‘The National Drug Law Agen-
cy (NDLEA), has recently
warned that the number of
deaths as a result of fake drugs is es-
calating and revealed that in every 10
drugs one buys, there is a high proba-
bility that seven of them are fake’.
The above is an abstract from the
presentation of Sr. Susan Tonguve,
SON, the Matron of St. Anthony’s
Hospital, Zaki-Biam, Benue State
during the launch of Bishop Adoboh
Pharmacy Initiative on the 11th of
February, 2020, a day that marked
the 28th World Day of the Sick at St.
Anthony Hospital, Zaki-Biam, Benue
State, Nigeria.
Sr. Tonguve revealed the aims of the
initiative as:
- To prevent premature deaths by
making available authentic anti-dia-
betic, anti-hypertensive, and anti-ma-
larial medications as well as vaccines
for the prevention of hepatitis B virus
infections.
- To serve as a channel for the pro-
curement of genuine and appropriate
drugs directly from manufacturers
and major medical drug wholesalers.
- To subsidize treatment for diabe-
tes, hypertension, malaria and preven-
tion of hepatitis B virus infection for
the less privileged.
The initiative is sponsored by Dr.
Amos Ajo, a secondary school class-
mate of Most Rev. Peter I. Adoboh,
Catholic Bishop of Katsina-Ala Dio-
cese.
In his welcome remarks the occa-
sion, the Coordinator of Integrated
Health Programme, Rev, Fr. Simon
T. Mtile said: ‘The world is sick with
hunger, poverty, pain, strife, insecuri-
ties and diseases. This is to say, differ-
ent people are sick in different ways
and healing or wellness goes beyond
tablets, injections, infusions, etc be-
cause not all sick people need medical
attention.
Some people are sick for love, care,
attention, or even food. Thus, regard-
less of our profession or vocation, we
ought to be a source of healing and
consolation to people around us’.
