News Archive 2004
19 June, 2004
Partnerships Reinforce Global and Community Efforts
in TB/HIV Management
According to WHO Director-General Dr Lee Jong-wook, Tuberculosis
(TB) can be cured and HIV managed with effective treatment.
The Commonwealth Pharmaceutical Association (CPA) and the International
Pharmaceutical Students’ Federation (IPSF) have recently issued
a Joint Statement on TB/HIV. The Statement, “Partnerships
– Key to Improving Health Outcomes for Tuberculosis/HIV Patients”,
highlights the advantages of early diagnosis and treatment when
partnered with on-going support from healthcare providers, in achieving
effective health outcomes. Launched in May 2004 during the Commonwealth
Health Ministers Meeting in Geneva by the Commonwealth Secretariat’s
Head of Health, Dr Dula De Silva, CPA President Mrs Grace Allen
Young and IPSF President Mr Simon Bell, the Statement encourages
pharmacists and pharmacy students to be more proactive in the prevention
and management of both TB and HIV and to partner and support sufferers
over their long course of treatment.
Presidents of both organizations agreed that promotion of voluntary
counselling and testing (VCT) was the important first step towards
improved outcomes for sufferers of TB/HIV. “Thirteen million
people around the world are co-infected with TB and HIV but many
millions more are unaware of their health status”, said Mrs
Allen Young, “we must promote and support collaboration between
organizations at the national and regional levels to increase public
awareness of VCT. Pharmacists, as accessible community health professionals
have a vital role to play not only as medication providers but as
community health educators,” she said.
“IPSF is looking forward to working with CPA on joint participation
in World Tuberculosis Day and World Aids Day,” said IPSF President
Simon Bell, “our combined membership will assist us to target
our message to the most vulnerable groups in the most vulnerable
communities,” he said.
For more information contact:
John Bell,
Secretary,
Commonwealth Pharmaceutical Association,
Email: john.bell@hcn.net.au 25 April, 2004
Pharmacists Focus on Children for a Malaria Free Future
Malaria continues to be one of the most serious of all health issues
confronting the world today.
Despite the fact that malaria is both preventable and treatable,
in Africa malaria is the number one killer of children: an African
child dies from malaria every 30 seconds.
Commonwealth Pharmaceutical Association President, Mrs Grace Allen
Young said that while children, especially those under five, are
the main victims of malaria, they have little opportunity to advocate
on their own behalf or to demand the right to protection and good
health.
Speaking on the occasion of Africa Malaria Day, April 25, Mrs Allen
Young said that within the Roll Back Malaria theme for 2004 of “A
Malaria Free Future”, pharmacists were working to increase
the awareness of malaria amongst children.
“These children can in turn influence others in their communities
– their parents, their carers and other adults,” Mrs
Allen Young said. “We will be creating the next generation
of malaria-aware adults, who will be well equipped to advocate for
malaria resources and action to protect themselves against the disease.”
Each year in the tropical and sub-tropical regions of the world,
malaria causes more than 300 million acute illnesses and around
2 million deaths.
Since 2001, the Commonwealth Pharmaceutical Association, in conjunction
with the International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP), and the
World Health Organisation (WHO), has established successful malaria
awareness campaigns in Zimbabwe, Ghana and Tanzania and will be
implementing a similar program in Guyana during 2004.
In supporting the WHO 3X5 Initiative, Commonwealth Pharmaceutical
Association (CPA) President, Mrs Grace Allen Young, called on governments
and legislators throughout the Commonwealth to recognise the expertise
of pharmacists in ensuring the best possible outcomes of treatment
with antiretroviral (ARV) drugs. According to Mrs Allen Young, pharmacists
are in an ideal position to facilitate access to medicines and optimise
treatment.
Speaking on the occasion of World Aids Day, Mrs Allen Young said
“our Association applauds the WHO goal of ensuring 3 million
HIV and AIDS sufferers receive treatment by 2005.” Pharmacists
are an integral part of all communities, she said, they are accessible,
committed and caring. Pharmacists are not only providers of medicines
but also providers of reliable and accurate information, helping
patients to understand why, how and when to take their medicines
to optimise benefits.
“The role of pharmacists as community health educators and
support counsellors will be crucial”, said Mrs Allen Young,
“if we are to meet the 3X5 goal”.
The CPA President, together with the Commonwealth Deputy Secretary-General,
Mr Winston Cox, launched the CPA “Ocho Rios Statement on HIV/AIDS”
in Abuja, Nigeria during the lead up to the Commonwealth Heads of
Government Meeting. The Statement is the outcome of an HIV/AIDS
Workshop attended by over 200 Commonwealth pharmacists, held in
Ocho Rios, Jamaica during August this year. “Pharmacists must
take a pro-active role at both national and community levels if
we are to have any impact on the pandemic,” reported Mrs Allen
Young. The Ocho Rios Statement supports the aims and initiatives
of the World Health Organisation and will assist in co-ordinating
strategies as pharmacists strive to facilitate access to treatment
for millions of HIV/AIDS sufferers.
CPA represents 43 national pharmaceutical associations throughout
the Commonwealth. It works to assist member organizations to strengthen
health infrastructures, to train healthcare professionals and support
staff in drug supply management and to train pharmacists to train
other healthcare workers in good pharmacy practice.
For more information contact:
John Bell,
Secretary,
Commonwealth Pharmaceutical Association,
Email: john.bell@hcn.net.au
Pharmacists are well positioned to fight the fear, shame and ignorance
associated with HIV/AIDS according to Commonwealth Pharmaceutical
Association (CPA) President, Mrs Grace Allen Young.
Mrs Allen Young was speaking on the occasion of World Aids Day
at the Commonwealth People’s Forum in Abuja, Nigeria in the
lead up to the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM)
2003 - 2004.
As well as being the primary legal custodians of medicines, pharmacists
are generally skilled communicators and health educators, said Mrs
Allen Young. They are often the most accessible of all health professionals,
she said.
They can play a vital role in breaking down the stigma and discrimination
often associated with the disease.
Pharmacists’ commitment to work collaboratively with governments
and other healthcare workers is outlined in the Ocho Rios Statement.
This Statement is the outcome of an HIV/AIDS Workshop conducted
by the Commonwealth Pharmaceutical Association in Ocho Rios, Jamaica,
in August this year, attended by over 200 pharmacists from throughout
the Commonwealth. The Statement identifies ways in which pharmacists
can be proactively involved, at the national and community levels,
in the fight against AIDS.
The Ocho Rios Statement was officially launched in Abuja by the
Commonwealth Deputy Secretary-General, Mr Winston Cox, together
with Mrs Allen Young and the President of the Pharmaceutical Society
of Nigeria, Mr Bob Uwaga.
“Our aim”, said Mr Uwaga, “is to encourage greater
public awareness of the discrimination faced daily by those living
with HIV and AIDS. As pharmacists”, he said, “we can
play a leading role by providing a supportive environment for sufferers
and their carers. When people feel safe within their communities,
they are more likely to take responsibility for their HIV status,
seek treatment and prevent transmission,” the President said.
For further information contact:
CPA Secretariat
John Bell
Honorary Secretary
Email: john.bell@hcn.net.au
“Pharmacists are well placed to influence health outcomes through
advice and counselling on adherence to therapy,” said Commonwealth
Deputy Secretary-General Mr Winston Cox.
Mr Cox was speaking at the eighth Commonwealth Pharmaceutical Association
(CPA) Conference in August this year.
Over 400 pharmacists from more than 40 Commonwealth countries attended
the Conference in Ocho Rios, hosted by the Pharmaceutical Society
of Jamaica.
Turning to HIV/AIDS, the subject of a special symposium and series
of workshops at the Conference, Mr Cox said that every country has
to take specific account of the impact of the disease on its current
activities and its plans for the future. As health care professionals
working at the front line, pharmacists see the ramifications of
HIV/AIDS as it affects the lives of HIV positive individuals and
their families.
Of special value is pharmacists’ ability to translate the
elements of national policies and guidelines into deliverables for
their clients, said Mr Cox.
“We all know that throughout the world, pharmacists are amongst
the most highly respected and trusted of all professions and, in
many cases, may be the first and perhaps the only source of health
care to communities”.
He said that pharmacists’ ability to influence the attitudes
and behaviours of patients is being more and more acknowledged.
The pharmaceutical care role takes cognisance of pharmacists’
special knowledge and ascribes to the pharmacist an important place
in therapeutics where not only the pathological condition is considered
but also other factors that are critical to securing the best outcome,
said Mr Cox.
The pharmacist’s role in the prevention and management of
HIV/AIDS has been described in “The Ocho Rios Statement”,
one of the outcomes of the Workshops at the CPA Conference.
The Statement was officially launched by Mr Cox, CPA President
Mrs Grace Allen Young and Mr Bob Uwaga President of the Pharmaceutical
Society of Nigeria, on the occasion of World Aids Day, at the People’s
Forum during the lead up to CHOGM 2003 - 2004, in Abuja, Nigeria.
For further information contact:
CPA Secretariat
John Bell
Honorary Secretary
Email: john.bell@hcn.net.au
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