He stressed that pharmacists are taking a more active role and becoming involved in numerous areas of health care and public health. As one of the most accessible and trusted health care professionals, pharmacists have a responsibility that extends beyond the more “traditional” returns of community or hospital-based pharmacy practices. Pharmacists have specific public health-related responsibilities in infection control, substance abuse, prevention education and treatment, immunization, fight against counterfeits and sub-standard medicines, tobacco cessation, and emergency preparedness and response. One of these responsibilities includes acting in disasters and public health emergencies.
Please click the link for the presentation ppt below;
http://epaethiopia.org.et/download/role-of-pharmaci…mergencies-final/
Legesse Chelkeba (Pharmacist & Ph.D.) gave the second presentation on “Pharmaceutical care in Ethiopia success stories and challenges.” He presented some challenges like the absence of carrier development, recognition mechanism, and appropriate incentive package supported with directives. There is a non-consistent documentation system for clinical pharmacy service across health facilities as well as nothing mentioned about clinical pharmacy specialists under the national specialty and sub-specialty roadmap. He added that the national clinical pharmacy service implementation manual is not yet fully implemented due to a lack of enforcement directives and that there is no clear scope of practice guideline that distinguishes the roles and responsibilities of pharmacy technicians, BPharm, and MSc holders pharmacists.
He included a way forward as follows;
-Despite the limited number of papers available today in the area of clinical pharmacy service we forward the following recommendation for the MOH
Please click the link for the presentation ppt below;
Mr. Daniel Waktole (B.Pharm, President of EPMSMA) gave a presentation on “Sustainable Access to Essential Medicines in Ethiopia: Contributions of Local Pharmaceutical industries” where he stressed mapping of the current Ethiopian pharmaceutical sector in the value chain. For this realization he put forth a couple of points;
Please click the link for the presentation ppt below;
Local_Manufcaturers_Contribution_PPT_Dec_4_2021_Friendhip_Intl_Hotel
By the end of the presentations, a couple of participants raised some topics of discussion and raised questions. One of the topics was on pharmaceutical manufacturing implementation policy and the notion of a clinical pharmacist. The comments and questions were raised as follows;
Finally, the program closed at 1:00 PM by the president calling for strengthening networking platforms on telegram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and website and to add new members.