The Kwara State Government has expressed its readiness to partner with the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) and other stakeholders in the health sector to improve the quality of life of the people.
Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq the state governor, represented by his deputy, kayode Alabi stated this when he received the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria led by its President, Mazi Sam Ohuabunwa on a courtesy call at the Government House, Ilorin.
He explains that the importance of PSN in quality health care delivery could not be over emphasized and called on Stakeholders in the health sector to play critical and vital role in the fight against drug abuse in Nigeria.
The Deputy Governor states that the government would collaborate with the Society to stop drug abuse and misuse of drugs in the Society, as he even implored members of the Society to be efficacious in the high rate of misused drugs as it is really consuming the lives of Nigerians.
While appreciating the PSN for the visit, the Deputy Governor pledged the state government’s commitment for partnership and called on the Federal Government and the National Assembly to put up policies that would make Pharmacists to hold critical posts in the health sector, restating the Government commitment of making life better for Kwarans.
Earlier, the President of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria, Pharmacist Ohuabunwa Sam congratulated Governor, Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq and his deputy, Kayode Alabi on their election and inauguration and prayed God to protect and guide them to achieve success.
Pharmacist Sam says the society is ready to partner with the state government to control drug misuse and abuse to improve healthcare delivery in the state.
The PSN President called on the State government to expand and upgrade the essential drugs programme to meet the health need of the people among others.
He pledges to partner with the government to bring health care delivery closer to the people and recommended that Pharmacists in the state should be adequately taken care of and man the various health facilities.
Meanwhile, the state Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq has called on the Nigerian youths to shun drug abuse and other vices that could affect them from realizing their potentials.
Abdulrazaq, made the call when he received members of the Scouts Association of Nigeria, Kwara State Chapter, led by its Commissioner,Deacon Olabisi Afolayinka, at the Government House, Ilorin.
The governor, recalled his days as a Scout boy in the Capital School Kaduna, he noted that the association had contributed to nurturing youths becoming good citizens and contributing to the development of the society.
He says: “This is an association that prepares youth on how to be good citizens and how to relate with fellow citizens. These are virtues that the youths should maintain today. In our days, there was no rampant cases of drug abuse.”
He urges the youths to use their energy for productive ventures and join the scouts to make positive contributions to the society.
The Governor who was announced as the Ambassador of Peace of the Association, promised to live up to expectations by giving the necessary support to the body through relevant government agencies
Olabisi Afolayanka, earlier in his remarks, explained that the constitution of the body automatically makes the governor of any state its patron and the President its grand patron.
He commends Abdulrazaq for the audience extended to the body, saying that was the first time any governor was hosting them in Kwara State for the past 21 years.
Adding that, the association had been founded to build young boys and girls to make useful contributions to the country, saying that cultism and other vices were not known in schools in the past when Scouts held sway.
He urges the governor to support the association to carry out its mandates in Kwara State.
SIKIRAT SHEHU, Ilorin
