The Special Adviser (SA) to Imo State Governor on Public Safety, Hon. Prince Ugochukwu Nzekwe has initiated a partnership program with drug vendors, who sell prepackaged, over-the-counter pharmaceutical products.
According to Hon. Nzekwe, the public safety partnership became necessary because the medicine retail outlets are the main access points for many health-care products and services and are also consulted for advice and diagnosis, particularly by poor, urban and rural people with limited access to formal health services.
In a program that is taking him round the state to interface with pharmacists, Hon. Nzekwe insisted that drug vendors can implement guidance and best practice in response to the rapidly changing COVID-19 pandemic to ensure both customers and staff safety.
He highlighted the concerns of the Imo State Government in the area of reducing interactions with customers, such as when handing them their medicines or when taking payments for prescriptions. “Other measures, such as encouraging patients to pay using contact-less payment, (fund transfers) where possible, or placing money in baskets/bowls, may further reduce the need for physical contact”, he maintained.
In the area of Communicating with patients, the Public Safety Adviser harped on the need to advice customers on how best to manage their health during covid19, who to contact if patients are concerned about their symptoms, and ensuring that they get all the information needed, while encouraging improvement in the customer perception of the covid19 pandemic.
