Estimating healthcare resource needs for COVID-19 patients in Nigeria

Introduction: continuous assessment of healthcare resources during the COVID-19 pandemic will help in proper planning and to prevent an overwhelming of the Nigerian healthcare system. In this study, we aim to predict the effect of COVID-19 on hospital resources in Nigeria.Methods: we adopted a previously published discrete-time, individual-level, health-state transition model of symptomatic COVID-19 patients to the Nigerian healthcare system and COVID-19 epidemiology in Nigeria by September 2020. We simulated different combined scenarios of epidemic trajectories and acute care capacity. Primary outcomes included the expected cumulative number of cases, days until depletion resources and the number of deaths associated with resource constraints. Outcomes were predicted over a 60-day time horizon.Results: in our best-case epidemic trajectory, which implies successful implementation of public health measures to control COVID-19 spread, assuming all three resource scenarios, hospital resources would not be expended within the 60-days time horizon. In our worst-case epidemic trajectory, assuming conservative resource scenario, only ventilated ICU beds would be depleted after 39 days and 16 patients were projected to die while waiting for ventilated ICU bed. Acute care resources were only sufficient in the three epidemic trajectory scenarios when combined with a substantial increase in healthcare resources.Conclusion: substantial increase in hospital resources is required to manage the COVID-19 pandemic in Nigeria, even as the infection growth rate declines. Given Nigeria's limited health resources, it is imperative to focus on maintaining aggressive public health measures as well as increasing hospital resources to reduce COVID-19 transmission further

Management of skin diseases among community pharmacists in Lagos, Nigeria

amongst others. Pharmacists play an important role in identifying and managing skin problems, especially in Nigeria and other developing countries with few dermatologists found mainly in tertiary centres. This study aimed to evaluate and document community pharmacists' role in managing skin diseases in Lagos, Nigeria.Methods: Questionnaires were administered to 140 community pharmacists (70 each in Lagos Island and Lagos Mainland chosen from the zonal list of community pharmacists obtained from Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria (ACPN) Lagos State Branch. Data generated were collated and analyzed using SPSS (Statistical Package of Social Sciences) version 20.0. The results were presented as frequency tables and charts.Results: One hundred and twenty (120; 85.7%) questionnaires were returned for analysis. The results revealed that community pharmacists mainly treat patients with dermatological complaints with triple combination creams. The study shows that though pharmacists manage many patients with skin problems, their knowledge base is poor and treatment sub-optimal. The survey also shows that the most common skin problems encountered by community pharmacies are acne, bacterial infections and eczema.Conclusion: It can be concluded from this study that pharmacists need to undergo training in management of skin diseases to help the many patients that approach them. It is recommended that community pharmacists undergo appropriate training programmes to improve their output

Assessment of continuing professional development activities among pharmacists in Nigeria

Background: Continuing Professional Development (CPD) was developed as formal lifelong learning systems with the aim of updating the knowledge and skills of professionals to meet continual challenge of maintaining competency in practice as professionals. No pharmacy school program can provide all the knowledge, skills and abilities that will be required during one's career as a pharmacist, therefore, the need for pharmacists to engage in CPD.Objectives: The main objectives of this study were to document the CPD activities that pharmacists engage in, find out the reasons for engaging in such activities and determine their satisfaction or otherwise with the activities.Methods: The research was conducted using pre-tested, semi-structured questionnaire, self-administered to pharmacists who have participated in at least one module of the PCN-MCPD program. Descriptive analysis was carried out using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS).Results: The results showed that 63.4% of respondents participated in other CPD activities apart from the PCN-MCPD program. Sixty-four percent attend PSN Conferences, 43% attend workplace organized trainings while 41% attend both the PSN Technical Group Conferences and Healthcare related trainings. Furthermore, 69% of the respondents were satisfied with their CPD activities while 35.4% were satisfied with the PCNMCPD program.Conclusion: Pharmacists participate in CPD activities. However, they are more satisfied with the other CPD activities that they engage in than the PCN-MCPD programme. The PCN-MCPD programme should be restructured to recognize the other CPD activities that pharmacists engage in