By Victor Nwegede, Abakaliki
The Ebonyi State government under the watch of Governor David Nweze Umahi has commended the management of the Model Institute of Health Science and Technology (MIHEST), Iboko in the Izzi Local Government Area of the state for having inducted the pioneer graduates of the institution into the profession of the Pharmacists Council of Nigeria, PCN.
The State Commissioner for Health, Dr Daniel Umezurike, through the Permanent Secretary of his ministry, Dr Boniface Ogbonnia Onwe, made the commendation on Thursday during the first induction ceremony of the graduates of the health institute at the school auditorium, Iboko.
Umezurike noted that the cadre of the newly inducted graduates was very scarce in the country, and expressed joy that an indigenous health institute has built a pack of pharmacy technicians in the state.
He advised them to be good ambassadors of the school, by performing well at their various places of engagement following their induction.
"We expect the newly inducted pharmacy technicians today from this school to be true ambassadors of this institute, so that, their performance will replicate the good image of the school and the state as well.
"We expect them to join the performing workforces. I'm sure that some can secure work in the private sector, some can establish on their own and then, whenever, there is an advertisement for employment, because I think we had advertised jobs before, they can always apply for they are now eligible to work both in the government and non-governmental pharmaceutical companies. I wish them well and congratulations to the school," the commissioner stated.
Performing the induction, the Registrar of the Pharmacists Council of Nigeria (PCN), Pharm Elijah Mohammed congratulated the graduands for their success in the last National Pre-Certification Examination (NPCE) held from August 31st to the September 2nd, 2021.
He noted that the NPCE commenced in 2017, with the participation of a total of five hundred and forty-four (544) candidates from eleven (11) schools of health technology across the country.
He said the number of the participating schools and students in the exam has increased, to the extent that the 2021 edition recorded total participation of two thousand four hundred and eighteen (2,418) candidates from sixty-one (61) schools of health technology.
He informed the newly inducted graduates that it was the National Pre-Certification Examination which they sat for and passed that led to their award of the Certified Pharmacy Technicians Certificate, and expressed confidence that with their requisite knowledge and skills, they would effectively tackle any challenge they may encounter in the course of their practice.
He disclosed that more universities including the University of Maiduguri, Borno State, University of Jos, Plateau State, University of Nigeria, Asuka in Enugu State, Ahmed Bello University, Zaria in Kaduna State, among others have begun keying into the Council's request for those who may wish to proceed to the university to study pharmacy as direct entry students, by admitting them as the Certified Pharmacy Technicians Candidates in the institutions.
While expressing the desire of the PCN to ensure that all approved Faculties of Pharmacy in Nigeria would commence in no distant future, Pharm Mohammed, said the Council has also looked into the practice of the Pharmacy Technicians in the country, by taking steps to properly situate the technicians at all levels of pharmaceutical service delivery, ranging from the primary to the tertiary healthcare level and community practice.
He added: "Currently, the Council structured the non-pharmacists practitioners in the patent medicine level into three tiers known as Tier Accreditation System. The Pharmacy Technicians are at the highest echelon of the three-tier accreditation with greater roles among the practitioners at the lower cadre. Some of the approved colleges of health technology are involved in the orientation and certification of the three tiers."
He said the PCN appreciated the management of the institution that produced the graduates for their commitment and support in training and mentoring them till their induction, calling the Nigerian government to give the professionals their right position in society.
Recall that the Rector of the MIHEST, Dr John Nkwuda in his address said the institute was established in 2017, with its approval by the State ministries of Education and Health, and equally registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission to run Its programmes.
He also stated that the academic activities of the institution started with the Pharmacy Technician Department in October 2018 and subsequently, Medical Image Processing (X-Ray Darkroom) Technician and Dispensing Optician came in, saying that a plan is ongoing to introduce more courses including Medical Laboratory Technician, Community Health Programmes, Environmental Health Programmes, among others.
Dr Nkwuda said that the institute was established to provide access to the professional and technical education that will serve the needs of the health care system, industries and empowerment.
He congratulated the pioneer graduates of the institute and urged them to continue to make the school proud while moving to the wide society to showcase their respective skills and talents.
Nkwuda, during the event, gave awards to the three graduates including Ambros Nnennaya, Elom Faith Ujunwa, and Rosemary Enim, for their excellent performance in their academics while in the institute.
The Rector equally gave free scholarship award to the two students, Ogboso Blessing Ngozi and Johnson Nwubvu Nwibo admitted into the institute from Nduobashi and Obakota villages of Onuenyim Ishieke community in Ebonyi Local Government Area of the state, whose people were massacred during the herdsmen attack in the area on 30th May 2021, as a way of supporting them for their rehabilitation.
In his part, the Chairman of the occasion, Pham (Dr) Moses Okoro who is the Director of Pharmacy Services in Ebonyi State also commended the Rector and other management of the institution, describing the induction of the graduates into the PCN, as the beginning of the success of the health institute with full assurance of his office to give them the needed assistance to actualise their dreams in the profession.
Meanwhile, Prince Andrew Ekpe Nwiga, who represented the President of the Oha Izhi President General, HRH Eze S.N Oketa has thanked the Rector of the Health Institute for fulfilling his promise to give free scholarship award to two students of the Onuenyim community.
Prince Nwiga, the Assistant Secretary of Oha Izhi Nnodo equally charged the newly inducted graduates to be good ambassadors of the school anywhere they found themselves in the society.
