By Jeff Trotman
Pharmacists in Region Ten, most of them attached to the Linden Hospital Complex, were showered with commendations for their enthusiasm during a symposium on Friday at the Egbert Benjamin Conference Centre.
The symposium was part of Pharmacy Week 2014 observances June 15 to 22 – by Linden pharmacists in collaboration with the Guyana Pharmacists’ Association. Noting that the theme for the week of observances was: “Improving Quality of Life for all”, Regional Chairman Sharma Solomon said it is important that pharmacists build good relations with the people of the community for the social and economic well-being of the residents.
According to him, because of its history of bauxite processing, Linden has been plagued with respiratory diseases and as a consequence, pharmacists, who operate within the town, should engage in research on the impact, effects and types of respiratory disease that are common in the community and to see whether remedial work can be done pharmaceutically.
Solomon also challenged the young pharmacists to be environmentally friendly. Stressing that waste disposal is a challenge in Linden, he called on the private pharmaceutical businesses to work along with the Linden Hospital Complex, particularly to use the facility’s furnace to dispose of toxic and other dangerous wastes.
Solomon referred to Hugh Harris, one of the leading dispensers in Linden in early times, as he suggested that the current crop of young pharmacists in Linden should use Harris as an example of trying to bring relief to the widest cross-section of people in the community and be like Harris, whom every resident embraced.
Solomon thanked the pharmacists for holding the symposium, which featured a presentation by ophthalmologist, Dr. Rameeza McDonald, who spoke about glaucoma and ways of dealing with the disease. Dr. McDonald also attempted to make her audience aware of preventative measures that can be taken against infections such conjunctivitis as well as eye strain from the computer or television.
Trevor Vangendren of the Linden Hospital Complex and Megan Barker, President of the Guyana Pharmacists’ Association also showered praises on the young pharmacists of Region Ten. According to Vangendren although pharmacists are involved in many areas of health care, they must live up to and assume the role of decision maker – and while the medical doctor may prescribe a number of medicines for a patient, the pharmacist might be aware that the combinations could be detrimental to the patient and should take the initiative of informing the doctor.
Adding that the pharmacists at the Linden Hospital Complex have been doing extremely well under difficult situations, Vangendren said on behalf of the institution he would like to thank them for their enthusiasm.
Barker said that the Guyana Pharmacists’ Association started out very modestly sixteen years ago but at the current time, it could participate with impact in commemorating Commonwealth Pharmacy Week. “We would like to demonstrate that we can make a difference in the lives of people,” she said. “But we can only make that difference if we move professionally.” She said that pharmacists as a body of professionals should promote more public awareness programmes such as the symposium and on diseases such as diabetes.
The President of the national pharmacists’ association also called on practising pharmacists to ensure that people adhere to their medication and dosages. She also said that pharmacists should increasingly assume the role of encouraging people to lead healthy lifestyles, to eat well and choose nutritious foods rather than misusing and abusing drugs.
The one-day symposium featured exhibitions from the Linden Hospital Pharmacy, Rubige’s Pharmacy from the Mackenzie Market, and the recently established Whittaker’s Medical Centre that operates out of the Daffodil Building, One Mile.
