I Got It From The Chemist Beside The House

"I Got It From The Chemist Beside The House"

 The above phrase has been the major statement I hear on daily basis at the private hospital where am a Volunteer Medical Assistant pending Houseman-ship; and it's so sad because most of the victims are children. It's called "Self Medication". 

It has gotten worse that a mother was told that her three (3) months old niece is teething and was given one of these "teething syrups" (name withheld). THREE MONTHS? Did she spend an extra at-least-two-months in the womb? I was angry. Of course, the girl got better for a while because there is paracetamol in the drug to make the fever go down for a while, but they couldn't address the diarrhea and vomiting.

There is another who presented at the "house of the nurse in her area". This woman would have died with her unborn few weeks old child if not for prompt intervention. The cause eventually was Appendicitis which got so bad and resulted in Intestinal Obstruction. The "nurse" (an auxiliary nurse - we found out eventually) couldn't do more than loading her with several fluids and antibiotics. 

This piece is to encourage us to, PLEASE, present any form of change in your normal body function to the nearest "trusted hospital". Let's help ourselves live long by avoiding "the nurse nearby", "the chemist by the house", "the woman who wears white coat and works at the hospital but we don't know what she does there" etc.

If you think the drugs sold at the hospital are expensive, ask for the prescription, then go get the same drug at "your chemist".

The other thing is to get your Doctor's contact, so that if you ain't strong enough to go to the hospital, your Doctor can give you instructions to follow. The hospital might even have to get an ambulance to come pick you up.

Our family needs us. Friends still want to hang out with us and have fun. Do not jeopardise your future or posterity's by taking a single risk which you might not have the breath to regret.

I pray for long life in great health for us and ours. 

Also using this opportunity to pray for one of our sisters a wonderful birthday today - Mrs. Yetunde Ogunbiyi (nee Falana) . Please 'DHL' our treat o.

Dr. 'Lara