UNIPORT HOSTS GLOBAL HEALTH PHARMACY COURSE AS PROF. DON TRAINS DELEGATES

Spirits were high, so much expectations, faces were full of smiles, as the 186 participants from different universities within South-East and South-South (including UNN, UNIUYO, MADONNA, DELSU, NDU, UNIZIK and ESUT) as well as practicing pharmacists headed straight to the Garden City of Port Harcourt to the only Unique University (UNIPORT) to join participants from the same school to partake of the knowledge rich workshop, Pharmacy Certificate Course in Global Health. The participants were warmly welcomed by the Dean of the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Professor Kio Abo who made everyone feel at home stating that the Vice Chancellor of the University, Prof. Ndowa Lale was fully aware of the event and gives his full approval and support. The Chairperson of the Reception committee, Miss Ekpoh Mfonobong also welcomed the crowd while assuring them that they will not remain the same after the training.


The two-day intensive course which lasted from the 9th to 10th of February 2017 took place at the Ebitimi Banigo Hall (for day 1) and Amatu Braide hall (for the 2nd day). The event featured seasoned speakers such as Prof. Don Eliseo Lucero-Prisno 111 (Associate Prof. of Public Health, Department of Public Health, Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University); Prof. Vincent Idemyor ( University of Illinois. College of medicine, Chicago, visiting Professor, UNIPORT) and Pharm. Aniekan Michael Ekpenyong (National Coordinator , Global Health Pharmacy Certificate Course; Pharmacy Director AB Global Health initiatives).
The participants were taken through 13 sessions of lectures where the following topics were treated: My Knowledge of Global Health, Introduction to Public Health, Global health Epidemiology, Global Health and Medicines, Initiatives and Research in Global Health, Medicines and Health systems, Global Health Dynamics, Global Health Economics workshop, Global Health: Today’s issues., Global Health Education, Navigating a career in Global Health.



Majority of the participants were young pharmacists and Pharmacy students who have a greater percentage of their lives ahead of them, hence the course was timely and the knowledge so acquired certainly will be utilized as a handy tool to effect a positive change in the health of the masses both within Nigerian and globally.

The course has gone a long way to open the eyes of the participants to the diseases that plague the world, the reason for variation in disease distribution across the globe and the way out. The course has served as an ophthalmic solution to alleviate the myopic state of some of the participants, enabling them to see beyond their locality into the larger world. The course infused into these vibrant elites the importance of research and data generation so as to have a quantitative evaluation of the health state of the people around the world.
The people left richer in knowledge, motivated in their minds and energized to put to use that which they have been equipped with; they could not help dropping hearty feed backs like:

"I learnt that determination is a key factor in achieving what you want to achieve, and it also opened my eyes and mind to many job opportunities in my field as well as making me want to delve into public health. Thanks Prof. Don."
Ezinne Ucheoma, (Fresh pharmacy graduate)

"This course further inspired my thoughts. Researches and self-development are key in attaining professional heights. Merci beaucoup Prof. Don."
Ekpoh Mfonobong, (fresh pharmacy graduate).

"Hi everyone.
I attended a global health pharmacy course just the other day at University of Port Harcourt and I must say I was thoroughly enlightened. The very able preceptor; Professor Don Elliseo certainly did his best in dissecting the very broad field; Global Health.
He reminded us of the bitter truth that we need to better get involved in all forms of research for that's where every innovation and development stems from. We need to grow our Africa for us using whatever means at our disposal.
His very amiable personality certainly would be valuable as I maintain a Mentor-Mentee relationship with him Don Elliseo.
The reception committee was indeed one in a million. Their consistent efforts to make everyone feel at home were very welcoming.
Improvements in logistics especially as regards sound and timeliness would indeed be appreciated.
Bottomline; Global Health Pharmacy course was a rewarding investment for me.”
Obinna Okoro Matthews.
(Pharmacist).

"Global health pharmacy course informed and inspired me to do more and be more. It also exposed some of the opportunities that abound in the world of global health.....A big thank you to Global health focus and AB global health initiatives, you guys inspire me!!!"
Erigo Chidinma. (Fresh Pharmacy graduate)

"So I was on the average knowledge of what global health pharmacy was all about like I always wanted to help people and I thought running a community Pharmacy was all I needed but after this global health pharmacy course organized by AB Global health initiative and lectured by prof. Dr Don Eliseo Lucero 111,I learnt a lot especially that I have a lot to learn about my profession and that I can do that by participating in conferences and forums like young professional program,forum for young health leaders,emerging voices even world health organization and I equally learnt the basis of choosing health interventions.
With this new found knowledge I’m definitely going to not open a community Pharmacy after school but will join this team in educating the world on the need for global health knowledge and how it will improve their lifestyle''
Eze Edith Chinonye.
Pharmacy Student.

" The course was so enlightening and inspiring, indeed, more Africans should delve into research as Africa is the home of many tropical diseases, we have the data right before us, why wait for foreigners to come do the research while we wait to read the published texts?..."
Ochuba Chikodili O.
Fresh pharmacy graduate.

‘’The course gave more light to our use in the society and ways to maximize our full potentials through Pharmacy, the host school did a great job…’’ Amaobong Bassey (pharmacy student, UNIUYO).
The time spent was indeed worthwhile! So much thanks to God Almighty for the success, we appreciate all the speakers, we are also appreciate the efforts of the South –east/South-south cohort Coordinator, Pharm. Sylvester Adeyemi; Pharm Idara Udodok (Cohort Secretary) and Pharm. Tobenna (Cohort Administrator)

A very big thanks to the members of the reception committee, Pharmaceutical Association of Nigerian Students (PANS) UNIPORT and everyone who made the event a successful one.


By Chikodili Ochuba

emir prof don prisno