BY RITA OYIBOKA
IN commemoration of World Pharmacists Day, the Young Pharmacists Group (YPG), Delta State, in collaboration with the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN), yesterday, held a medical outreach at the Holy Trinity Anglican Church, Asaba.
The outreach, which drew members of the congregation, provided free health services, including blood pressure checks, blood sugar tests, and deworming for both children and adults.
Speaking with The Pointer, the Deputy Coordinator of YPG, Delta State, Mrs. Chiamaka Abueme, explained that the programme was the grand finale of a series of activities lined up to mark the celebration.
“On Thursday, we visited different schools to sensitise pupils on drug use and misuse. Today (yesterday) being Sunday, we decided to round off the event with this outreach. Everybody here is a licensed pharmacist. Though the programme was engineered by the young pharmacists, our senior colleagues are also present to guide and support us,” she said.
Abueme emphasised the importance of the health checks carried out at the event. “We are here to check blood pressure and sugar levels, as well as deworm residents. Blood pressure, especially, is a silent killer. Many people are not aware they are hypertensive until it becomes critical, sometimes only when they slump. That is why outreaches like this are important, to catch cases early and refer people to hospitals if necessary,” she added.
She noted that the team provided Albendazole, an over-the-counter drug, for deworming, while critical health cases identified during the outreach would be referred to hospitals for further management.
Delivering a lecture at the event, Mr. Otuaga Michael of the Federal Medical Centre, Asaba, highlighted the need for regular health checks.
He urged residents to prioritise routine blood pressure and blood sugar monitoring, describing them as lifesaving practices.
“Many people neglect simple checks like BP and sugar levels until complications arise. Hypertension and diabetes can be managed if detected early, but once ignored, they can lead to stroke, kidney failure, or sudden death. Deworming, too, is critical because worm infestations weaken the body and affect overall health, especially in children. It should be done every six months. This outreach is about prevention, catching problems early before they worsen,” he said.
Beneficiaries of the outreach expressed gratitude to the organisers for bringing healthcare services closer to the community, noting that such initiatives were timely given the economic challenges many families face in accessing hospitals.
