UNESCO partners pharmacists association for attainment of UN goals in Nigeria

The read and earn federation for the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO REF) is partnering with the Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria (ACPN) towards the attainment of the UN global goals.

Speaking on Monday during a working visit to Adewale Oladigbolu, the national chairman of ACPN in Abuja, Abdulsalami Ladigbolu, the president of UNESCO REF, said the partnership is under the UNESCO REF strategic intervention programme-ALPHA (SIP-ALPHA).

Ladigbolu said the collaboration aims to advance the UN’s health-related global goals, with a spotlight on combating maternal mortality, epidemics, and the accessibility of essential healthcare services.

He said the partnership will also provide knowledge exchange, advocacy and sensitisation of communities on the need to be part of the global community towards the actualisation of the UN goals.

“The purpose of this communication is to seek a strategic partnership on health priority scheme, through knowledge exchange, advocacy and sensitisation of communities on the need to be part of the global community towards actualisation of united action’s goal 3,” he said.

“This is with emphasis on goal 3.1 by 2030, reduce the global maternal mortality ratio to less than 70 per 100,000 live births.

“Goal 3.3- by 2030, end the epidemics of AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria and neglected tropical diseases and combat hepatitis, water-borne diseases and other communicable diseases.

“Goal 3.5- Strengthen the prevention and treatment of substance abuse, including narcotic drug abuse.

“Goal 3.7- by 2030, ensure universal access to sexual and reproductive health-care services, including for family planning, information and education, and the integration of reproductive health into national strategies and programmes and others.”

Ladigbolu said the organisation works to prevent the increase of out-of-school children while also addressing the issue of climate change.

He added that there is also a need to achieve universal health coverage, including “financial risk protection, access to quality essential healthcare services and safe, effective, quality and affordable essential medicines and vaccines for all”.