Caribbean Times 88th Issue - Wednesday 1st February 2017

Wednesday 1st February 2017 c a r i b b e a n t i m e s . a g 5
School of Pharmacy officially launched
By Joanna Paris
Approximately 15 students
will make up the first
cohort of students to embark
on the path of attaining
a Bachelors of Arts Degree
from the relaunched School
of Pharmacy.
The School was officially
relaunched in a ceremony
which took place at the Antigua
State College on Monday.
A number of key personnel
representing the Ministry
of Health, the Ministry of Education
and the faculty of the
Antigua State College (ASC)
and other agencies were in
attendance. The eager group
of students were also present.
A beaming Principal of
the ASC, Hyram Forde, explained
that he is indeed delighted
that the school is once
again a reality after a hiatus.
He indicated that because
of the absence of the facility,
there has been a notable decline
in the number of qualified
pharmacists available on
the island.
He added that Pharmacology
will be an integral part
of the country’s educational
thrust at higher levels.
“Pharmacy is going to
be a pivotal discourse in the
University trusty of Antigua
and Barbuda. We are certainly
happy that we have
reached the stage where the
school will be re-opened,
the new programme will be
rolled out on February 1 st ”,
he said.
Forde further indicated
that the overall goal is to have
a mapped-out curriculum
which can be transformed
easily to the next level of getting
a Bachelor’s Degree in
the Field.
Minister of Health and the
Environment, the Hon. Molwyn
Joseph, told the gathering
that he opening of the
School of Pharmacy “could
not have come at a more opportune
time”. He noted that
this goes hand in hand as the
twin island state has emerged
as one of the leaders in offering
health care services in the
Organization of Eastern Caribbean
State (OECS).
He encouraged the students
to take advantage of
the opportunity that they
have ahead of them and to
think beyond the ordinary.
“I want to encourage you
to broaden your potential and
even though you are studying
Pharmacology, you can
broaden your horizons”, he
emphasized.
Also, echoing similar
sentiments and his expression
of happiness with the relaunch
of the School of Pharmacy
was the Ministry with
responsibility for Education,
Science and Technology, the
Hon. Michael Browne.
President of the Antigua
and Barbuda Pharmacy
Council, Sandra Joseph, in
her remarks expressed that
it is indeed refreshing to relaunch
the school, which will
see more trained pharmacists
emerging in Antigua and
Barbuda.
“Antigua and Barbuda
has no reason to be left behind,
we have already given
you the guarantee to educate
you up to a Bachelor’s Degree.
The world is yours, you
have the potential’, he said.
The School of Pharmacy
will be located at the Antigua
State College. The curriculum
will include chemistry,
biology, pharmacology and
pharmacognosy.