…Essential List For Children Will Ensure Appropriate Therapeutic Interventions.
By John Nwokocha, Abuja
Dr. Osagie Ehanire, Minister of Health on Friday in Abuja launched the ‘7th Edition of Nigeria Essential Medicines List’ and ‘1st Edition of Nigeria Essential Medicines List for Children.’
The Minister while launching the two publications which he described in the ‘Foreword’ to the publications as “veritable tool in the healthcare delivery system which forms the fulcrum for the treatment of various medical conditions prevalent in the country,” added that the publications are the ‘Nigeria Essential Medicines List for Adults’ (7th Edition, 2020) and ‘Nigeria Essential Medicines List for Children’ (1st Edition, 2020).
The 7th Edition of the ‘Nigeria Essential Medicines List for Adults’ is “the outcome of several deliberations and consultations by various experts and stakeholders in the healthcare delivery system.”
According to Ehanire, the Expert Therapeutic Groups of the National Drug Formulary (NDF)/Essential Drug List (EDL) Committee “have meticulously evaluated the safety, efficacy, quality, as well as the cost effectiveness of new medicines incorporated into this seventh edition for the treatment of various clinical conditions.
He disclosed that of the ‘Nigeria Essential Medicines List for Children’ (NEMLc, 1st Edition, 2020), the NDF/EDL developed the maiden edition of the list for Children in line with the UN Commission on Life-saving Commodities (UNCoLSC) which advocates for the need to pay special attention to the health of children and women as special populations.”
The Minister also said that the development of the essential list for children will ensure the appropriate therapeutic interventions to children as envisaged by the 2007 Model List of Essential Medicines for Children by WHO.
Ehanire in a statement by Olujimi Oyetomi, Director, Public Relations in the health ministry based his strength on the WHO submission and wrote that the publication contains “list of safe medicines for children up to 12 years of age; the most cost-effective options for key health problems and are useable with the little additional health resources.”
The event was organized by the Food and Drug Services Department of the ministry in collaboration with Development partners.
Representing the minister at the launch of the publications, was Dr OmobolanleOlowu, Director for Public Private Partnership/Diaspora Unit of Federal Ministry of Health. Also present was Prof Ambrose Isahwho, immediate past Chairman of NDF/EDL Review Committee.
Dr. KazadiMulombo, Walter the Head of Mission and Representative of the World Health Organization Nigeriawho was represented said that “The first edition of the WHO Model Essential Medicines List was released in 1977 with 208 individual medicines. Essential medicines are those that satisfy the priority health care needs of the population. They are selected with due regard to disease prevalence and public health relevance, evidence of clinical efficacy and safety, and comparative costs and cost-effectiveness.”
Walter added that “The model is intended to guide the development of national and institutional essential medicine lists which reflects the national disease profile.”He commended and congratulated the Honorable Minister of Health and his team for sustaining this lofty idea and on the launch of the 7th edition of the Nigeria Essential Medicine List for Adults and the Maiden edition of the Nigeria Essential Medicine List for Children” and remarked that “The WHO Model Essential Medicine List is evolving from just being a list but to a more robust tool that provide technical guidance in the rational use of medicine. The latest edition, Dr. Walter said, includes the AWaRe Classification of Antibiotics to groups of Access, Watch and Reservesto emphasize the importance of their optimal uses and potential for antimicrobial resistance.”
On its part, the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria Foundation (PSNF) stated that “Today’s event is indeed significant, as it brings to fore the aspiration of the FMoH especially the Department of Food & Drugs Services and indeed the government of Nigeria in strengthening the supply chain and providing quality medicines for Nigerians.”The provision and availability of medicines, the Society said,“can only be guaranteed by the appropriate selection of medicines needed by the populationas the government through its policies expands access to healthcare.”
“It is gratifying that attention was focused on the inclusion of innovative medicines like Depot MedroxyProgesterone Acetate Sub-Cutaneous (DMPA-SC) which encourages Self Care and gives women of child bearing age the power to make informed choices through a varied contraceptive mix. Furthermore, the development of the maiden edition of the NEMLc is a testament to the fact that the vulnerable, particularly children, are of top priority in the agenda of the government.
As a formidable partner, the PSNF through the PACFaH and PAS projects has supported the Ministry and the department in numerous ways: Notable is the strengthening of the Treatment Guidelines from 2014 till date. We are confident that this cordial relationship will continue to wax stronger and beyond the present.” PSNF said.
