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Public Health Education is Paramount

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Dear Reader 👇 I hope this message finds you well.  Understanding and acquiring health knowledge is of utmost importance in our lives, and cannot be overlooked.  In today's fast-paced world, where information is readily available at our fingertips, it is crucial to equip ourselves with accurate and reliable health knowledge. By doing so, we empower ourselves to make well-informed decisions about our well-being and that of our loved ones. Health knowledge serves as a foundation for maintaining good health and preventing illness.  It allows us to navigate through the abundance of health-related information accessible to us, sorting through the facts and myths.  With a solid understanding of health, we are better positioned to adopt healthy lifestyles, make appropriate dietary choices, practice preventive measures, and seek timely medical attention when necessary. Unfortunately, the cost of health knowledge, particularly in some contexts, can be quite substantial. ...

Drugs you shouldn't take together

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A lot of people are unaware that some of the drugs they randomly take actually interact and as such will affect their medical conditions. That is why it's good to consult your doctor or pharmacist on any new drug you are taking to get appropriate advice. What is Drug - Drug Interaction? When you take 2 drugs that interact. The possible effects are 1. They may end up reducing the effect of each other as such lead to therapeutic failure  2. May increase the effect of each other there by leading to overdose. 3. Might be purely toxic and cause adverse effects. Below are medicines you shouldn't take together to prevent any unfavourable effect to self: 1. Nifedipine and Nitrate Nifedipine is a drug that is used for hypertension. Nitrates are vasodilators mostly useful in the management and treatment of angina. 2. Statins with Gemfibrozil Statins are drugs like Rosuvastastin and Atovastatin used to lower blood cholesterol. Gemfibrozil is a useful medication for the reduction of trigly...

Emerging Technology in Health

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In today's post, we will be talking about emerging technologies in the 21st century that has or will redefine health care. 1. E-prescribing  With electronic prescribing, or “e-Prescribing,” health care providers can enter prescription information into a computer device – like a tablet, laptop, or desktop computer – and securely transmit the prescription to pharmacies using a special software program and connectivity to a transmission network.  When a pharmacy receives a request, he/she can begin filling the medication right away. The Benefits of e-Prescribing e-Prescribing can: • Help improve health care quality and patient safety by reducing medication errors and checking for drug interactions • Make care more convenient by allowing providers to electronically request prescription refills. In short, e-Prescribing is more convenient, cheaper, and safer for doctors, pharmacies, and patients. What do you think about e-prescribing 2. Artificial Pancreas In 2014 researchers at Yal...

Essential Medication Safety Advice

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Before you take medications, it is paramount for you to understand basic medication safety guide inorder to enjoy quality life. Here are some general medication safety tips to consider: 1. Follow the prescribed dosage:  Take medications as directed by your healthcare provider or as indicated on the label. Do not exceed the recommended dose unless instructed to do so by a healthcare professional. 2. Read the labels:  Carefully read the labels and packaging of medications before taking them. Pay attention to the active ingredients, dosage instructions, warnings, and potential side effects. 3. Store medications properly:  Keep medications in their original containers and store them in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight. Some medications may require refrigeration, so check the instructions for specific storage requirements. 4. Check expiration dates:  Discard any medications that have expired. Expired medications may not be as effective and could potentially be ...

A New Nigeria

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Happy Independence day to Nigeria @ 63.

Celebrating World Pharmacists Day

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Today being 25th September 2023, is another medium to celebrate the world Pharmacists Day with the Theme: Pharmacy Strengthening Health Systems. As a commemoration of the world pharmacist day  I will like to use this medium to enlighten the public in the roles of the pharmacist in health care. ¶ Pharmacist are not just drug sellers. There is a skewed perception of pharmacists being just drug sellers or dispensers just like people in the patent medicine store or chemist. Yes that is partially true but that is a microcosm of what we do. A pharmacist also compounds drugs and extemporaneous preparations to specific patients when the need arises. A pharmacist can also provide patient counseling on the right way to taking medication and maintaining good health. He/she also plays a role in counseling patients on smoking cessation, drug abuse, alcohol addiction and other toxic substances. A pharmacist does not only dispense drugs but provide pharmaceutical care to the patient. ¶ Community ...

Let the antibiotics breath

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What are Antibiotics? Antibiotics are substances that can destroy or inhibit the growth of bacteria and similar microorganisms, generally transported by the lymphatic system. Antibiotics are among the most frequently prescribed classes of drugs and it is estimated that approximately 50% of antibiotic use, in both the outpatient and inpatient settings, is inappropriate.  At the same time, in contrast to any other class of drugs, every antibiotic use has a potential public health consequence – inappropriate use may not harm only the individual patient, but contributes to societal harm by exerting an unnecessary selective pressure that may lead to antibiotic resistance among bacteria. For example:  Research has shown that at least 30% of antibiotic courses prescribed in the outpatient setting are unnecessary.  More than half of all patients who receive a diagnosis of an acute respiratory tract infection are given an antibiotic prescription. Despite the fact that an overwhelm...

10 essential duties of a patient

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Here are 10 take home messages to all patients coming in contact with a healthcare facility–  1.  Awareness of your duty as a patient: The first step to education is awareness of what is required of you which is followed expectedly with acceptance.  2. It is your fundamental human right to know the: names, dose, dose interval and duration of every medicine your doctor recommends to you: Be inquisitive; Ask your doctor or the pharmacist.  3. It is your fundamental human right to know the potential side effect of every medicine you are about to take or are taking: consult the pharmacist.  4. Do not share your medicines with any other person even if both of you have similar symptoms: consult your doctor or  pharmacist.  5. When taking ACTs for uncomplicated malaria – avoid concurrent administration with Vitamin C. It will cause therapeutic failure.  6. Endeavor to check the composition of skin formulations: As much as possible avoid creams, loti...

Benefits of having a pharmacist as a resource

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Pharmacists are healthcare professionals who specialize in the safe and effective use of medications. They have extensive knowledge of drugs, their mechanisms of action, and their potential side effects.  Pharmacists can also provide advice on over-the-counter medications, herbal remedies, and dietary supplements. If you don't have a pharmacist as a resource, you may miss out on the opportunity to receive expert advice and guidance on medication use. This can lead to medication errors, drug interactions, and adverse drug reactions, which can be harmful to your health. In addition, pharmacists can provide valuable services such as medication management, medication therapy management, and medication counseling.  They can also help you navigate the complexities of insurance coverage and assist with medication cost savings programs. Overall, having a pharmacist as a resource can help ensure that you are using medications safely and effectively, and can improve your overall health ...

World Health Days

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Below are the World health days you should know as a health professional: World cancer day – Feb 4th International childhood cancer day – 15th Feb. Colorectal cancer awareness month - 1st March to 30th March World Obesity day - 4th March (formerly 11th October)  World Kidney day – 9th March World blood donor day – 14th march World TB day – 24th March Oral health unified week – 27th march – 2nd April World health day – 7th April World Malaria Day – 25th April World immunization week – 24th April to 30th April World asthma day - First Tuesday of may World hypertension day – 17th may World no tobacco day 31st may World milk day -1st June World environment day - 5th June World sickle cell day – 19th June International day against drug abuse and illicit drug trafficking – 26th June. World hepatitis day – 28th July World Lung Cancer Day – 1st August  World breastfeeding week – 1st to 7th august World Alzheimer’s day – 21st September World heart day - 29th September International d...