Dr. Emmanuel Sarkodie, who was Acting Head of the Department of Pharmacy Practice at the UHAS School of Pharmacy from 2018 to 2019, has donated 30 British National Formulary (BNF) books to pharmacy students ahead of the School’s first White Coat ceremony. Professor T.C. Fleischer, Acting Dean of the School of Pharmacy (right with Dr. Sarkodie), received the books on behalf of the School.
At a brief ceremony to receive the books, Mrs. Thelma M.A. Aku, Acting Head, Department of Pharmacy Practice, said as part of the programme line-up for the students’ White Coat ceremony, the School was supposed to equip the students with some learning materials. She noted that due to the cost involved in procuring the material, the School reached out to benevolent organisations across the country for help. Dr. Sarkodie, who was leading the charge in seeking sponsorship, decided to take over the cost of procuring the books when the School was unsuccessful in its search.
Dr. Emmanuel Sarkodie, now Director of Pharmacy at KNUST Hospital, said the gesture was a personal initiative to support the School in honour of his birthday, which fell on February 12. “It was a way of giving back to society, and UHAS would be the first beneficiary.”
He explained that students were given the BNF reference material to allow them appreciate the practice through the training, adding, “I want to see pharmacy practice meet a particular standard.”
Professor Fleischer lauded Dr. Sarkodie for the kind gesture and called on other members of faculty and the general public to emulate the gesture of supporting the young University.
BNF is an authority on the selection and use of medicines used by health professionals involved in monitoring, supplying, prescribing and administering medicines. It also provides essential information on the selection of safe and effective medicines for individual patients.
