Niger Speaker promises to curb quacks drug hawkers.
The Speaker of the Niger State House of Assembly, Rt Honourable Abdulmalik Sarkindaji has been honoured with an award of Excellent by the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria ( PSN) in recognition of his leadership role in the promulgation of legislative bills aimed at enhancing health care delivery to the people of the state.
Receiving the award in Minna on Thursday, the Speaker described the award as a motivation and encouragement to perform more in his service to the people of the state.
He explained that the legislation to check the excesses of quacks in the health sector especially those in medicine and pharmacy professions will soon be promulgated.
According to him, ” the Niger State House of Assembly has began the process to enact a law to regulate the operations of private clinics/ hospitals and pharmaceutical sector. We are also very keen in eradicating the activities of drugs hawkers and drug abuse among the youths in the state. The private member bill sponsored by one of us who is a pharmacist, will be ready soon. I am sure that when the bill is finally signed into law, the quacks in the health sector will be in trouble because we will deal with them according to the law”.
The expressed dismay over the activities of quacks and illiterates who parade themselves in the villages across the state, as doctors and Pharmacists, adding that in most cases the innocent people seeking medical attention and drugs for their ailments patronise them and suffer the consequences.
Presenting the award, the Niger State Chairman of PSN, Pharmacist Yakubu Maji Isah described the Speaker of the Niger State House of Assembly, Sarkindaji as a dependable allied and partner in the efforts to ensure a healthy society free from drugs abuse.
According to him, ” The Honourable Speaker has made immeasurable contributions to the development of the Niger state health sector particularly in the area of ensuring the enactment of appropriate legislations which have enhanced both primary and secondary healthcare delivery to the door steps of citizens in Niger state. It is a fact that with his legislative support, the war against drug abuse, illegal drug hawkers and quackery has begun to record tremendous success”.
Meanwhile the state chapter of PSN has inaugurated a new leadership led by Pharmacist Ohida Aminu as Chairman. Toying Odugure emerged as Secretary while Abubakar Ndakara is the new Public Relations Officer ( PRO).
