DKT International Schools Public on Health Safety

DKT International, a Non Governmental Organization (NGO) has called on the general public to be mindful of the type of medication they take when they fall sick.

DKT International, that deals in modern contraceptive and other family planning products thought of educating health workers and chemical shop owners on
on how to report on (Adverse Drug Reaction )ADR which in most cases cause a lot of challenges.

The Assistant General Manager, Mr. Adamu Abdulai of DKT International also cautioned Ghanaians against the abuse of herbal medications.

For him, some people were of the wrong opinion that herbal medicines had no side effects, which he explained that because of the toxicity of some herbal medicines are not known, some members of the public took it for grantedm

He said in most cases, victims at the end get hospitalized as a result of the negative effects of the medication.

He noted that “We combine a lot of drugs that we are not supposed to combine especially herbal medicine and because of the drug interactions, we end up in the hospital”.

Mr. Abdulia was speaking at DKT International workshop held at Bolgatanga Municipality in the Upper East Region to sensitize health workers on the need to report complains of ADR.

The DKT boss further revealed that similar workshops had been held across the country to enlighten stakeholders on the adverse effects of drugs, especially DKT products and urged health professionals to report any side effects of of its products, for appropriate action to be taken.

Mr Abdulai said his outfit concentrated on family planning products because it wanted healthy living conditions for the people. 

Dr. Abdul Razak Dokurugu the Upper West Regional Deputy Director of Health on his part said the workshop was inline with health professionals credentials that would have significant levels of what pharmacovigilance was about and also know the effect of ADR.

In addition, he said pharmacovigilance was one of the key pillars in managing patients introduced onto medications.

He said as in charge of Clinical Care, the essence of the workshop was in line with the Ghana Health Service policy of educating members of the public.

“This is what we called a step in the right direction, this is arming the patient who is using the medicine, and on the second aspect making the health care worker have a deeper understanding of the work”

He said health professionals could not carry out their mandate of informing the public if they were not well informed about the adverse effects of the pharmacological products they prescribed to their clients.

Dr Dokurugu said some of the products of the organisation were new to health professionals, especially midwives, “so it is good that the facilitator is taking his time to explain how they work and what the benefits are.

“It will help our workers educate the general public on how to use some of these contraceptives,” hestated.

The Deputy Director said pharmacovigilance gave patients the opportunity to understand the medicines they took and the potential unwanted effects to expect.

By: News Desk