BPSA to highlight role pharmacists play in public health promotion
Members of the BPSA executive — (left to right): Richard Taggart,
IT officer; Gautam Paul, president; Beverley Stevens, secretary general;
Alastair Williamson, Northern area co-ordinator — with Hemant
Patel, President of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society |
A key theme of the work of the British
Pharmaceutical Students' Association in 2006 will be highlighting the role pharmacists play in improving public health. So said BPSA president Gautam Paul, when he announced the association's key priorities for 2006.
The BPSA is the official pharmacy student organisation of the Royal Pharmaceutical
Society. Two main projects that it will undertake this year are in the
fields of healthy living and diabetes.
Mr Paul said: “Pharmacy students will be encouraged to participate
in a pilot scheme aimed at educating people who are newly diagnosed with
diabetes to make healthier choices in the supermarket. This healthy eating
theme will be reinforced with a primary schools initiative where pharmacy
students will hold sessions with children explaining the importance of
a balanced diet. The BPSA hopes these campaigns will inspire future pharmacists
to be actively involved with health promotion.”
“
In addition,” said Mr Paul, the BPSA will work to strengthen and
improve the events and services it offers to its members. It will also
continue to develop and enhance links with its international counterparts.”
Commenting on the work of the BPSA, Hemant Patel, President of the Royal
Pharmaceutical Society, said: “Pharmacy students are our pharmacists
of the future. I am pleased to see that the BPSA plans to embrace the
important role that pharmacists play in improving public health in particular
in promoting healthy living and supporting people with diabetes.
“I wish the association every success with its programme of work.”
Further information about the British Pharmaceutical Students’ Association
can be found on its website at www.bpsa.com |
The
Pharmaceutical Journal