Your body deserves more than Guesswork -see why you must consult a pharmacist today

 

Have you ever wondered why some illnesses persist even after medication?

You might have even heard or witness scenarios where people who consumed what they considered as the best or expensive medication suffer severe complications leading to loss of their lives.

In Nigeria, some of the factors contributing to paternal, maternal, neonatal, and post-neonatal mortality are delays in seeking qualified medical care, consuming counterfeit drugs, and misuse of medications. This could be why the WHO often advice us to be mindful of our lifestyle for well-being and disease prevention.

 Some experts also postulates that our food is our medicine which is also inline with the popular saying that “Health is wealth” which reminds us the benefits of prioritising our well-being.

How do you prioritise your health?

One of the most reliable ways of doing this is to consult qualified healthcare professionals. As the popular saying goes, information is power—you are either informed or misinformed, depending on your sources. Maka na onye ajuju adighi efu uzo (He who asks questions does not lose his way).

In matters of medicines and healthy living, you are strongly advised to patronise Community Pharmacists.

Who are Community Pharmacists?

Community pharmacists are well trained professionals usually university graduates in the field, who are licensed to practise by the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (PCN). They have deep knowledge of medicines, drug interactions, and disease management and authorised to practise across communities in 774 Local Government Areas of Nigeria. They can retail, Mix, compound, handle, produce, manufacture and dispense drugs and poisons.

Their roles include:

1. Provision of health counselling and advice on appropriate medication use after a diagnosis or screening to prevent side effects, drug abuse and support faster recovery.

2. They offer health screening services like point-of-care testing, and educating of patients on the correct use of antibiotics and other medicines to combat drug abuse and self-medication.

3. They are only authorised to dispense prescription medications such as antibiotics, including chronic disease related and regulated controlled drugs—following proper prescriptions.

4. Kindly patronise Community Pharmacists today because they are professionals and work closely with doctors and other health professionals for coordinated and holistic care for patients.

 Be at alert. In our next edition, we will share some tips on how to identify them.

By Okechukwu Onuegbu, PhD