A new pharmacy in Avondale is filling a years-long health care void.
Emmanuel Ayanjoke opened the Altev Community Pharmacy in December at the north tower of the Avondale Town Center. Since opening, Ayanjoke told CityBeat he's helped many residents of Avondale, a predominantly Black neighborhood, reconnect with their health care needs.
"People come in for the first time and tell me, 'I didn't know you were here! This is great. I can just walk down the street and get my prescriptions,'" said Ayanjoke.
He got the idea to open Altev Community Pharmacy in 2022 while working for an independent pharmacy in Dayton, Ohio. Ayanjoke said he connected with Mckesson, a pharmaceutical wholesaler based out of Columbus, that was looking to address health disparities in the state by assisting in setting up an independent pharmacy. His first thought was Avondale.
"I started looking into the health disparities in Avondale, and the paradox of Avondale being right at the heart of Cincinnati but didn't have a pharmacy," he said.
Before opening Altev Community Pharmacy, Ayanjoke said Avondale had gone years without a CVS or Walgreens. But growing up in a local pharmacy back home in Nigeria gave Ayanjoke early experience in being the sole provider of medication and other health needs for a community. He got the idea to open Altev Community Pharmacy in 2022 while working for an independent pharmacy in Dayton, Ohio. Ayanjoke said he connected with Mckesson, a pharmaceutical wholesaler based out of Columbus, that was looking to address health disparities in the state by assisting in setting up an independent pharmacy. His first thought was Avondale.
"I started looking into the health disparities in Avondale, and the paradox of Avondale being right at the heart of Cincinnati but didn't have a pharmacy," he said.
"Growing up, my dad was a pharmacist back at home in Nigeria; his dad was a pharmacist. I almost always knew I wanted to go into pharmacy in some way, and I always knew I wanted to be a business owner," said Ayanjoke. "[My dad] was the resource in the town as far as health care. That really resonated with me."
Ayanjoke said Altev Community Pharmacy is also the only Black-owned independent pharmacy in Cincinnati, something that helps to build trust with his customers, who are also his neighbors.
"Nationally, I think only about 3.5% of pharmacists identify as African American or Black," he said. "If we have the same struggles, we're able to relate better."
Altev Community Pharmacy accepts all Ohio Medicaid insurance plans, including Buckeye Health Plan, CareSource, Molina Healthcare, Paramount Advantage and UnitedHealthcare Community Plan. They also offer customers (and pets) free access to discounts on prescription medications.
