WORLD PHARMACY DAY 2016 - CARING FOR YOU
World over, it's another year to commemorate and celebrate the relentless service of pharmacists in the health care sector, this year is themed "caring for you".
Alot of people out there confuse or misinterprete their services especially in developing nations like Africa and Nigeria is not an exception to this. Many miscontrue the services of a pharmacist as luxury. Would you really blame these set of people? The answer is a resounding NO. There is little/insignificant level of awareness to the general public about the distinct roles and functions of a pharmacist.
WHO IS A PHARMACIST?
According to Wikipedia; pharmacists, also known as chemists, druggists, are health care professionals who practice in pharmacy, the field of health sciences focusing on safe and effective medication. He is adequately knowledgeable about biochemical mechanisms and actions of drugs - usage, therapeutic roles, side effects and potential drug interactions.
Recent studies has revealed that over 50% of Nigerians engage in self medication, it is therefore imperative to summarize the distinct roles of a pharmacist.
Pharmacists perform vital roles in the health care system through the medicine and information they provide. Some of these roles/functions include:
1. Provides expertise on drug composition (physical, biological and chemical properties).
2. The manufacture and usage of drugs.
3. Achieve positive outcomes from the use of medications to improve a patient's quality of life with minimum risk.
4. Pharmacists cure diseases.
5. Eliminate/reduce symptoms.
6. Arrest or slow down a disease process.
7. Prevent disease, diagnose disease.
8. Alter physiological process for desirable result in the patients health.
9. Dispenses medications by compounding, packaging and pharmaceuticals.
From the above distinct roles, it is apparent that not everyone can prescribe medications. The next time you have that headache, fever and other symptoms don't just engage in self-medication. Speak to your pharmacist because they care for you.
N. B- A chemist by Nigerian context(those who run patent medicine stores) is not in anyway a pharmacist, they've sent many to the grave beyond with their wrong prescriptions. Don't fall victim.
In subsequent post, I'll be discussing the adverse effect of self-medication and the dangers of drug/substance abuse. Tramadol, codeine, rephnol, weed(marijuana) Etc. Watch out! Have a beautiful Sunday.
Oluwatimilehin Oke Email: healthertainment@gmail.com Whatsapp: +234-703-798-6229 BB PIN: 563D9C56 BB CHANNEL: C001C7A18 Twitter & Instagram: @timi0301
Nice one bro
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