The people of Umuawulu in Awka South Local Government Area have received a major healthcare boost with the commissioning of their first Pharmacare Centre, established under the leadership of the Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria (ACPN).
The facility, unveiled during ACPN’s 44th Annual Scientific National Conference, is designed to provide comprehensive pharmaceutical and preventive health services in a community that has long depended on urban centres for care.
It will serve as a hub for screenings, medication counseling, wellness programs, and access to essential medicines.
In recognition of his role in driving the project, the Traditional Ruler of Umuawulu, HRM Igwe Dr. Joel Maduadichie Egwuonwu (Eze Udo II), conferred the chieftaincy title of Nna Tubelu Ugo I on ACPN National Chairman, Pharm. Ezeh Ambrose Igwekamma.
Community leaders described the honor as a mark of gratitude for his commitment to improving health outcomes in underserved areas.Commissioner for Health, Dr. Afam Obidike, who represented Governor Charles Chukwuma Soludo, formally commissioned the centre.
He hailed ACPN for “bringing healthcare closer to the people” and urged that the model be replicated across rural Nigeria.
Pharm. Ezeh described the facility as an investment in “health, wellness, and hope,” stressing that the Pharmacare Centre was not just about medicines but also about preventive care and trusted advice.
Accepting his new title, he said the honor symbolized collective progress:“This recognition is for all of us. It shows what is possible when leadership is rooted in service to humanity.”
Observers say the centre marks an important step toward strengthening Nigeria’s overstretched healthcare system and offers a blueprint for other communities seeking locally driven solutions.
Written by Niran Odufayo