The 149th inaugural lecture of the University of Benin (UNIBEN) has been delivered. The lecture titled: ‘The Clinical Pharmacologist: Sentry, Ombudsman, Arbiter and Custodian of Therapeutic Care in Health Care System’ was given last Thursday at the Akin Deko Auditorium of the university by Professor Ambrose Isah, a consultant in Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics.
Welcoming participants, the Vice Chancellor of the institution, Professor Friday Orumwense, who was represented the DVC (Administration) Professor Lawrence Ezemwonye, said over the years, the inaugural lectures of the university had been an avenue where scholars educate members of the university on their achievements in the field of research.
Delivering the lecture, Professor Isah said his interest in clinical pharmacology was spurred after reading a journal titled: ‘Adverse Drug Reaction Bulletin’ at the Professor Latunde Odeku Memorial Library of the University of Ibadan in 1977.
He stated that as an Arbiter, the clinical pharmacologist serves as a judge to the kinds of drugs entering the market.
“The role of the clinical pharmacologist is very important if we must have safe drugs in the society. As a custodian, the clinical pharmacologist is the caretaker of drugs and should monitor drug lifecycles. The clinical pharmacologist acts as an Ombudsman by regulating movement of drugs,” he said.
In his recommendations, he called on the government to immediately address cost drugs, taxes and tariff of medicine. He also appealed to the government to make drug information available to people.
According to him, there is the need for government to urgently support the National Agency for Food, Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC) with fund to carry out its roles regarding use of medicine.
Professor Isah also told the audience that his involvement in drug research led to the establishment of the Pharmacovigilance Centre at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH), which is the first of its kind in South-South Nigeria.
Oge Nwaobi, President of the UNIBEN Medical Students Association (UBEMSA) and Louis Aikorogie, National Vice-President, External Affairs of the Nigerian Medical Students Association (NiMSA) both commended Professor Isah for the lecture, as he was later decorated and presented a medal for delivering the lecture.
“Professor Isah has proven that he is a scholar in the field of drug regulation. The government needs to wake up to its responsibility because it is beyond legislating laws, but rather the implementation that matters,” Oge stated.
Born May 5, 1956, Professor Isah attended St. Anthony’s College Ugbuluku in Delta State, before proceeding to the University of Ibadan, where he studied Medicine and Surgery. He did his residency in Internal Medicine at UBTH and went to the University of Newcastle for training in clinic pharmacology.
A former Dean and Head of Department of Medicine, UNIBEN, Isah is a Fellow of the West African College of Physicians and the Royal College of Physicians. He is married to Dr Clementina Isah of the Department of Community Medicine, UBTH.
Eddy Uwoghiren
(300-Level, Medicine and Surgery, UNIBEN)