The Nigerian government has been called upon to put in more effort in Covid-19 research and the purchase of vaccines, rather than wait on the international community for donations, as the country prepares for a possible third wave of the disease.
The call was made by the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria, PSN, the umbrella body for pharmacists, which also expressed concern over fake drugs, and illegal distributors in the country.
The delta variant of the Covid-19, which is said to be acute for people of all ages, has already been detected in Nigeria, with non-pharmaceutical measures or the covid-19 vaccine as the only way out for persons at risk.
The PSN said the Nigerian Government has performed well in the fight against Covid-19 but should put in more efforts in the purchase of vaccines, rather than wait on donations from the international community.
The President of the PSN, Samuel Ohuabunwa, said the government also needs to invest funds in medical research, that will locally develop a vaccine for the disease.
Also disturbing is the infiltration of fake drugs in Nigeria’s pharmaceutical chain, a development that has resulted in the death of many Nigerians or cases of prolonged medication without any improvement.
The pharmaceutical council said Nigeria needs to be saved from the consequences of illegal and fake drug distribution and laws to empower the council to do so will soon be in place.
