Self-medication is dangerous - Pharmacists warn Ghanaians

Dr. Stephen Gbedema of the Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharma Sciences at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) has entreated Ghanaians to desist from self medication.

He stressed the need for every individual to seek health professional advice before taking a medicine warning that self-medication may have adverse effects on one’s health.

Dr. Gbedema said the best option was for one to consult a doctor or a physician in times of indisposition. The occasion was a health screening and mini Drug safety and health awareness campaign 2015 organized by the Amansie West Rural Bank in collaboration with Faculty of Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Services of Ghana, Pharmaceutical Students Association at the KNUST for some of the catchment communities of the Bank.

Some of the beneficiary communities of the exercise under the theme: ”a Healthy Nation a wealthy Nation” The role of the Pharmacist and when in doubt about the use of drugs consult your pharmacist” included Antoakrom, Manso Abore and Manso-Nkwanta all in the Amansie West District.

The people were screened of various ailments including Blood pressure, Hypertension, Diabetes and sensitized lifestyle medication as well as common infections like malaria and how one could prevent those diseases.

Dr. Gbedemah also advised people to take simple precautions and sleeping in nets, and stop disposing indiscriminately stressing the need for people to cultivate the attitude of personal hygiene and washing of hands as a necessary requirement to prevent some communicable diseases.

Mr. George Osei Mensah, Chief Executive Officer of the Bank disclosed that, the exercise would sustain for the benefit of all its catchment area. Board Chairman of the Bank, Lawyer Okyere Osei Antwi, explained that the exercise was part of the Bank’s corporate social responsibility to complement efforts by government to deliver on the health needs of the people.

In another development, the Pharmaceutical Services of Ghana Pharmaceutical Students Association have donated food items to the male Ward of St Martin’s Hospital at Agroyesum, Bietrix Awuah, Women Commissioner of the student who presented the items, said the gesture was their own small way to contribute to the upkeep of the patients at the ward.

Ms Reena Acheampong, Senior Nurse at the hospital expressed her profound gratitude to the students and pleaded with other social organizations, clubs and philanthropists to also emulate the shining example of the student by assisting the facility to enable it deliver a total healthcare to the constituents.