THE NEED TO INVOLVE PATENT MEDICINE VENDORS IN COVID-19 SENSITIZATION IN NIGERIA

Dr Ferdinand Ebiarede Oshonwoh MBBS (Benin), MPH ( Benin)
Executive Director

In Nigeria today, its a generally known fact that the first port of call for sick community members is the patent medicine vendor, also known as “chemist’.They provide the first and the main point of care in our communities. Members of the community confide in patent medicine vendors on issues bothering on their health.

In our rural communities, people often seek care from drug vendors for common but potentially deadly illnesses such as malaria and diarrhoea, typhoid fever etc. There is need therefore to fully sensitize and involve them on COVID 19 prevention sensitization.

They should be informed of the basic signs and symptoms of Coronavirus and how to make appropriate referrals when the need arises.
It is pertinent that they are involved especially now that we are expecting community spread of this pandemic in Nigeria.

Most of these potential victims of community spread will visit the patent medicine vendors and if not well informed can continue treating them as ” typhoid and malaria”.

HORHIN as an organization will continue to champion the advocacy on the need to involve all relevant health care partners in communities in this coordinated fight against this pandemic.