Imo State chapter of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) has donated drugs worth about half a million naira to the state government as part of contributions to the fight against coronavirus.
PSN chairman in Imo, Dr Stanley Emegwara, said this while handing over the drugs to the Imo COVID -19 task force in Owerri on Monday.
Emegwara, who doubles as a member of the state task force, commended the taskforce for its efforts at keeping the state COVID-19 free.
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He said that selected drugs were donated by the PSN as part of its corporate social responsibility and in line with protocols for the treatment of coronavirus patients as recommended by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).
He thanked the state government for its efforts to protect health workers in the state from possible infection, while calling on them to do more especially in the provision of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).
The Imo PSN helmsman, however, urged health workers in the state not to give up in the face of current challenges, adding that every sacrifice made in fighting the pandemic will be worthwhile .
He also urged Imo residents to accept the government imposed lockdown in good fate, adding that it was in the best interests of the state.
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” The taskforce , aided by its pharmacist members has agreed on the drugs we are going to use in the event of an index case in line with NCDC recommendations, so we decided as a body to donate all the drugs to aid the state government, and Imo citizens in general.
” We thank the state government for the level of support, and urge them to do more especially in the area of protecting health workers.
” We also enjoin all health workers to support government’s efforts and always remember that we all swore to protect lives even though these are challenging times “, he said.
In his response, chairman of the Imo COVID-19 taskforce, Prof. Maurice Iwu expressed surprise over the donation as according to him, the pharmacists had already donated themselves.
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He however thanked the PSN for what he described as their “quintessential contributions”, while assuring that the drugs will be used judiciously.
” I’m surprised that health workers who have already donated themselves are making more donations and this is quite commendable.
” Let me assure you that the drugs will be used to serve the right purposes “, he said.
The donated drugs included 200 tablets of 250mg chloroquine phosphate for 142 patients , 300 tablets of 500mg azythromycin for 60 patients, 140tablets of 625mg augmentin for 14 patients, and 160 tablets of 375mg augmentin for 16 patients.
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Others were 200 tablets of 20mg zinc sulphate for 100 patients, 30 bottles of 200mg azythromycin suspension for 30 patients, 360 tablets of 100mg zinc gluconate for 20 patients, 6,500 tablets of 100mg vitamin C for 250 patients, and 1,920 tablets of 500mg paracetamol for 164 patients.