Browsing by Author "Sefah, Israel Abebrese"

Now showing 1 - 2 of 2
  • No Thumbnail Available
    Item
    Activities in Namibia to limit the impact of COVID-19 versus Europe and Iran and the implications for the future
    (2020) Kibuule, Dan; Nambahu, Lahya; Sefah, Israel Abebrese; Kurdi, Amanj; Thi Phuong, Thuy Nguyen; Kwon, Hye-Young; Godman, Brian
    Introduction and aims: Considerable differences in prevalence and mortality rates from COVID-19, with higher rates among European countries and Iran versus African and Asian countries in part due to early and extensive prevention measures. There has been considerable controversy surrounding hydroxychloroquine, with resultant misinformation increasing prices and suicides. Growing concerns also with unintended consequences of lockdown and other measures. Consequently, a need to investigate changes in utilisation and prices of relevant medicines during the pandemic in Namibia with its proactive approach to guide future decision making. Community pharmacists play a key role in this respect. Methods: Questionnaire survey among 55 pharmacists from March to end June 2020. Results: Proactivity among some pharmacists to plan for the pandemic with increased stocks. Limited increases in utilisation of antimalarials and antibiotics in Namibia versus other countries enhanced by restrictions on self-purchasing in Namibia, reflected in limited price rises and shortages. Higher use of Vitamin C/ immune boosters in Ghana and Nigeria versus Namibia reflected in higher price rises, with increased utilisation and prices of PPE across all countries. Encouragingly lower increases in herbal medicines in Namibia versus Ghana. Concerns though with unintended consequences. Conclusion: Encouraging to see continued low prevalence and mortality rates from COVID-19 in Namibia and limited increase in utilisation of antimalarials and antibiotics with prescribing restrictions. Concerns with rising rates of malaria and other infectious diseases following lockdown need addressing. Pharmacists can help plan for the future, educate the public during pandemics, help with vaccinations and general medicines management.
  • No Thumbnail Available
    Item
    Covid-19, healthcare and self-medication issues in resource limited-settings :
    (Busitema University, 2021) Sefah, Israel Abebrese; Essah, Darius Obeng; Haque, Mainul; Opanga, Sylvia A; Kumar, Santosh; Chikowe, Ibrahim; Kibuule, Dan; Rampamba, Enos M; Kalungia, Aubrey C; Thi Phuong, Thuy Nguyen; Saleem, Zikria; Markovic‑Pekovic, Vanda; Kurdi, Amanj; Godman, Brian
    Introduction and objectives: There have been concerns with the level of misinformation regarding COVID-19 and its treatment, drug shortages, as well as increased use and prices of antimalarials, antibiotics and hygiene products during the recent pandemic. Community pharmacists can play a significant role in disease prevention and treatment in the fight against COVID-19 including providing hygiene information and medicine availability across Africa and generally. Consequently, there is a need to review the role of community pharmacists in preventing unintended consequences during any pandemic as well as the impact of COVID-19 on the demand, availability and prices of suggested medicines for its management. Method: Multiple approach involving a qualitative review of the management of COVID-19 across countries coupled with a pilot study in Ghana among six purposely selected community pharmacists during the early stages of the pandemic assessing patterns of demand, availability and prices of medicines suggested for the management of COVID-19. Alongside this, pharmacists’ future role enhancing appropriate medicine use in Ghana and wider combined with the help of senior level co-authors. Results: The majority (five out of six) of pharmacists in Ghana reported increased demand for hydroxychloroquine, antibiotics and vitamins as immune boosters resulting in shortages with price increases particularly for antimalarials. Conclusion: The global lockdown had impacted on the supply and prices of medicines in Ghana similar to other countries. Community pharmacists can play a key role with encouraging safe medicine use, reducing self-purchasing of medicines and planning workflows during future pandemics including vaccinations. They can also help address potential misinformation and its consequences as well as the unintended consequences of pandemics including better management of non-communicable diseases. Keywords: Community pharmacists, COVID-19, Ghana, misinformation, self-medication, supply chain