STELLAR CELEBRATION MARKS WORLD PHARMACIST DAY AT SPS
Bhubaneswar: A vibrant mix of awareness initiatives through rally and street plays and academic competitions marked the World Pharmacist Day celebration at School of Pharmaceutical Sciences (SPS) of Siksha ‘O’ Anusandhan Deemed to be University (SOA), here on Thursday.
The vital role played by pharmacists in strengthening the healthcare system was underscored at the event while highlighting the theme – ‘Think Health, Think Pharmacist’ for this year.
The day commenced with an enthusiastic rally across the institute’s campus followed by an engaging ‘Nukad Natak’ (street play), both aimed at creating public awareness regarding rational drug use and the role of the pharmacists as primary healthcare providers.
Students of the institute enthusiastically participated in a host of academic and creative competitions – writing, poster and logo making, quiz and essay – designed to test their knowledge and creativity.
These contests provided a platform for students to articulate the year’s theme and showcase their understanding of pharmaceutical sciences. The event was coordinated by Dr Priyanka Dash and Dr Dinesh Kumar Sharma.
The celebration was graced by SOA Vice Chancellor Prof Pradipta Kumar Nanda, who was the chief guest.
In his address, Prof Nanda highlighted the indispensable nature of the pharmaceutical profession while describing the theme for this year ‘Think Health, Think Pharmacist’ as incredibly timely.
“Pharmacists are the backbone of medicine management and patient counseling who ensure public health security,” he said.
Prof Debajyoti Das, Dean of SPS, welcomed the gathering and reaffirmed the institute’s commitment to producing globally competent and ethical pharmacy professionals. Prof S C Si, former Dean of SPS, and Prof Laxmidhar Moharana, also addressed the students, sharing their invaluable experiences and inspiring the young pharmacists to uphold the highest standards of the profession.
A major highlight of the day-long programme was the felicitation ceremony organised to acknowledge outstanding achievements in both academic performance and research. GPAT and GATE Qualifiers were recognszed for their success in competitive examinations while the top three best research and review articles authored by PhD scholars were awarded.
The best research and review articles received from postgraduate students were also specially recognised celebrating their contribution to scientific literature.
