The first week of September is National Pharmacy Week.
In a bid to prevent chronic diseases and to encourage South Africans to embrace a healthier lifestyle, the National Department of Health has launched a campaign to run during this week which calls on South Africans to have themselves screened at their local pharmacies for hypertension and diabetes.
Pharmacy Week is an annual event on the calendar and the objective is to remind the public about the valuable contribution to their health and well-being that is made by pharmacists and celebrating this vital service. This years’ theme is “Chronic Diseases: Take Control” and the National Department of Health has called on retail pharmacies in South Africa to take part in the campaign by advocating for members of the public to have themselves screened for chronic diseases.
Mark Payne, CEO of the Independent Community Pharmacy Association (ICPA) says that during National Pharmacy Week, participating independent pharmacies will offer free screening for diabetes and high blood pressure. “If patients are found to have one of these conditions, the pharmacist can provide advice and medicines, where appropriate. Alternatively they can also advise the patient when they need to be referred to a GP,” said Payne.
Barbertonians can visit their Local Choice Pharmacy Eksteen from September 1 to 8 to help prevent and assist in taking control of chronic diseases. All blood pressure and/or glucose screening test will be free.
“By visiting your pharmacist regularly for chronic medication or other ailments, we are able to build a database of your past and current drug history enabling us to provide essential advice to the prescriber. Trust your pharmacist to provide excellent advice and care with regard to your health and medicine,” said Simoné Eksteen.
The following services are offered by your proud Green Door local independent community pharmacy:
• Wellness screening and primary health care treatment or advice
• Advise on the optimal use of medicines
• Reviewing your medicines
• Improving health and well-being
• Ease of access to quality care
Interesting statistics parents should take note of which will help prevent their children from becoming a statistic:
• An estimated 346 million people worldwide have diabetes
• 90% of people with diabetes have Type 2 diabetes caused by excess weight and physical inactivity
• 43 million children under five years are overweight or obese
