The Over-The-Counter (OTC) Medicine Practitioners on Tuesday, 6th February 2024 inaugurated the Savannah regional executive committee.
The inauguration was held at the Damongo Community Center.
In attendance were Mr. Abdulai Mahama who represented the Municipal Chief Executive for West Gonja Municipal Assembly, the Savannah Regional Chief Pharmacists Mr. I.K Momori, the West Gonja Municipal Health Director Madam Gertrude Yentumi, the National President of OTC, Northern Region executives of OTC, and members of the Savannah Regional Over-The-Counter Medicine Practitioners.
Addressing the gathering in a welcome speech, the Chairman of the West Gonja District Over-The-Counter Medicine Practitioners Association, Mr Sumani Iddrisu Mohammed said the Savannah Region has seven districts, and most of them were affiliated with the Upper West Over-The-Counter Medicine Practitioners Association while the rest were affiliated with the Tamale regional association of Over-The-Counter Medicine Practitioners, therefore, there was the need to discuss between the two separate groups in the Savannah region to come together as a regional team to promote the smooth running of the Over-The-Counter Medicine Practitioners Association in the region.
Mr. Sumani Iddrisu further said that the creation of Savannah Regional Over-The-Counter Medicine Practitioners Association in the region will foster susceptible implementations for the benefits and steadier running of the Association.
According to him, Nominations for those who have experience to run the affairs of the Over-The-Counter Medicine Practitioners Association was done successfully and they have been given the nod to lead the association in the region.
Mr. Sumani Iddrisu added the selection of the executives was carefully done to ensure that each district of the region has a representation.
Mr. Sumani Iddrisu Mohammed from West Gonja was sworn in as the Chairman, Mr. Jato Karim from Central Gonja as Vice Chairman, Mr. Kantama A. Ganiu from West Gonja as Secretary, Mr. Mohammed Issahaku from North Gonja as Deputy Secretary, Mr. Awudu J. Mbonwura from West Gonja as Treasurer, Mr. Janda Aliu Mahama from East Gonja as the financial secretary, Mr. Fuseini Mohammed from Sawla/Tuna/Kalba as the Organizer, Mr. Adam Iddrisu from Bole as the Deputy Organizer, and Nda Farouk as the Public Relations Officer (PRO).
The Council of Elders include Alhaji Osman from East Gonja, Alhaji Musha Mahama from Bole, Mr. James A. Apromex from North Gonja, Mallam Ibrahim Haruna from Central Gonja, and Mr. Richard K. Kontoh from West Gonja.
The national president of the Over-The-Counter Medicine Practitioners Association, Alhaji Hassan Couboo took the newly appointed executives and the council of elders through the swearing-in process.
According to him, the membership of the OTC is about 22,723 nationwide and that the association is not only to make profit but also to serve and bring quality healthcare access to the doorsteps of the people.
Alhaji Hassan admonished the members of the Savannah Regional branch of OTC to work together for the progress of the association and cease acquiring medicine from illegal and unregistered sources.
Alhaji also encouraged the executive committee and members of the association to always sacrifice for the betterment of the association and be actively involved in its meetings and decision-making, and strive hard to groom the association in the Savannah region to grow.
The national president of the Over-the-counter Medicine Practitioners also lamented that “Retired nurses both male and female who refuse to join the association but are operating Over-The-Counter medicine stores are those giving them problems as an association.
The Chief Pharmacist of Savannah Regional Health Directorate, Mr. I K Momori, on behalf of the Savannah regional health director, Dr. Joseph A. Nyuzaghl said healthcare delivery is prioritized with the people and not indulging in making money at all costs from customers therefore appropriate prescriptions of medicine should be given to the people and standard healthcare services should be capitalized.
The Savannah Regional Chief Pharmacists criticized the improper disposal of used and expired medical substances and implored better ways of disposing such substances in order not to endanger the lives of the people within the vicinity.
The Regional Chief Pharmacists also bemoaned the rise in the sale of drugs on the streets by nonqualified persons.
The Municipal Chief Executive(MCE) of the Damongo Municipality, Hon. Karim Musah Kusubari who was represented by the Human Resource Manager of the West Gonja Municipal Assembly Mr. Mahama Abdulai said the core responsibility of the Over-The-Counter Medicine Practitioners Association is to make healthcare delivery available and reachable.
According to him, the West Gonja Municipal Assembly has has provided health infrastructures and CHIPS compound to support and make healthcare services accessible.
Mr. Abdulai added that the Assembly is ready at all time to support the Over-The-Counter Medicine Practitioners Association to deliver quality healthcare to the people of West Gonja Municipality.
The Human Resource Manager of West Gonja Municipal Assembly also added that the Assembly is ready to make office accommodation available to the Pharmacy Council to establish an office in the Savannah Regional Capital to address challenges and improve service delivery of OTC.
Mr. Mahama Abdulai on behalf of the MCE for West Gonja Municipal Assembly encouraged members of the Over-The-Counter Medicine Practitioners Association to engage qualified and well trained persons to take charge of their various established shops.
Story Filed by: Musah Abdul Fatawu/Spearfm.com
