By Yunus S Saliu
Directorate of the National Pharmaceuticals Services (NPS) of the Ministry of Health in collaboration with the University of The Gambia (UTG, Thursday, 4th April 2024 held a validation forum to validate the PharmD Curriculum of the University of The Gambia. The validation forum was held at the MetzyResidence Hotel, Kotu.
The forum was attended by different experts from the Ministry of Health, Pharmaceutical Systems Africa Permanent Secretary, member of the health select committee of the National Assembly, officials from the university, and Doctors among other healthcare practitioners.
Presiding over the validation exercise, Mr. Banbanding Sabally, Deputy Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Health, expressed gladness to preside over the validation exercise on behalf of the Honourable Minister of Health, Dr. Modou LaminSamateh.
The exercise, he said, was important in many folds thus in the recent manpower assessment conducted in the country “pharmacy to population ratio is less than 0.02% or index this is not acceptable. As a result, the Minister of Health deemed it necessary to come up with certain strategies to address this, and one such strategy is to ensure that we produce pharmacists locally.”
He noted that some three years ago, this engagement started with the University of the Gambia spearheaded by the Minister of Health and other key stakeholders like the Pharmacy Council, and the Pharmaceutical Society of The Gambia.
“All these resulted in the ministry approaching donor partners to come to our aid and provide us with needed health so as to commence the School of Pharmacy at the UTG. World Bank through the current project in the Ministry of Health on the health system strengthening provided funding for the consultancy, to draft the curriculum, and Pharmaceutical Systems Africa (PSA) was selected through a bidding process,” the deputy PS narrated.
However, he assured the gathering that the documents would stand the test of time as it was meticulously done and every effort was put into it to ensure that it reflected what the country needed.
He expounded on the importance of the health system and how they complement each other as they provide the unique responsibility of providing drug information and showing that drugs are optimal use.
“The Ministry made no mistake to ensure that this process is done and done well. The Minister of Health and the team are firmly behind this process. And you want to ensure that it goes until we see the implementation. This is just the start, having the curriculum is one. What began so that is fully implemented is the ultimate goal. And the ministry is ready to do that with the government of the Gambia,” he further assured them.
He reiterated that the country has a scarcity of pharmacists and this was exposed in recent times as the country has its bad experiences with acute kidney injuries (AKI). “All this exposes the fact that we need pharmacists in their good number to serve in various areas. So as to ensure that drugs are available in quality,” he added.
The Deputy Permanent Secretary subsequently thanked all those behind the initiative from the executive, the Ministry of Health led by Minister Samateh and his team, the Pharmacy Council, the Medicine Control Agency, the Medical and Dental Council, and others that have contributed to the development of the document.
He extended government appreciation to other partners that have taken part in the exercise, more so, the University of The Gambia.
The National Assembly Health Select Committee member, Hon Gibir Mballow, thanked all the pharmacists who have contributed to the realization of the document, confessing “We never thought that this is going to happen. We thought they have failed in their responsibility because this is a profession that we expect them to lead.”
He applauded the President of The Gambia, His Excellency Adama Barrow who had promised to give more support to make sure that this is implemented.
Members of the consultancy firm – Pharmaceutical Systems Africa (PSA) included Prof Mahama Duwiejua who served as the Team Lead and Advocacy, Dr. Shelby Kemper, Project Coordinator and Technical Writing Specialist, Prof Noel Wannang, Subject Matter Expert, Dr Lloyd Matowe, Quality Assurance Specialist