By MILDRED KATONGO –
THE Zambia Medicines Regulatory Authority (ZAMRA) has engaged Copperbelt University’s Robert Makasa Campus in Muchinga Province to train unqualified people engaged to dispense drugs in shops and some drug stores.
ZMRA spokesperson Ludovic Mwape said ZAMRA had already given the university the curriculum and the programme to start offering the training.
Mr Mwape said in an interview that after the health shop dispensers and business owners undergo the training, they were supposed to register with ZAMRA and be authorised to sell the drugs.
He said this was one way of curbing the illegal sale of drugs in communities and helping the public, especially in rural areas, have access to quality and affordable drugs.
“We have engaged the university to train shop owners and shop dispensers. The programme has already been done and the curriculum has been given. Soon the school will start offering the training,” he said.
Mr Mwape said the training would take 10 weeks and that ZAMRA was waiting for the school to announce the enrolment and the fees.
He said those who were qualified to undergo the training were those in possession of Grade 12 certificates and that ZAMRA was also targeting those that had worked in health facilities but had retired.
Mr Mwape said the ZAMRA team was in Muchinga to raise awareness and help people in the area undergo the training, which would help them in doing their businesses without having them shut down.
He said the programme would start with Muchinga and Western provinces before being rolled out to all parts of the country.
“We have advanced in implementing the health shop project. Right now we are in Muchinga conducting sensitisation programmes and reaching out to the communities on the need for shop owners and those selling the drugs to undergo the training and register with us,” Mr Mwape said.