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The Importance of Patient Education and Mitigating Self-Medication Risks
The upcoming virtual Continuing Professional Development (CPD) training event is designed to enhance understanding of the pivotal role pharmacists and dispensers play in educating patients about disease conditions and proper medication use. In this event, we will also explore how five participating Sub-Saharan African (SSA) countries address and mitigate the risks associated with self-medication. With a distinguished panel of experts from across the region, this event will provide insights into effective patient education strategies and offer practical solutions for minimizing the dangers of self-medication.
WHY YOU SHOULD ATTEND
This interactive and informative session will empower pharmacists, dispensers, and healthcare professionals to be at the forefront of patient education. By attending, you will gain valuable insights into the risks of self-medication, learn how patient education can mitigate these risks, and understand how various SSA countries are tackling this challenge. The event provides a unique opportunity to learn from skilled resource persons and network with professionals committed to improving healthcare practices across Africa.
EVENT HIGHLIGHTS
· A diverse panel of experts from five SSA countries sharing their unique experiences and solutions to mitigate self-medication risks.
· Engaging roundtable discussions on the importance of patient education, practical communication techniques, and strategies to ensure safe medication use.
· Case studies exploring real-world examples of the impact of self-medication and the measures that can be taken to address it.
· A special focus on how healthcare professionals can guide patients in differentiating between credible and misleading online health content.
· Policy-level discussions on enhancing patient education through public-private partnerships and regulatory changes.
PROUDLY ORGANIZED AND SPONSORED BY
This is a virtual event and will be moderated by Dr. Megha Bhatt Regulatory affairs team leader- Regional RA at Cipla. The CPD event will be streamed LIVE on this page.
Date: Wed. 14 May 2025
Time: From 1500 GMT (3:00pm local time)
AGENDA
Starts at 1500 GMT (3:00 PM Local Time) on Wednesday the 14th of May 2025
· 6:00 - 6:05 PM:
Dr. Joy Ngugi – Welcome (Play corporate video)
· 6:05 - 6:10 PM:
Elizabeth Wachira – Introduction to the PACE programme
Dr. Megha Bhatt (Moderator) – Setting the scene: The importance of patient education and mitigating self-medication risks
· 6:10 - 6:20 PM:
Dr. Nikisha Gudka (MPharm, Clinical Pharmacist - Kenya) – Risk of self-medication: Case study
· 6:20 - 6:30 PM:
Dr. Megha Bhatt (Moderator) – What are the most common drivers of self-medication in our regions? (Two countries speaker)
· 6:30 - 6:50 PM:
Dr. Ellen Sam (Consultant Clinical Pharmacist - Ghana) – Importance of patient education & strategies to mitigate self-medication risk
· 6:50 - 7:05 PM:
Dr. Jimmy M. Hangoma (BPharm, MClinPharm, PhD, Clinical Pharmacist, Head of Pharmacy Department, and Lecturer in Clinical Pharmacy, Pharmacy Practice & Pharmacology, Levy Mwanawasa Medical University - Zambia) – Bridging professional care and self-care: How clinical pharmacists can enhance patient education to minimize post-discharge self-medication risks
· 7:05 - 7:15 PM:
Q&A by Dr. Megha Bhatt – With the rise of online health content, what role should healthcare professionals play in helping patients differentiate between credible and misleading medical information?
· 7:15 - 7:30 PM:
Mr. Mujahidhussein Valji (BPharm, MSc, Clinical Pharmacist - Tanzania) – Redefining the role of pharmacists in the digital age: Patient education beyond online health information
· 7:30 - 7:40 PM:
Q&A by Dr. Megha Bhatt – What policy-level changes or public-private partnerships could help scale up patient education across our healthcare systems in Africa?
· 7:40 - 7:55 PM:
Dr. Nuru Mugide (Vice President, Pharmaceutical Society of Uganda) – Strengthening policies to regulate self-medication
· 7:55 - 8:05 PM:
Dr. Joy Ngugi – Product Presentation
· 8:05 - 8:10 PM:
Dr. Megha Bhatt – Close
Overview
Course Description
This CPD training event will focus on the vital role healthcare professionals, particularly pharmacists and dispensers, play in educating patients about disease management and safe medication use. It will explore the risks of self-medication and the strategies employed across various Sub-Saharan African countries to mitigate these risks. Through engaging discussions, case studies, and expert insights, participants will gain practical knowledge on effective patient communication, the impact of online health content, and how policies and professional practices can work together to enhance patient education and improve health outcomes.
What you will learn
By the end of this training, participants will be able to:
1. Understand the critical role of pharmacists and dispensers in patient education on disease management and proper medication use.
2. Recognize the risks associated with self-medication and explore effective strategies used across SSA countries to mitigate these risks.
3. Apply best practices and communication techniques to empower patients, promote safe medication use, and improve health outcomes.
4. Identify the key drivers of self-medication in their respective regions and develop targeted strategies to address these factors.
5. Enhance the delivery of patient education in a clinical setting, particularly in post-discharge scenarios, to minimize self-medication risks.
6. Discuss policy-level changes and public-private partnerships that could help scale up patient education efforts across healthcare systems in Africa.
Course Content
Lecture Sessions
- LIVE EVENT: Wednesday 14th May 2025 from 1500 GMT (3:00 pm) 2 hours
Downloadables
No downloadable content added to this course yet.
About Facilitators
- 5 Courses on CES
DCOP/Dr Ellen A. Sam
BPharm, MSc, PgDip, PharmD, FGCPharm
Chief Pharmacist || Principal Clinical Pharmacist /Preceptor || Adjunct Lecturer
Ghana Police Hospital || Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST). Kumasi, Ghana
DCOP/Dr. Ellen Adobea Sam is an experienced and dedicated clinical pharmacist with over twenty-five years of practice in providing pharmaceutical care and clinical training.
View full profile / courses
- 1 Course on CES
Dr. Jimmy M. Hangoma
BPharm, MClinPharm, PhD
Head of Pharmacy Department || Clinical Pharmacist || Part-time Lecturer || National Mentor/Facilitator/Advisor
Levy Mwanawasa Medical University, School of Health Sciences || University Teaching Hospital in Lusaka, Zambia || University of Zambia, Cavendish Medical University, and Eden University.
Dr. Jimmy M. Hangoma is a seasoned professional in the field of pharmacy practice with extensive experience in both academic and clinical settings. He holds a PhD in Pharmacy Practice from Africa Research University and a Master’s in Clinical Pharmacy from the University of Zambia.
View full profile / courses
- 1 Course on CES
Dr. Nikisha Gudka
MPharm, MSc (Adv. Clin Pharm)
Chief Pharmacist
M.P. Shah Hospital, Nairobi, Kenya
Dr. Nikisha Gudka is a skilled and dedicated clinical pharmacist with a robust background in both hospital and retail pharmacy settings. She currently serves as the Chief Pharmacist at M. P. Shah Hospital in Nairobi, Kenya, where she oversees pharmacy operations, including procurement, drug therapy management, and stock inventory.
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- 1 Course on CES
Pharm. Mugide Nuru
BPharm, MSc
Vice President - PSU || Head of Pharmacy Department
Pharmaceutical Society of Uganda (PSU) || Kampala International University Teaching Hospital
Pharm. Mugide Nuru is a dedicated and self-motivated pharmacist with a strong background in both academic and clinical pharmacy practice. She currently serves as the Head of the Pharmacy Department at Kampala International University Teaching Hospital, where she also works as a hospital pharmacist.
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