DAR ES SALAAM Regional Medical Officer (RMO), Dr Rashid Mfaume has implored Tanzanians to avoid self medication because it may lead to other severe health impairments such as damage to the liver, kidney, and heart as well as skin.
The RMO made the remarks in Dar es Salam on Friday at the official launch of the commemoration of the World Patient Safety Day 2022 organised by Aga khan Hospital (AKH) and Pharmaceutical Society of Tanzania (PST). The day is marked on every September 17.
Dr Mfaume said that the practice of self-medication especially the use of antibiotics has resulted into drug resistance.
“If medicines are not used properly they become poisonous so people should stop such practice and instead they should consult medical personnel,” he said.
“This year’s World Patient Safety Day theme ‘Medication without Harm’ focuses on strengthening all the processes and ensuring safety and quality use of medicines,” he spoke.
On his part, PST President, Mr Fadhil Hezekiah and Chief Pharmacist at Aga Khan Hospital, Dar es Salaam (AKHD), Mr Muhajid Valji emphasised that patients safety is very significant following the Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) which is a global agenda.
“The campaign will empower both the health care providers and patients to ensure rational use of medicines.”Mr Valji added.
World Health Organisation (WHO) Country Representative, Dr Safila Telatela said the day aims at raising global awareness about patient safety and calls for solidarity and united action by all countries and international partners to reduce patient harm.
“‘World Patient Safety Day’ is one of 11 official global public health campaigns by the World Health Organisation (WHO), it was established in 2019 under World Health Assembly resolution WHA 72.6 calling for “Global action on patient safety,” she said
According to her, global estimates show that medication errors contribute to over 3 million deaths every year, a situation which has been exacerbated by overwhelmed health systems during the Covid-19 pandemic.
“About one in every four cases of preventable medication harm is clinically severe, or life-threatening. While there is limited data for the African continent, it is generally acknowledged that there is a high magnitude of unsafe medication practices,” she said
In March 2017, the World Health Organisation (WHO) launched the third Global Patient Safety Challenge with the theme of medication without harm.
The goal of the challenge is to gain worldwide commitment and action to reduce severe, avoidable medication-related harm by 50 per cent.
