₦airaland Forum

I remember having a very serious bout of malaria. The fever was so high I had to rush to a pharmacist around 10 pm.

Honestly, if not for the injections and drugs I got that night, I don’t know what would have happened. That moment reminded me how pharmacists are often the unsung heroes we run to when sickness strikes.

From malaria drugs to HIV treatment, they stand between sickness and recovery, making sure we get the right medication and advice when we need it most.

Today, on World Pharmacist Day, we at Retroviral Solutions celebrate these quiet but powerful hands of healthcare.

👉 Have you ever had a pharmacist make you feel better with their advice, care, or even just a kind word?

Share your story.

Are pharmacists even licensed to give injections? Please do not ever play with your health, even the smallest of mistakes can be disastrous.

That said, if you walk into any Federal Teaching Hospital today, you'd find that Pharmacy is probably the most useless department amongst the clinical. They are basically dispensers and the task they carry out can easily be performed by anyone who has same access to the doctors prescriptions and knows his way around the shelves of medications. Even the porters assisting the pharmacists, sometimes step in to assist.

In some, Pharmacists aren't even allowed to swap a brand of prescription let alone prescribe by themselves.

In the scheme of things, the hierarchy is Doctors, Nurses, Lab Scientists, before pharmacists and co

Malaria, one of the deadliest tropical diseases. Joke with it at your own peril.

Even in littlest things... Humans deny God his glory

Which one be say pharmacist saved you

You had malaria and you run to pharmacist, when simple agbo would have cured

You had malaria and you run to pharmacist, when simple agbo would have cured

Make sense. At least in Nigeria. Those pharmacist for Germany no send you o. If no doctor report, no drugs given (apart from paracetamol). Not to talk of injection. Even worst, by 6pm dem don close market

Manny21:
Malaria, one of the deadliest tropical diseases. Joke with it at your own peril.

Treat malaria every 3weeks.
Any small thing, e don hold me.
Happy Pharmacists Day.
I don't really know why, pharmacist is my first go to person, rather than a doctor, and it has always been effective for me.
The one I frequently patronised would advise on case where I should report myself to the hospital.
That's why I do patronised a pharmacy that has a sit-in pharmacist to explain my situation when getting any medication

RetroviralS:
I remember having a very serious bout of malaria. The fever was so high I had to rush to a pharmacist around 10 pm.

Honestly, if not for the injections and drugs I got that night, I don’t know what would have happened. That moment reminded me how pharmacists are often the unsung heroes we run to when sickness strikes.

From malaria drugs to HIV treatment, they stand between sickness and recovery, making sure we get the right medication and advice when we need it most.

Today, on World Pharmacist Day, we at Retroviral Solutions celebrate these quiet but powerful hands of healthcare.

👉 Have you ever had a pharmacist make you feel better with their advice, care, or even just a kind word?

Share your story.

Heyaaaa, na wah

So that means you must continue taking your antiretroviral drugs until the day you leave the earth?

I heard you can still live a fulfilling life as long as you continue taking your drugs, exercise daily and eat healthy. And also try and avoid any stressors in your life. You will be okay bro. Cheers

How was s/he sure it was malaria without blood work?

GboyegaD:
How was s/he sure it was malaria without blood work?

The OP is living with HIV. He tries to educate the public about the disease through his posts.

With HIV, even ordinary malaria can kill.

Jagabanbogu:
Even in littlest things... Humans deny God his glory

Which one be say pharmacist saved you

Nah God carry am go pharmacist nah, con manufacture the injection join, con give am the injection.

Shift abeg.

Give unto Ceasar what belongs to Ceasar and unto God what belongs to God.

That was so because of the poor system in Nigeria.
Ideally, a pharmacist shouldn't diagnose, prescribe or administer treatment to you....but in Nigeria anything goes. Nurse act like doctors, doctors want to do the work of everybody, pharmacists diagnose and administer treatments...

Anyway, thank God that you were bailed out sha

Malaria is very terrible if left untreated
Very underrated assassin

Even oyibo fears malaria more than any other sickness

I don't understand what you mean by doctors want to do the work of everybody. How please?

Segzy19:
That was so because of the poor system in Nigeria.
Ideally, a pharmacist shouldn't diagnose, prescribe or administer treatment to you....but in Nigeria anything goes. Nurse act like doctors, doctors want to do the work of everybody, pharmacists diagnose and administer treatments...

Anyway, thank God that you were bailed out sha

creolehunt:
Are pharmacists even licensed to give injections? Please do not ever play with your health, even the smallest of mistakes can be disastrous.

That said, if you walk into any Federal Teaching Hospital today, you'd find that Pharmacy is probably the most useless department amongst the clinical. They are basically dispensers and the task they carry out can easily be performed by anyone who has same access to the doctors prescriptions and knows his way around the shelves of medications. Even the porters assisting the pharmacists, sometimes step in to assist.

In some, Pharmacists aren't even allowed to swap a brand of prescription let alone prescribe by themselves.

In the scheme of things, the hierarchy is Doctors, Nurses, Lab Scientists, before pharmacists and co

I agree and it has a lot to do with weak regulations

Let me use this opportunity to make an important clarification on the critical and evolving role of pharmacists in the healthcare system because of a rather myopic post made probably by a medical officer above. While everyone is entitled to their opinion, it is crucial to base our understanding on facts and current clinical practice. The characterization of pharmacists as mere "dispensers" is not only inaccurate but also dismissive of their extensive training and patient-facing responsibilities.

Let's address the points raised:

1. On Pharmacists and Injections: "Are pharmacists even licensed to give injections?"

Yes, absolutely. In Nigeria and many countries worldwide, licensed pharmacists are not only permitted but are increasingly trained and certified to administer a wide range of injections.This includes:

Vaccinations (COVID-19, flu, hepatitis, etc.)
Hormonal injections (e.g., contraceptives)
Biologics and other therapeutic agents.

This practice is a cornerstone of public health efforts to improve accessibility. Pharmacists undergo specific, accredited training in vaccine administration, CPR, and the management of adverse events, making them highly qualified for this task.

2. On the Role of Pharmacists in a Teaching Hospital: "The most useless department... basically dispensers"

This claim fundamentally misunderstands the role of a clinical pharmacist in a tertiary hospital. A pharmacist's value extends far beyond the dispensing counter. Their critical functions include:

Clinical Ward Rounds: Pharmacists actively participate in patient care rounds alongside doctors and nurses. They provide expert advice on drug selection, dosage, interactions, and monitoring to ensure optimal therapeutic outcomes.
Medication Therapy Management (MTM): They conduct comprehensive reviews of a patient's medications to identify and resolve drug-related problems, such as duplications, interactions, or inappropriate dosing.
Antibiotic Stewardship: In an era of rising antimicrobial resistance, pharmacists lead hospital programs to ensure antibiotics are used appropriately, improving patient recovery and saving costs.
Drug Information Resource: They are the primary source of evidence-based drug information for the entire healthcare team.

To suggest that a porter could perform these tasks demonstrates a lack of awareness of the deep pharmacological knowledge and clinical judgment required.

3. On Brand Substitution and Prescribing: "Not allowed to swap a brand... let alone prescribe"

Brand Substitution: Pharmacists are legally empowered to make generic substitutions (swapping brands) when the prescription is written generically and when it is in the best interest of the patient, considering hospital formulary, cost, and bioavailability. If a doctor specifies a brand for a clinical reason, it is a mark of professional respect and collaborative care—not incompetence—to adhere to that.
Prescribing Authority: The role of a pharmacist is not to replace a doctor's diagnosis but to optimize the prescribed treatment. Furthermore, in many advanced practice settings globally, Pharmacist Independent Prescribers do diagnose and prescribe for specific conditions, a model that is expanding due to its success in improving access to care.

4. On the Healthcare Hierarchy: "Doctors, Nurses, Lab Scientists, before pharmacists"

Modern healthcare is not a hierarchy but an interprofessional collaborative team. Patient safety and outcomes are best served when doctors, pharmacists, nurses, lab scientists, and other professionals work together as equals, each bringing their unique expertise to the table.

A doctor's expertise in diagnosis is paramount. A nurse's expertise in patient care is irreplaceable. A lab scientist's expertise in diagnostics is crucial. Similarly, a pharmacist's expertise in pharmacotherapy—the science of medication—is essential. To devalue one is to weaken the entire chain of patient care.

Conclusion

Pharmacists are doctoral-level trained healthcare professionals (holding a Doctor of Pharmacy - Pharm.D. in many cases) who are essential gatekeepers of patient safety. They are medication experts who work collaboratively to ensure that drug therapy is safe, effective, and affordable.

Dismissing their role based on outdated perceptions does a disservice to the entire healthcare system and, most importantly, to the patients who benefit directly from their expertise. Let's move beyond stereotypes and appreciate the critical, life-saving contributions each healthcare professional makes to the team.

I have not fallen ill of malaria dis year. Let me see whether it will reach ending of dis year, so i can confirm whether the stuff am taking is for real and sure!

Segzy19:
That was so because of the poor system in Nigeria.
Ideally, a pharmacist shouldn't diagnose, prescribe or administer treatment to you....but in Nigeria anything goes. Nurse act like doctors, doctors want to do the work of everybody, pharmacists diagnose and administer treatments...

Anyway, thank God that you were bailed out sha

Medical care isn't affordable anywhere, govt makes it affordable.
People seeks for the most efficient means, Dr's should have been the most efficient but it's not due to the system we found ourselves.
Having a long queue to see the Dr, put on another waiting list after first visit, then comes the cost of treatment that most can't afford due to our economy.
What's the alternative, Nurses, Auxiliary Nurse, Lab Scientist, Pharmacist, etc, with all having an idea even though it's not their speciality, the one with likelihood of giving the right answer takes the stage, in this case Pharmacist, fortunately or unfortunately, same is the seller of the drugs, so it becomes the cheapest of the lots.

Segzy19:
That was so because of the poor system in Nigeria.
Ideally, a pharmacist shouldn't diagnose, prescribe or administer treatment to you....but in Nigeria anything goes. Nurse act like doctors, doctors want to do the work of everybody, pharmacists diagnose and administer treatments...

Anyway, thank God that you were bailed out sha

Have you ever been to a Nigerian hospital where you are extremely sick… maybe just Malaria … it looks like you are dieing … but there’s no single doctor on ground to attend to you ?… Maybe you can see why a lot of patients prefer to have access to other health professionals… other than doctors alone … or you think it’s only doctors that can diagnose malaria

Kajaard:
The OP is living with HIV. He tries to educate the public about the disease through his posts.

With HIV, even ordinary malaria can kill.

This doesn't address my question. I understand malaria is endemic in Nigeria however, I never knew it could be treated without blood work.

Your genotype and blood group determine how malaria parasites will affect you as an individual.
Never take seriously those who tell you “Is it not ordinary malaria?” There is nothing ordinary about it!

RetroviralS:
I remember having a very serious bout of malaria. The fever was so high I had to rush to a pharmacist around 10 pm.

Honestly, if not for the injections and drugs I got that night, I don’t know what would have happened. That moment reminded me how pharmacists are often the unsung heroes we run to when sickness strikes.

From malaria drugs to HIV treatment, they stand between sickness and recovery, making sure we get the right medication and advice when we need it most.

Today, on World Pharmacist Day, we at Retroviral Solutions celebrate these quiet but powerful hands of healthcare.

👉 Have you ever had a pharmacist make you feel better with their advice, care, or even just a kind word?

Share your story.

THANK GOD no be the QUACK type u JAMMED.. HEALTH is WELALTH

Op is very right. I had a similar experience recently. That's why I always laugh at people who looked down on malaria fever. Millions of people are dying every year from malaria. In fact, It is a bigger killer disease than HIV and cancer.

creolehunt:
Are pharmacists even licensed to give injections? Please do not ever play with your health, even the smallest of mistakes can be disastrous.

That said, if you walk into any Federal Teaching Hospital today, you'd find that Pharmacy is probably the most useless department amongst the clinical. They are basically dispensers and the task they carry out can easily be performed by anyone who has same access to the doctors prescriptions and knows his way around the shelves of medications. Even the porters assisting the pharmacists, sometimes step in to assist.

In some, Pharmacists aren't even allowed to swap a brand of prescription let alone prescribe by themselves.

In the scheme of things, the hierarchy is Doctors, Nurses, Lab Scientists, before pharmacists and co

I used to think in your direction but I know better now.

GboyegaD:
This doesn't address my question. I understand malaria is endemic in Nigeria however, I never knew it could be treated without blood work.

Lol🤣

It seems you live outside the country. Over 90% of Nigerians treat malaria without carrying out any blood work

Once they just start feeling a little feverish they rush to buy malaria drugs from the nearest pharmacy 🤣

Lol
your post is very funny, but it shows the problem of the Nigeria medical system.

you should compare with global standard and not the Nigeria style where medical doctors put their egos first, where the patients are at the recieving end of their egos.

In community practice settings the pharmacy and pharmacist is licensed to administer drugs and further legislation is required to further expand the job of the pharmacist since they are medication expert and now there are clinical pharmacist.

creolehunt:
Are pharmacists even licensed to give injections? Please do not ever play with your health, even the smallest of mistakes can be disastrous.

That said, if you walk into any Federal Teaching Hospital today, you'd find that Pharmacy is probably the most useless department amongst the clinical. They are basically dispensers and the task they carry out can easily be performed by anyone who has same access to the doctors prescriptions and knows his way around the shelves of medications. Even the porters assisting the pharmacists, sometimes step in to assist.

In some, Pharmacists aren't even allowed to swap a brand of prescription let alone prescribe by themselves.

In the scheme of things, the hierarchy is Doctors, Nurses, Lab Scientists, before pharmacists and co

Jagabanbogu:
Even in littlest things... Humans deny God his glory
Which one be say pharmacist saved you

.


In Bible

New Testament (Fulfillment in Jesus):
• John 3:16-17 – “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.”
• Luke 19:10 – “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”

In Quran :

• Qur’an 16:36 – “And We certainly sent into every nation a messenger, [saying], ‘Worship Allah and avoid false gods.’”
• Qur’an 21:107 – “And We have not sent you [O Muhammad] except as a mercy to the worlds.”
2. About Isa (Jesus, peace be upon him):


• Qur’an 3:45 – “[The angels] said, ‘O Mary, indeed Allah gives you good tidings of a word from Him, whose name will be the Messiah, Jesus, the son of Mary—distinguished in this world and the Hereafter and among those brought near [to Allah].’”
• Qur’an 5:72 – confirms that Isa was sent as a messenger and savior for the Children of Israel.

Murketeer:
Have you ever been to a Nigerian hospital where you are extremely sick… maybe just Malaria … it looks like you are dieing … but there’s no single doctor on ground to attend to you ?… Maybe you can see why a lot of patients prefer to have access to other health professionals… other than doctors alone … or you think it’s only doctors that can diagnose malaria

Exactly, that's why we have the RN and the Auxiliary Nurse, I think we even have the Midwifery which is different from RN.
Without all these people helping out in some cases, about half of us for don kpai from flu, cough or headache.
During delivery of my first son at a general hospital, it was an old nurse experience that saved the day.
Btw, I don't have any particular preference for anyone, as I have them all as family and friends