Professor Vincent Idemyor
By ERIC MOORE
A RENOWNED scholar from the University of Port Harcourt, Professor Vincent Idemyor, is set to deliver a plenary session at the prestigious American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) Clinical Meeting in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA, on December 10, 2024.
This esteemed event attracts over 20,000 pharmacy professionals from across the globe, making it one of the largest gatherings of healthcare providers focused on advancing pharmacy practice.
Professor Idemyor’s presentation, “Preparing Healthcare Service Delivery for Climate Change Impacts,” will focus on the growing intersection between climate change and healthcare.
“As a distinguished professor of pharmacy, Idemyor has made significant contributions to the field, particularly in HIV/AIDS research and pharmacy practice. His expertise will shed light on the critical issues surrounding climate change and its effects on human health.”
The presentation will explore disease states exacerbated by climate change, both in the short and long term.
Idemyor will also discuss the profound effects of climate change on mental health, including stress, depression, anxiety, grief, substance use, and personality disorders.
Also, he will highlight the critical need for healthcare providers and patients to understand how certain medications may respond differently under extreme heat conditions, which could lead to adverse health outcomes.
Idemyor will emphasize the urgent need for healthcare policy changes to address climate-related health challenges.
He will advocate for integrating climate science into medical curricula and continuing education programmes to better equip practitioners for the evolving health challenges associated with climate change.
At the plenary, he will propose the creation of climate-health task forces within healthcare institutions, aimed at driving sustainable practices and shaping health-related climate policies.
According to him, action on climate change is essential to safeguarding collective health and ensuring a healthier future for all.
He remarked: “In a sense, the pressure is on us as practitioners and researchers whose fields are grounded in science. We are the ones policymakers will turn to as government budgets are allocated. Science will prevail because it is rooted in undeniable realities.”
The ASHP Clinical Meeting provides a platform for healthcare professionals to engage in meaningful discussions and explore innovative solutions to address the complex challenges posed by climate change.
Professor Idemyor’s presentation will undoubtedly contribute to the ongoing conversation, inspiring healthcare providers to take action and prioritize environmental stewardship as an extension of the Hippocratic Oath.
As a well-respected leader in global pharmacy, Professor Idemyor has received numerous awards for his contributions to advancing pharmacy practice. Notably, he received the 2023 ASHP Board of Directors’ Donald E. Francke Medal for his international contributions to pharmacy practice. His sustained contributions to international pharmacy practice, academic leadership, and research have solidified his position as a leading voice in the field.