By Matšeliso Phulane
The Lesotho Nurses Association (LNA) has launched a M781,000 drug safety project.
The three-month project funded by Pfizer, a U.S pharmaceutical company, will start next week. It is aimed at conducting studies as well as building capacity of health care workers in the country.
LNA secretary general, Morephe Santi, said the project also seeks to strengthen pharmaco-vigilance and improve community access to services.
Santi noted that the project comes after research had shown that there was lack of information concerning pharmacy including proper use and handling of medication, with adverse consequences.
“We will be looking at the education sector to identify gaps in the curriculum related to access and equity as well as safety of pharmaceutical products,” he pointed out.
The project will also focus on clinical practice to determine the level of knowledge among health care professionals.
“We want to ensure that every Mosotho does not consume drugs from unknown sources, hence we want to assess the ministry of health in relation to how they verify their sources and how they control drugs that come in the country,” Santi added.
