By Grace Ben Kato
The newly elected Chairman of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN), Kogi State Branch, Pharmacist Arome Michaels, has promised to build a united, dynamic and respected PSN that prioritises members’ welfare, promotes professional excellence and contributes meaningfully to healthcare delivery in the state.
Pharm. Arome made the promise in his inaugural speech delivered recently after his election as chairman.
In his speech, he expressed gratitude to God, the immediate past Chairman, Dr. Lawal Muhammed, for his pragmatic leadership, his colleagues for the confidence reposed in him, and the Independent Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria Electoral Committee (IPSNEC), for conducting a free, fair and credible election.
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“This victory is for all pharmacists in the state. In PSN there is no winner nor loser. It is the profession that wins,” he said.
He extended a hand of fellowship to all members, saying, “We need the experiences of our past chairmen as fathers, the wisdom of the elders as advisors, the strength of our women as pillars and the energy of the young pharmacists as our engine room.
“Ladies and gentlemen, let us build a stronger, united, vibrant and progressive PSN together,” he added.
Pharm. Arome, listed the challenges confronting the profession to include unfavourable government policies, harsh economic realities facing community pharmacists, unwholesome competition from patent medicine vendors practising beyond their scope, understaffed hospital pharmacies, anxiety among young pharmacists leading to the ‘Japa syndrome’, drug insecurity, falsified and adulterated medicines, poor access to pharmaceutical care in rural areas, and inter-professional rivalry.
“In tackling these challenges, pharmacists are indispensable and we cannot afford to be spectators,” he said.
He unveiled his vision and a 7-pillar agenda tagged “W.E. – S.T.E.P – UP”, to drive his administration. He streesed that, his administration would value members’ welfare as utmost priority, set up a functional welfare and benevolence committee for colleagues in distress, establish a mentorship programme for young pharmacists, recognise senior pharmacists and advocate improve working conditions and professional recognition.
He promised to constructively engage government, health institutions and other relevant stakeholders on pharmacists’ representation in healthcare decision-making, welfare and career opportunities, and proper collaboration with PCN and other health professional associations.
He emphasised that, his administration would build systems that outlive him, through prudent financial management, periodical financial reports, creation of income-generating projects not dependent only on check-off dues, and training of the next generation of leaders.
“I want to be remembered as the chairman that built systems that outlived me,” he said.
He assured members that his administration would sustain and improve on the achievements of his predecessor to leave the branch stronger than he met it.
Earlier in his outgoing address, the immediate past Chairman, Dr. Lawal Muhammed, thanked congress for choosing Pharm. Michaels as his successor.
He said he sees good leadership qualities in him and pledged to support his administration to succeed. Even as he called on members to support the new executives to take the body to the next level.
Other new executives are: Pharmacists Olusunle Olusegun as Vice Chairman, Ebenezer Osasuna as General Secretary John Medewase – Assistant General Secretary, Samson Ogedengbe as PRO, Habib Musa – Financial Secretary and Victoria Ajah as Treasurer.
