As a healthcare provider, the people who may find you very, very annoying and inconsiderate are your own family members, friends and neighbors. They regard such familiarity as perfect alternative to visiting health facility.
Generally, most Ghanaians find it difficult to visit the appropriate quarters with minor or major health problem in its budding phase They are quick to call, not to explain their symptoms for appropriate medical advice; rather, they call you with specific demands such as; "My stomach is paining me, give me medicine".
They don't expect any form of explanation except for you to go in there, pull or ask them to purchase specific medication.
As a healthcare provider or someone who is health literate, you understand the real danger associated with such "quick fix” approach to health issues. You don't want the person to harm him/herself or you simply don't want to put yourself in trouble and so you encourage the person to visit healthcare facility first. This is where their frustrations worsen.
For a professional, you know or should know better. Never succumb to such pressure from neighbors or friends especially when it comes to prescribing treatment at home.
They may even tell you it's because you don't know anything. That's fine. That person may be ignorant but you are not. You work with a license and if anything goes wrong, you can lose it, your job, self-worth and stands the risk of serving jail time.
Stevens-Johnson Syndrome
This is one typical health problem that should discourage healthcare providers from ever prescribing treatment(medication) at home.
Most of the patients I know who suddenly suffered Stevens-Johnson Syndrome- an emergency, life threatening auto-immune disease had it from allergic reaction to paracetamol. Yes, common para.
Joynews Documentary Dubbed: This Abled
Recently, JoyNews aired a documentary on a victim of allergic reaction (Stevens-Johnson Syndrome) to paracetamol. According to Miss Sarah Akpalu, she was not born blind. it was just the usual headache and she decided to take paracetamol.
The next day, everything changed dramatically. She had serious skin problems followed by permanent blindness. 'Simple' paracetamol immune reaction caused Miss Sarah blindness. That's extremely sad.
Now, consider this; what would you do or feel if you were the one who gave or asked Miss Sarah to take that pmol? The story could have been different if it were a nurse who gave the pmol at home, leading to such unexpected, unfortunate outcome.
You may take the risk to offer close family members minor treatment. However, such risk is definitely not worth it outside your own home as a healthcare provider. No matter how harmless and simple it may look, avoid it by all means.
Continue to advise your relations: family, friends and neighbors to visit health facility first. This may take you out of serious trouble one day.
To the General Public
Always remember that every orthodox medicine especially is a bio-friendly chemical, primarily engineered to tackle health issue on or within the body.
No matter how small they may appear, they are packed with powerful chemical elements that can cause damage to the body when not administered correctly. This is why one of the most complex aspects of healthcare delivery is treatment which includes medication.
There are many strict rules governing drug administration alone. They check all vital body organs to understand how much adverse effect can the drug have on a particular patient.
Doctors, pharmacists, nurses as well as patients and relatives ought to work together just to ensure these rules are strictly adhered to in and outside health facilities.
Ensure all your medications are properly prescribed and always consult your healthcare provider for professional advice.
Bernard Agbonoshie is a registered nurse, an author, a public speaker and the owner of bernajismedia.com
