A world renowned cancer researcher,
Professor Isa Marte Hussaini, has called for greater commitment on the
part of the government to the funding of research and development in the
country...
Stating this during the induction of six
distinguished professionals at the Nigeria Academy of Pharmacy in Lagos
recently, he said inadequate funding was still a big challenge for
research and development in Nigeria, as well as lack of constant power
supply and non- availability of reagents which are often bought from the
United States or the United Kingdom.
“We need more research grants in our
country; it is not about the personnel but the tools to work with. All
over the world, there are Nigerians who have distinguished themselves in
the field of medicine,” Hussaini lamented.
Hussaini whose cancer research is
exploring the use of local herbs in cancer therapy reminded the audience
that “cancer is the second leading cause of death globally, the first
being cardiovascular diseases with 8.2 million deaths reported worldwide
as at 2012. Sadly, a lot of the research grants in Nigeria are focused
on deaths arising from preventable diseases like Malaria, TB when we
should really be funding ground breaking research on cancer. We have
seen fruitful evidence of the use of local herbs in the management of
cancer in Nigeria.”
The President, Nigeria Academy of
Pharmacy, Prince Julius Adelusi-Adeluyion his part, noted that those who
were being inducted at the programme were people with strong passion
for scientific research. “These are tested professionals who appreciate
the value of research in fast-tracking the social and economic progress
of societies.”
On his part, President, Pharmaceutical
Society of Nigeria, (PSN), Ahmed Yakasai, said the body was committed to
making Nigeria the hub of pharmaceutical production and research in
Africa.
“Through a well-tailored plan which we
have broken down to short, medium and long-term plan, we are looking to
promote pharmaceutical manufacturing in Nigeria and examining the
possibilities of producing about 70 per cent of what the industry needs
especially the Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients while importing the
remaining 30 per cent.”
Yakassai also announced the
establishment of the PSN Foundation which would be launched in Abuja on
the 17th of October 2017 while noting that the 90th celebration of the
PSN scheduled to hold in Umuahia would be a grand, epoch making occasion
for all pharmacists.
Those inducted include Director-General,
Nigerian Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development, NIPRD,
Prof. Karniyus Gamaniel, former deputy provost, University of Lagos,
Prof. Herbert Coker; one-time national pharmaceutical advisor, World
Health Organisation, Dr. Ogori Taylor; first African woman to bag the
fellowship of American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists (AAPS)
in the US and Professor of Pharmaceutics, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye;
Pharmacy Residency Director, Mercer University College at Atlanta
Medical Center, Dr. Teresa Pounds and communications management
consultant and CEO XLR8, Calixthus Okoruwa.
No comments: