DSTG to address shortage of pharmacists

The Delta state Government has expressed its readiness to address the issue of shortage of Pharmacists in the State as part of measure to boost health care delivery in the state.

The secretary to the State Government, SSG, Mr. Festus Agas, made this known in Asaba when members of the Association of Hospital and Administrative Pharmacists of Nigeria Delta State Chapter paid him a courtesy visit.

Agas noted that the Okowa-led administration placed a high premium on human capital development and assured the group that the government would look into their appeal objectively with a view to proffering a lasting solution.

He said payment of workers’ salary in the state was no longer easy to the present administration but pledged that the Government would take the challenges of the Pharmacists in the state seriously. He thanked the group for the visit and enjoyed them to continue to do their best in their profession.

The leader of the group Dr. Kenneth Otene said they were in the SSG's office to congratulate him on his appointment as the secretary to the state Government and to solicit the state Government's support towards alleviating the plight of the Pharmacists in the state.

Dr. Otene who noted that the Pharmacist was involved in many activities to enhance the well being of the individual patient said Delta state in the past had about 78 pharmacists which had now reduced to 58 due to retirements and death, adding that Delta state has over 62 hospitals under the Hospital management Board. He pointed the challenges facing the Association to include shortage of Pharmacists and appealed to the state Government to take the issue of employing more Pharmacists in the state seriously.

In a related development, the secretary to the state Government has affirmed government’s commitment towards eradicating malnutrition in the state. The Secretary to State Government, Hon. Festus Agas gave the affirmation when members of the State Committee on Food and Nutrition SCFN Advocacy team paid him an advocacy visit in Asaba.

Hon. Agas said the state Government has been doing its best to eradicate the menace and pledged its continued support in the operations of the body. While commending the group for the advocacy visit, He said the state Government would always release the intervention funds to the group as at when due.

Earlier in her address, the team leader of the group Mrs. Millie Amitaye said they were with the SSG to advocate the need for quality nutrition for children, adding that malnutrition is becoming a serious threat to the effective growth and development of children. She solicited Government support and urged all hands to be on deck in order to tackle the menace.

She further said the SMART Agenda is in tandem with the goal of the SDG but urged Government to do further to rid the state of malnutrition. She commended Govt. for free maternal health care and other health care policies, adding that malnutrition needs to be kicked out totally like polio melitis