21 dispensing assistants were recently certificated at a colourful ceremony held at the Royal Victoria Teaching Hospital (RVTH) conference hall.

Speaking at the graduation ceremony, Essa Marenah, the principal pharmacist, RVTH, revealed that the Dispensing Assistant Programme has been running for over two decades by the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare in collaboration with Royal Victoria Teaching Hospital (RVTH) through the Pharmacy Department.

He further pointed out that this batch of trainees  started their progamme in November 2007 and completed in July 2009, adding that the programme was divided into 5 modules with theory, practical sessions and clinical attachment in each module.

 Marenah also added that the theory covers so many areas of pharmaceutical science, which include pharmacy law and ethics, drug information sources, pharmacy practices, good dispensing practice, dosage forms, basic human anatomy and physiology, microbiology, therapeutics and drug management. The practical sessions he added cover productions of various dosage forms such as syrup, creams, ointments, antiseptic solutions and eye drops.

For his part, Jimmy Olu Coker, the president of West Africa Postgraduate College of Pharmacists, commends the graduates for going through an intensive course. He was however quick to remind them of their profession  which he said  is very demanding, citing that doctors will need their services, and urging them to interact, share experiences and ideas together. He explained  that pharmacy is the last entry of patient and urged them to be patience with the  patients. "If you don't understand any prescription, you have to go back to the prescriber, never make any assumption, you must go by the ethics to avoid giving wrong prescription," he emphasized. He finally urged them to work hard, and as a team.

Markieu Janneh-Kaira, the chief pharmacist, National Pharmaceutical Services, buttressed the statement made by the previous speakers, urging them to have respect for authority.  The speakers included  Bakanding Sabally, principal pharmacist, RVTH, who also chaired the ceremony; Batch Samba Conteh, chief public relations officer, who represented the director of Health Services. Yadicon Jammeh, the best female student delivered the vote of thanks on behalf of the graduates. The two best students, Yadicon Jammeh for the females and Tijan Jallow for the males were awarded prices for their dedication and hard work.