By Kemi Olatunde

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Ondo State College of Health Technology, Akure has inducted 34 Pharmacy Technicians at the third induction ceremony of the profession.

The State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Banji Awolowo Ajaka, said that the 21st-century healthcare service delivery requires all hands on deck to provide quality medical health services to the general populace to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG).

While lamenting the dearth of qualified personnel in the health sector, he said the State Governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, has been able to weather the storm by training qualified medical personnel across various cadres.

He noted that the induction of 34 Pharmacy technicians in the school was a milestone in the pharmaceutical sub-sector of the health industry.

The Commissioner, represented by the Permanent Secretary of his Ministry, Pharm. (Mrs) Folukemi Aladenola, advised the inductees to eschew sharp practices and not toy with human lives.

He commended the management of the College and the Pharmaceutical Registration Council of Nigeria for putting in the needed work required to shape the young inductees and counting the school worthy of accreditation, respectively.

He enjoined the inductees to embrace hard work, peace and quality healthcare delivery.

While giving the award of excellence to the best-graduating student, Miss Okunola Oluwasikemi Mercy, the Permanent Secretary, promised to monitor and support her as she progressed to the higher institution.

The college’s provost, Dr. Felix Olawoye, said the induction appreciated the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (PCN) and the entire management and staff of the college.

The Registrar of the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria

(PCN) Pharm. Ibrahim Babasheu Ahmed, represented by Pharm. Kingsley Ehinwosigbe noted that the Pharmacy Technician Certificate was acceptable for direct entry into pharmacy programmes in Nigerian universities.

He stressed that the PCN was also looking at situating the Technicians at all levels of pharmaceutical service delivery from primary to tertiary.