 After participating in the International Drug and Therapeutics Committees (DTC)/Training of Trainers (TOT) 2005 course in Malaysia, Halima Ramon-Yusuf, Hospitals Management Board Chief Pharmacist, conducted an assessment of drug management practices among health staff at three major district hospitals and three peripheral hospitals in Abuja, Federal Capital Territory (FTC), Nigeria. The results showed the following—
- Only 43 percent of staff acknowledged the existence of drug formulary and essential drugs list in the hospitals
- As many as 90 percent of staff physicians said they did not have a personal copy of the essential drugs list or the formulary, and 57 percent said they did not have a copy in their consulting rooms
- A majority (87 percent) of staff did not know how often the drug formulary was updated
- Only 40 percent of staff said they got feedback on the inclusion of a new drug to the formulary
Subsequently, Halima wrote a proposal for the need for DTCs in district/peripheral hospitals in Abuja, FCT, to try and address these issues. Her goals were to— - Provide training on the importance of DTCs
- Establish DTC-specific polices, outlining key roles and responsibilities
- Establish mechanisms to provide follow-up support
Her hospital management board accepted the proposal and gave her a budget to proceed with the implementation process.
| "The motivation to advocate for DTCs in Abuja, Nigeria came mainly from my zeal to give back to my organization what I gained from the International DTC-TOT course Malaysia 2005. More so, as to justify that the funds spent on the trip and course fees was not in vain because I was sponsored by the Ministry’s Federal Capital Territory Administration. Similarly, it was also to keep a promise I made to the DTC-TOT workshop organizers while applying for the course that I was willing to put 'machinery into gear' for the setting up of DTCs after the training. "Lastly I would say to give me a sense of fulfillment."
Halima Ramon-Yusuf, Chief Pharmacist,
Hospital Management Board, Abuja
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 Halima started by organizing a one-day TOT for eight facilitators in April 2006. Then, along with her newly trained colleagues, she presented a DTC/TOT training workshop for 328 health care staff from 11 Nigerian public hospitals in August 2006. The workshop used an adapted and abridged version of the RPM Plus two-week DTC/TOT materials used in the Malaysia course. Over two days, Halima and her team of facilitators trained the participants on DTCs, presenting an overview of what a DTC does at the hospital level, and emphasizing their importance in health care facilities. She also used an ABC/VEN analysis to demonstrate how DTCs can help to identify medicine use problems. As a discussion guide, Halima used the results of an ABC/VEN analysis that she had performed in several major FCT hospitals (Asokoro, Maitama, and Wuse General Hospitals) after her participation at the Malaysia course. Based on the results of this analysis, suggestions were made on how to improve formulary management and drug use. Halima’s efforts led to successful advocacy for DTCs in Abuja, FCT. This was followed by establishing DTC policies with roles and responsibilities of key members, and also a DTC help desk to provide follow-up technical assistance. Her efforts were highlighted by various Nigerian media. Some examples include—
- Leadership Newspaper, August 22, 2006, FCT NEWS (people and events)
- Health Information Bulletin, Health and Human Services Secretariat
- Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria Newsletter, Abuja Chapter
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