As a means of reducing the prevalence of infectious diseases in Lagos State, the Association of Lady Pharmacists (ALPs) Lagos State Chapter, has commissioned two hand washing points at the Divisional Headquarter of the Ketu Police Station. The lady pharmacists, who converged at the Ketu Fruits Market on Tuesday, in celebration of the ALPs Day in the Pharmacy Week, of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria, (PSN) Lagos State Chapter, enlightened the market women and men on best practices in control and prevention of diseases, through regular hand washing with soap and water, maintenance of clean environments, as well as healthy eating habit. Members of the association also conducted free vital signs on participants, distributed face masks, hand sanitizers and deworming tablets to the traders. Speaking with Pharmanews shortly after addressing the audience at the programme, Dr Owoyele Wasiu, medical officer of health, Ikosi-Isheri LCDA, said the most important thing for everyone to know is how to control and prevent diseases, knowing fully well that your health starts with your hands, as long as you have good culture of sanitation. He emphasised that diseases are likely to be mitigated, if people cultivate proper hand washing culture.

“What the Association of Lady Pharmacists has done today is a laudable efforts and it will go a long way in mitigating the spread of emerging infectious diseases within the market and the community as a whole”, he quipped. Fielding questions from journalists at the public health awareness creation programme, Lagos State ALPs Chairman, Pharm. (Dr) Afusat Adesina, explained the essence of the programme, noting the importance of healthy lifestyle and environment in diseases prevention and control. She said: “Today is ALPs Day in the Pharmacy Week of the Lagos State PSN. We have come to IkosiIsheri LCDA to enlighten the people about the best practices in control and prevention of diseases. We demonstrated to them hand washing and gave them health talk on control of diseases. “So we demonstrated to them that they can actually prevent diseases, because as it is commonly said, prevention is better than cure, and it it cheaper to prevent diseases. That is why we have come to the people of Ikosi-Isheri, precisely the fruit market, to tell them about best health practices in prevention of diseases, and that is our topic.