Page 21 - UNAM Virtual Graduation e-Book (April2021)

FACULTY OF HEALTH SCIENCES
SCHOOL OF PHARMACY

DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY IN PHARMACY PRACTICE
(PHARMACOVIGILANCE)

CANDIDATE: ADENUGA Babafunso A

CURRICULUM VITAE

Adenuga Babafunso Aderemi was born in Ibadan, Nigeria. He obtained his
Bachelor of Pharmacy degree from the Faculty of Pharmacy, University of
Ibadan and Masters in Public Health from the University of South Africa. He also
holds a Post Graduate Diploma in HIV/AIDS Management from Stellenbosch
University, South Africa. He has many years of professional experience working as Hospital Pharmacist in Nigeria
and Botswana. He currently works with the Namibia Medicines Regulatory Council, Ministry of Health and Social
Services as a Regulatory Affairs Pharmacist.

CANDIDATE’S DISSERTATION

OPTIMISING ADVERSE DRUG REACTIONS REPORTING AND STRENGTHENING OF PHARMACOVIGILANCE SYSTEMS
IN NAMIBIA

The doctoral study was undertaken and completed under the supervision of Prof. Timothy William Rennie
(University of Namibia) as Main-Supervisor and Dr Samuel Kayode Dominion Bamitale (University of Namibia) as
Co-Supervisor.

Spontaneous adverse drug reaction (ADR) reporting is a vital part of pharmacovigilance activities within a
health system. Under-reporting of ADRs is a widespread phenomenon among healthcare workers. Little is known
about the culture of ADR reporting among healthcare workers (HCWs) in the Namibian healthcare setting. This
research depicted the current state of pharmacovigilance within the public health system, healthcare workers’
reporting abilities and capabilities, patient-level dynamics, and possible pharmacovigilance system optimisation.
In Namibia, the Ministry of Health and Social Services (MoHSS) collects information relating to adverse medication
events through the Therapeutics Information and Pharmacovigilance Centre (TIPC) – this system relies on passive
reporting of these events through a paper-based system; patterns are analysed to identify issues with medicines
registered and used in Namibia, especially in relation to newly introduced medicines. This study looked at
practices informed by literature as well as challenges and mitigations reported in pharmacovigilance. Further,
data reported to the TIPC was analysed retrospectively for specific anti-retroviral combination therapies given to
patients in Namibia that highlighted under-reporting of ADRs such that conclusions on reported ADRs could not be
drawn. Highlighting this limitation, the study continued to explore reasons related to the under-reporting amongst
healthcare workers through a national survey. This identified that the nursing cadre was not well catered for as
frontline health workers in reporting ADRs. Advocating for inclusion of pharmacovigilance in the curriculum of
pre-registration healthcare workers was one of the recommendations that stood out in this research, with specific
LEARN LOCAL, THINK GLOBAL attention on the nursing cadre. The research also focused on how an intervention might optimise ADR reporting
and pharmacovigilance systems with a series of key informant interviews from individuals in various health sectors
in Namibia with a background in pharmacovigilance.

“Our philosophy is to The final stage of the study took up a common theme that an electronic tool could be used to improve the
information flow as well as a parallel training to improve knowledge and reporting of ADRs as well as use of the
create industry leaders and electronic reporting tool. This approach was piloted in Windhoek through training events (Continuous Professional
Development, and two separate trainings with health interns). Trainings were well attended but uptake of the
entrepreneurs. We don’t electronic tool was poor.

merely train employees.” In conclusion, to optimise the pharmacovigilance reporting systems in Namibia, there is a need for political will
on the part of decision makers, mandating healthcare workers to report any suspected ADR by using designated
Professor Kenneth Matengu, means such as paper-based or electronic reporting platforms.
Vice Chancellor, University of Namibia

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