West Africa’s first female Professor of Pharmacy, Distinguished Professor Cecilia Igwillo, kicked off the 10th Annual UNILAG Health Week with a magisterial delivery of a lecture on Medication Safety.
The President of the West African Postgraduate College of Pharmacists, 2021/2023 (WAPCP) defined Medication Safety as freedom from accidental injury during the course of medication use.
“Medication Safety is a fundamental tool when the delivery of quality healthcare is of utmost importance. It is a subject that falls in the domain of Pharmacovigilance. It is central to the overall quality of the health system of any nation, because unsafe care increases cost, reduces efficiency, and directly compromises health outcomes and patient perception of the health system.”
The Distinguished Professor noted that in a health system where Medication Safety is compromised, Medication Errors (ME’s) will be rife, with their attendant consequences on patients’ lives. She identified the causes of Medication Errors as: incorrect diagnosis, prescribing errors, dose miscalculations, poor drug distribution practices, incorrect drug administration, failed communication, and lack of patient education.
Distinguished Professor Igwillo enumerated major stakeholders in the health system of any country and their respective roles in ensuring Medication Safety.
“From the Government, which has the basic responsibility to strengthen and incentivise the health system to the patients’ relatives who have the obligation to observe the patient’s response to care, there is a layer upon layer of stakeholders who must work hand-in-hand to guarantee a safe and qualitative health system”.
The Provost of the College of Medicine, Idi-Araba, Professor David Oke represented the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Folasade Ogunsola, FAS, at the event.
The Health Week continues on Thursday, December 1, 2022 with the commemoration of the World AIDS Day and ends on Friday, December 2, 2022 with a Health Exhibition and Free Medical Screening at the frontage of the Medical Centre.
DAY 2 OF THE HEALTH WEEK: PHOTO STORIES
In continuation of the Health Week and in commemoration of the World AIDS Day 2022, members of the Medical Centre embarked on a sensitisation walk around the campus. Below are pictures of the day’s activities:
