September 25th is World 🌎 Pharmacists Day
Interlude :
✓ The “Father of Pharmacy ” is AELIUS GALENIUS ( a.k.a Galen of Pergamon ) ~ a Greek physician, surgeon and philosopher in the Roman Empire. He is still associated with galenicals.
✓ Pharmacists are the most accessible healthcare professionals. For example in the US and most countries of the world > 90% of people live within 5 miles or less of a Pharmacy (Pharmacist)
✓ The inventors of Coca-Cola ( John Pemberton), Pepsi ( Dr Pepper) and Ginger Ale ( Charles Alderton) were all Pharmacists.
As the global voice & largest body of clinical pharmacists on the continent of Africa, the African Society of Clinical pharmacists ( ASOCLIP) is proud to participate in this year’s World Pharmacists Day, which is also the foundation year of ASOCLIP ( year 2025 ), , and to further the shared goal of increased Pharmacists’ involvement in the betterment of patients’ health , and their recognition for such services.
ASOCLIP is proud to join the International Pharmaceutical Federation ( FIP ) campaigns on acknowledging how Pharmacists are transforming healthcare around the globe in general , and in Africa in particular. From manufacturing of drugs in Pharmaceutical Industries to direct patient care in hospitals, through community pharmacies to academia, the unique role of pharmacists have been more palpable than ever before, and no one is left out.
ASOCLIP salutes and applauds all Pharmacists who have tirelessly continued to advance human health on the Front Lines through the various areas of specialization within the profession such as infectious disease pharmacy specialists, Paediatriç pharmacy specialists, Clinical oncology Pharmacists, mental health and psychiatric Pharmacists, Respiratory Pharmacists, cardiology Pharmacy specialists etc etc, as well as all generalist clinical pharmacists .
During the COVID 19 pandemic, we have also not forgotten how Pharmacists swung into action to ensure that life saving medicines, vaccines, personal protective equipment ( PPE ), hand sanitizers and general heath information were available even at the grass roots.
ASOCLIP hereby invites colleagues and our members from our currently over 18 different African Countries ( … and still counting ) to join hands with us and the FIP in the campaign with the Theme: Think Health, Think Pharmacist and reminding decision makers world wide and the public of how the role of pharmacists in meeting health needs remains crucial for building healthier communities everywhere and most importantly on the African continent.
We must not fall to remind the world , and African leaders in particular, that to truly think health, you must think Pharmacists, and there is no known substitute for the Pharmacist as far as healthcare is concerned, except if drugs will not be needed.
We also need to celebrate the birth of ASOCLIP and the enthusiasm being expressed by Pharmacists from many African countries including Nigeria, Ghana, Republic of Niger, Ethiopia, Kenya, Cameroun, Togo, Algeria, Uganda, Mauritania, South Africa, Zambia etc who have all joined and are participating actively.
We also recognize our African brothers and sisters in other continents such as Europe and America who have also found it worthy to join us in ASOCLIP to advance human health and clinical pharmacy in African Countries and beyond.
It worth remembering how pharmacy profession has evolved and advanced towards providing the best care possible for the sick and even the health.
Though obsolete now, Pharmacists were previously known as Chemists and/ druggists, and then dispensers, and finally Pharmacists. That also chronicles how their training evolved from about six months Pharmaceutical Chemists certificate ( PhC) , to diploma certificate ( about 2 years) . Then to Bachelor of Science ( BSc ) degree of about 4 years in the university ( usually classified), and then to 5 years ( Bachelor of Pharmacy, BPharm) degree unclassified, and then to the now six year doctor of pharmacy ( PharmD ) degree or its equivalent in places such as the UK’s MPharm being the first professional degree..
Just as the education and training for Pharmacists kept evolving, so also their roles in healthcare.
Today the role of the pharmacist has shifted significantly from being medicine (product ) centered, to being patient centered ( focused), but it is still founded in Pharmaceutical Sciences so that creative scientists , who work in usual and unusual places are produced.
As Pharmacists are now uniquely trained towards better patient care, they now engage in direct patient care by means of a special type of clinical care known globally as Pharmaceutical Care, while this aspect of pharmacy in which Pharmacists deal holistically and directly focusing on patient care is known as Clinical Pharmacy..
From medication therapy management and comprehensive medication management through collaborative drug therapy monitoring, pharmacis in many regions now engage in Supplementary or independent prescribing, as well as in collaborative management of chronic disease conditions, or treatment of common ( minor ailments).
ASOCLIP also appreciate the coming together of different clinical pharmacists across the continents of the world.
For example in Europe, there is the European Society of Clinical Pharmacy ( ESCP ), as well as the UK clinical pharmacy Association ( UKCPA).
In America there is the American College of clinical pharmacy ( ACCP ).
In Asia or Saudi Arabia precisely, there is the Saudi Society of Clinical Pharmacy ( SSCP).
IIt is noteworthy that the South Africa Society of Clinical Pharmacy was established in 2010 in Southern Africa.
The Clinical Pharmacists Association of Nigeria (CPAN), came into existence in October 2019, and is the first of its kind in West Africa.
On behalf of all Clinical Pharmacists on the soil of the continent of Africa, ASOCLIP says happy world Pharmacists Day 2025.
Happy Celebration 🎉
If you are not a pharmacist and you are not physically close to any Pharmacist today as we celebrate, we will suggest that you can still give them a virtual hug as you react to ASOCLIP Post wherever you see it today or during the entire World pharmacy week.
Whisper thanks to your pharmacist for assisting in taking care of your health needs.
#ASOCLIPWPD2025
#WPD2025
To join ASOCLIP as a pharmacist, kindly contact via WhatsApp:
+227 90 96 53 39,
+233 24 482 5108,
+234 803 723 3500,
+256 779 816896, or
+234 8033 367881.
( WhatsApp Chats Only )
