21/11/2025
Vigilance In The Veins: MAUTH’s Pharmacovigilance Committee Champions Safer Care Through Step-Down Training
The Pharmacovigilance Committee of Modibbo Adama University Teaching Hospital, MAUTH Yola, Adamawa state has intensified its campaign for safer medication practices through a comprehensive step-down training for staff drawn from all departments, clinics, and units of the hospital.
Each department delegated two representatives, entrusted with the crucial responsibility of returning to their primary duty posts to cascade the knowledge acquired to colleagues, ensuring that the culture of vigilance flows through every corridor of the institution.
During his session, Pharm. Gyara R. Irimiya underscored the pivotal role of health workers in safeguarding patients. He stressed that prompt detection and reporting of Adverse Drug Reactions (ADR) to NAFDAC remains a frontline duty in promoting patient safety.
He further reminded participants of their obligation to educate patients on the rational use of medicines, describing it as “a duty that saves lives long before harm can occur.”
In her presentation, Pharm. Annaticha Edwin drew attention to the grave consequences of medication errors, warning that such mistakes could worsen a patient’s condition or compromise treatment outcomes.
She highlighted the indispensable value of teamwork and urged health workers to heighten their vigilance. “Medication safety is not an individual act but a collective commitment,” she emphasized.
Committee Chairman, Dr. Yerima Suleiman Yusuf, echoed these calls for caution. Addressing the participants, particularly those from the Pharmacy Department, he urged meticulous handling and dispensing of medicines.
He also reminded the trainees of their mandate: to step down the training and share the acquired expertise across their respective departments and units. “Knowledge unshared is safety unsecured,” he noted.
The training climaxed with a hands-on practical session led by Pharm. Salawudeen Abdulmumin, who demonstrated how to report detected ADRs to NAFDAC using a smartphone. The practical module offered participants a real-time experience on leveraging digital tools to strengthen pharmacovigilance reporting.
As the step-down training concluded, it left behind more than just lectures, it planted a renewed sense of responsibility, a culture of caution, and a commitment to collective care, ensuring that every medication administered at MAUTH carries the assurance of vigilance.