ACPN 45th Annual Scientific Conference Begins with a Vibrant Health Insurance Awareness Walk in Abuja

The 45th Annual International Scientific Conference of the Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria (ACPN) commenced on Monday in Abuja with a vibrant Pharmacists' Awareness Walk for Health Insurance, setting the tone for what promises to be a week of professional engagement, advocacy, and collaboration.

The awareness walk, one of the flagship pre-conference activities, brought together pharmacists from across Nigeria, including community pharmacy owners, practicing pharmacists, pharmacy students, interns, and other healthcare stakeholders. United by a shared commitment to improving healthcare access, participants took to the streets of the Federal Capital Territory to advocate for increased awareness and uptake of health insurance.

Dressed in coordinated conference T-shirts and branded conference materials distributed before the event, delegates marched through major roads in Abuja in an energetic display of unity and professional pride. The procession was accompanied by music, enthusiastic chants, and interactions with members of the public, creating an atmosphere that was both celebratory and purposeful.

The walk served as a public call for greater health insurance coverage, highlighting its role in improving access to quality healthcare while reducing the financial burden of out-of-pocket medical expenses for Nigerians. Throughout the exercise, pharmacists reinforced the profession's commitment to promoting preventive healthcare and supporting national efforts toward achieving universal health coverage.

The event also attracted media attention, with journalists and content creators documenting the advocacy campaign, further amplifying its message beyond the streets of Abuja.

Beyond its advocacy objectives, the awareness walk provided an opportunity for delegates from different states and sectors of pharmacy practice to reconnect, network, and celebrate the unity of the profession ahead of the conference's scientific and business sessions.

With the successful conclusion of the awareness walk, anticipation now shifts to the official conference activities in the coming days, where delegates will participate in scientific presentations, policy discussions, professional development sessions, exhibitions, and strategic conversations aimed at advancing community pharmacy practice in Nigeria.