Pharmacy workshop in the Solomon Islands
SRH senior lecturer Anne Leversha presents reference books donated by Monash to two of the participants at the Solomon Islands workshop, pharmacists Delma Ragoso and Solomon Szarbs.
Anne Leversha from the School of Rural Health Latrobe Valley and West Gippsland recently ran a pharmacy workshop with a difference.
Anne and her colleague Amanda Sanburg presented the workshop in a Pacific neighbouring country, the Solomon Islands.
Last year Anne, a SRH senior lecturer and pharmacist with many years of teaching and practical experience, joined Amanda to conduct a workshop for pharmacists in Vanuatu. The success of it resulted in the two being invited to run a similar event in the Solomon Islands.
The aim of the workshop was for participants to learn more about the practice of clinical pharmacy which incorporates rational use of medicines. This includes many aspects such as which are the appropriate medicines for chronic conditions like diabetes, asthma and cardiovascular conditions. It also embraces pharmacists helping patients understand the importance of taking their medicines regularly and assisting with information concerning lifestyle changes that may be necessary to reduce the adverse effects of these diseases.
The pharmacists were also exposed to the latest information from the World Health Organisation (WHO) on appropriate antibiotic use. This subject has become increasingly significant because of the growing problem of antimicrobial resistance.
The workshop comprised four days of lectures which included practice-based topics such as medication chart review as well as effective patient counselling, pain management and team building. Each participant also presented a case study for discussion by the group.
Following this, two days were undertaken assisting the pharmacists with medication ward rounds in the major hospital in Honiara (the nation’s capital) – the National Referral Hospital (a 300 plus bed hospital).
“We looked at how medication was used; issues such as dosage, whether patients had been on the medication too long or if it should be changed,” Anne said of the workshop. “One of the key aspects of the role of the hospital pharmacist is working as part of an inter-professional team. Medication management involves team work.”
One of the major public health issues in the Solomon Islands is the incidence of diabetes so Anne and Amanda focused on the treatment of diabetes. “In the same way we also dealt with the treatment of asthma and cardio vascular disease,” Anne added.
An example of an activity introduced in the workshop was the making of ‘asthma spacers’. Participants were aware of the need for the spacers to be readily available for asthma sufferers because these help to get asthma medication into the lungs. Unfortunately these are expensive and not readily available. This has led to an innovative solution that involved the use of modified soft drink bottles. A cost effective solution to this problem.
Anne and Amanda have already received invitations to visit other Pacific island nations to conduct similar workshops. In the meantime, one of their colleagues, who will be working for the next 12 months in the Solomon Islands, will continue to consolidate the clinical training undertaken in the workshop.
Monash also donated six pharmacy reference books which were appreciated by the participants.