AÂ SPECIAL EDITION OF WELLNESS 360 NEWSLETTER BY MDS
JANUARY 2020
M-POWERING MOMENTS WITH MYRTIS BOOTHE
2020 YOUR MOST M-POWERING YEAR YET!
TODAY'S PHARMACIST
DISPENSING MORE THAN MEDS
MDS MAKES MAJOR MOVE
CONSUMER MARKET MANEUVER
2020
TEAM Yanique Dias-McLean / Nikeisha Boothe Dahlia McDaniel Dickson / Antoinette McDonald / Gerry Whyte Lenworth Murray / Patrice Wilson / Louis Manning / Nadine Banton Lacey Gordon / Kurt Boothe / Michelle Gordon Melanie Miller / Phase 3 Terri-Karelle Reid
83 Hagley Park Road , Kingston 10 +1-876-546-7411 / info@mdsja.com IG: mdsltd / FB: mdslimited
WWW.MDSJA.COM
Distributed by MDS Limited
A SPECIAL EDITION OF W360 NEWSLETTER BY MDS
MPowered by MDS Vol. 1 Issue 1 January 2020 Cover Image Myrtis Boothe Managing director, MDS Photographer: O'Brien Brown Editor-In-Chief Michelle Gordon michellermj@gmail.com Contributors Nikeisha Boothe, Gabrielle Burgess, Daryl Daley, Selena Dyke, Jake Rossen, Lisa Reid, Gillian Whyte-Roseway Marketing Nikeisha Boothe Nboothe@mdsja.com Advertising Lacey Gordon LaceyG@mdsja.com Address: 83 Hagley Park Road Kingston 10 Phone: 1 876 546 7411 | Customer Care Phone: 1 876 394 9039 | Complaints & Compliments IG: mdsltd FB: mdslimited
www.mdsja.com info@mdsja.com Published by mds jamaica limited All Rights Reserved Printed by Herald Printers www.heraldprinters.com
GENERAL
MANAGER'S
NOTE
2020 is already poised to be a very profound year for the MDS family. This marks the closing of our 20th year in business, while representing our point of entry into a new decade. As a Company, we have traditionally been reserved in trumpeting the highlights (and lowlights) of our business journey. However, with this special edition of our Wellness 360 publication, we are sharing parts of our story and unmasking the life experiences of others in an effort to 'Mpower' you, our readers. We hope that after you have leafed through the ensuing pages, one enduring takeaway will be that: 'all things are possible'. Our first objective being materialised for this New Year is our inaugural Continuing Education Seminar aptly dubbed 'M-powered by MDS'. This event is not only intended to provide our participants with professional enhancement, but to invest in personal empowerment through an unparalleled experience. On behalf of the entire team at MDS, I would like to extend voluminous gratitude to all our partners, vendors and customers for your ongoing confidence in us. To our MDS Team, thank you for all the hard work and incredible levels of enthusiasm you apply daily to ensure that our stakeholders get the best from us. We wish for all of you a very Happy New Year, one of pristine clarity on your journey to your 20/20 Vision; and that you will 'Beat the Best' in all you do this year.
CONTENTS FEATURE MPOWERED WITH MYRTIS BOOTHE The Powerhouse Behind MDS p14
TOPICS 12
EMPOWERING A CHILD WHO STUTTERS
18
40, FABULOUS & FERTILE
28
DON’T SWEAT IT: THE HYPE AROUND HYPERHIDROSIS
34
EN'TIGHT'LEMENT: VAGINAL REJUVENTAION
EDITOR'S NOTE WHO IS YOUR MP? P 10
FEATURES 2 3 EXERCISING INTO A NEW DECADE 2 9 BEHIND-THE-SCENES WITH
PHARMACISTS
TIPS
TODAY’S PHARMACIST: DISPENSING MORE THAN MEDS P 33
PROFILE MDS MAKES MAJOR MOVES P 31
2 6 LOVE THE SKIN YOU’RE IN WITH TREE
HUT WWW.MDSJA.COM
The President's Message A beautiful welcome to 2020, the year and decade of promise, and to all participants of the inaugural “Mpowered 2020.' "Make your life a masterpiece, imagine no limitations on what you can be, have or do.” Brian Tracy. This to me is exactly what we are told in the bible, we can do exceedingly, abundantly and above what we can ever imagine. When you change the quality of your thinking, you change the quality of your life, sometimes instantly. I know for persons who work in our profession we are propelled to carry out the work of building on and developing the profession of pharmacy. This seminar I hope is the start of a very special relationship between the Pharmaceutical Society of Jamaica and the host, Medical Disposables and Supplies. In the Pharmacy profession we continue to experience changes; changes that propel us to step outside of our comfort zones as we are challenged to find new and diverse ways to address the issues we face. Continuing education and development are at the forefront of our plans. The education team is introducing to the membership the concept of Continuing Professional Development (CPDs). Pharmacists will have the opportunity to identify the career path they want to pursue and choose areas of learning that will facilitate their progress. The development of the Society’s property is ongoing. It is evident from all that has been shared that pharmacists imagine no limitations on what we can be, can have or can do. We push past the obstacles and boldly step into our expanding roles in healthcare delivery. We are consistently working to develop professionally and to positively impact health care and patient outcomes. We are also building leadership capacity by actively mentoring the upcoming generation to take over the leadership of the organization in the future. We are lifting standards and pushing beyond the ordinary to achieve excellence and relevance in all areas. To the directors and management of Medical Disposables Ltd I say a special congratulation on the hosting of this seminar, Mpowered, and publishing of the magazine, W360. I use this opportunity to thank you for your contribution to the development of pharmacy through your direct and indirect support for the work of the society. The work of the society I remind us all continues so we look forward to future collaboration. We need the support of everyone. Martin Luther Jr asked the urgent question, “What are you doing for others?” It is a question we must constantly ask ourselves as professionals in an area that requires much compassion, sacrifice and commitment. What impact am I having? Is my influence for good or for bad? Our profession and all we serve need our positive influence. Thank you and please enjoy the learning, networking and relaxation provided by our innovative hosts of MPowered 2020! Ernestine Watson Pharm.D. President Pharmaceutical Society of Jamaica
WHO IS YOUR
?
MP By Michelle Gordon Editor's Note
M
any of us start our adult journey with ambitious plans; leave school, find a good job, find a partner, get married, have some babies, build a decent life, travel the world, retire, then live happily ever after. We hit the ground running in our mid-twenties and pull up stumps around our late fifties into early sixties the requisite time for us to begin the slowing down process. But then life happens, and sometimes things don’t always go according to plan... It’s the unorthodox stories, the ones that don’t go according to script, that I find to be the most inspiring. The stories where my own far-fromperfect life becomes relatable. And then relatable becomes fixable. And when you start fixing things, and repairing, restoring, renewing… that is where true 'mpowerment lies. Suddenly, you feel stronger, more capable, more responsible even and certainly, more in control. Myrtis Boothe was 52 years old when she hit the ground running. Did she have everything she needed? Did she even know what she was doing? No. But with an equal balance of mistakes and experience ‘in the bag’, she started a new journey and rewrote her story.
Where are you in your story Which chapter of your book needs some editing? And which one needs to be completely re-written? Or better yet, how many of us need to step out of someone else’s novel and start writing our own? What does it take for you to follow through on the resolutions that you made at the start of this year. Or last year for that matter? Commitment? Dedication, Passion? Hard work? Discipline? Myrtis Boothe will tell you that it takes all of that and more. You may have to roll your sleeves all the way up, and start digging deeper than you’ve ever done before. You’ll probably have to sacrifice some of your wants for more of your needs, and you’ll definitely have to do some more praying. But it’s all worth it. My challenge to you is to find yourself an Mpowerment Partner (MP) - someone who not only inspires you, but someone who will MOTIVATE you, MENTOR you and MAKE SURE you stay on track to hit your targets. You’ll find that Mpowerment is contagious. Once you’re 'Mpowered, you too will 'Mpower! Who’s your MP? Identify him or her today and get powered up for your most Mpowering year yet!.
MPOWERED 2020 | 10
Empowering A Child Who Stutters SELENA DYKE
Stammering, stuttering or disfluency is a type of communication and speech disorder that happens when a person speaks; their normal flow of speech is punctuated by certain characteristics like repetitions of a word or syllable. It is relatively common in children at different developmental stages as they learn vocabulary, particularly around ages 2-3 years. At this age a child’s vocabulary and language skills are rapidly developing, sometimes faster than their little lips can keep up with; this is known as speech disfluency, and, as a result, stammering occurs. As your toddler grows and practices talking and saying words, stammering turns into fluid speech. If stammering continues and the condition worsens, it is then important to contact a speech therapist sooner rather than later, as stammering is treatable if caught early.
Emotional Effects of Stammering Most children who stammer go through various degrees of emotions, such as self- consciousness, anxiety, anger and shame. These emotions can affect their self-esteem negatively. These negative emotions and attitudes associated with stammering can magnify the disorder, increasing reluctance in communication. This can ultimately interfere with their ability to practice their speech and interact freely with their peers. As a parent, when you see your child going through this emotional experience, you may wonder what you can do to help your child. To address these emotional concerns, a good place to start is to build self-esteem. Simply put, self-esteem is how you feel about yourself. As parents, we have the precarious job of fostering self-esteem and emotional wellbeing in our children so that they can head out into the world feeling confident and resilient. There is power in words, and the use of positive talk can help any child build selfesteem, and also succeed. Using positive language with your child can only enhance self-confidence, providing an antidote to unhealthy feelings of shame that sometimes come with stammering. Positive words can change a child’s negative opinion about him/herself. Positive words are a simple tool for empowering and reinforcing a child’s “yes” voice. For example, a child that stammers may be self-conscious about reading in class and initially his or her “no” voice may fill his or her mind with all kinds of worries and concerns like “I can’t do this”or “I am a loser”. Instead, a “yes” voice would sound like; “I can do this” or “I am special”.
Selena Dyke is a Child Therapist and Parent EducatorEmpowering Parents • Strengthening Families • Building Social Skills Contact her at Edu_counsellor@yahoo.com
with Myrtis Boothe
BY
NIKEISHA
BOOTHE
It is no secret that some of the world’s most beloved
brands
were
housed
in
modest
beginnings. Apple, Google, Amazon, Disney and Mattel are all powerful, industry-leading brands that would seem to have everything working in their favour; so much so that it is hard to reckon a period in time when, what now seems like everything, started from virtually nothing. With a garage incubating their initial dreams, it is awe inspiring to know that their limitations could not dwarf their giant
undertakings.
Similar
to
their
beginnings, MDS was grown from the seed of an ambitious vision that was watered with copious amounts of blood, sweat and tears. MPOWERED 2020 | 14
In 1998, before there were investors, customers, profits or products, there was one woman with two children in college, colossal tuition fees becoming due and for the first time since she was 18 years old, without employment. Having just severed ties with the medical and pharmaceutical distribution company at which she spent 11 years, Myrtis needed to quickly identify and pursue next steps. Being a nurse with an intense passion to serve those in need of care, coupled with the business acumen sharpened in her previous role, she decided to launch her own medical distribution company in a market space dominated by established giants. With no comfort of a plan B and
Myrtis Boothe with daughter Nikeisha
no time to succumb to fear, a blue Volvo 850 (with roving office in its trunk) roamed the streets of Jamaica, steered by a 52-year old woman trying to jumpstart her professional life - at an age when many would be aggressively pursuing the idea of slowing down and eyeing a retirement plan. Many questions come to mind during the process of absorbing the genesis and formative years of the MDS story line, much of which rests on the founder – questions surrounding the source of her strength, her courage and her relentless will to defy the odds. A deeper exploration transports us decades earlier to a little girl living on Narine Lane in the fishing village of Old Harbour Bay who was conditioned to take care of her younger brother, Rupert,
... a 52-year old woman trying to jumpstart her professional life at an age when many would be aggressively pursuing the idea of slowing down and eyeing a retirement plan.
and those around her from the tender age of five (5) after the tragic and untimely passing of her breadwinning father.
MPOWERED 2020 | 15
It was at this pivotal moment that much of the carefree nature of childhood was replaced with adult-like responsibilities and a laser focused determination that came from being in survival mode. Unable to continue the rent for their home, Myrtis' mother utilised land belonging to her father and completed a little wooden structure that they would call home. It was not much; truth is, it was hardly anything, but it was home, it kept them all together and it was theirs. Though she had less means than most in her district, she never felt 'less than'. It did not hurt that she was always said to be a very pretty girl who was immaculate in her appearance. Myrtis' mother, Athaliah Davis, previously a home maker, turned to the assets of the nearby seaside for her new livelihood - buying fish in Old Harbour Bay and travelling to Porus to sell the product; forced to overnight when the produce went unsold. During these times, Myrtis supervised her sibling, preparing food and tending to his needs. Unable to go to school until she was eight years old because of the inability to afford the fee and all the associated expenses (such as lunch), it is marvelling how she was able to ascend to the top of her class when she did have the privilege of attending Old Harbour Primary School. On the personal side of life, challenges were of a different kind, but requiring much of the same tenacity she heeded all her life. Topping the list was not the struggles of her relationship, the uncertainty surrounding how to make ends meet or beginning again at the age of 52 but, rather, a moment in 1998 after the doorbell of her home rang at . Myrtis Boothe with son Kurt
MPOWERED 2020 | 16
2 a.m. in the morning, when a friend of her son greeted her with the news that he was in a car accident; an accident that would find him close to knocking on death's door. With no tears shed, Myrtis' fight mode kicked into high gear, amassing all her resources to ensure preservation of life for her firstborn. The loss of her brother to colon cancer in 2014 was another crippling moment that has yielded unrelenting pain. Yet, despite it all, she always seems to find continuous bouts of humour to stir her infectious laugh. It is no accident that she has made it from her roots in Old Harbour Bay. It was undoubtedly the result of deliberate efforts, extreme resilience and focus. By real world standards, statistics suggest that she wasn't supposed to have made it. But Myrtis has shown that where you come from does not dictate where or how far you will go. When asked what advice she would give to her younger self, Myrtis offers "Everything you will go through will not be wasted; it will all profit your soul. Stay strong. And be persistent in prayer. The best is yet to come."
MPOWERED 2020 | 17
40 FABULOUS FERTILE By Gillian Whyte-Roseway
In a time not so long ago, women were bombarded by ideas of a ticking time bomb; more commonly referred to as, the biological clock.The biological clock is literally the New Year’s Eve countdown to motherhood, where you ring in a new chapter of your life. Today, “the clock” still ticks, but there are women delaying becoming mothers. For some, this is due to circumstances outside of their control, while others are making a conscious decision to wait until a little later in life to start a family.
18
Motherhood has evolved over the past decade or so. No longer do you have to be a twenty- or thirtysomething-year-old homemaker (although that's still ok); today you can be a forty-something mother and CEO. There has been a paradigm shift and women are at the helm. Statistics show that for the last few years there has been a steady increase in women getting pregnant closer to and after the age of forty. This can be attributed to a change in priority for most women. For some married women, more time is invested in their relationship and prolonging the honeymoon period before baby makes three. The independent women are also looking into focusing on themselves first before considering motherhood, with or without a partner.  Ladies are now more focused on furthering their education and establishing a career before child-rearing, ensuring that they have set up a life for themselves prior to being responsible for another. Forty is the new twenty. Well maybe not. But, forty is a new fabulous time to be a mom. And fabulous these moms are; successful career women with not only an MBA and SUV, but a designer diaper bag and car seat to complete the ensemble. So for all you almost forty-year-olds worried that your kid’s diaper bag will ruin your corporate attire, think again. The rubber ducky motifs of the past have been upgraded to chic mom-on-the-go accessories. Maternity clothes are no longer oversized yards of fabric, but cute well-fitted fashion-forward attire.
18
Mothers in their forties are not only more fashionably fabulous; they are more mature, grounded women often times in a better position financially to care for children. Older moms have more life experience which often contributes to better parenting. Moms over forty would have spent enough time investing in their own development of self and character, which enable them to impart this wealth of knowledge and experience to their child. While maturity and financial stability are the pros to delaying motherhood to forty or older, the cons do exist. Science has made strides in support of enabling women to get pregnant later in life. However, science has also proven that the chances of getting pregnant significantly decline the older a women gets, so one must take into consideration that motherhood can be put off for so long and no more. Regardless of whether you became a mom at or after forty, by choice or chance, excellent fertility, or adoption, forty-something moms are making it happen. So take note, having the career and the baby is possible, but to each his own. It all comes down to what your priorities are for your own life. Just remember, you can be fabulous in mommyhood regardless of the age that the journey with your little one begins.
EXERCISING IN A NEW DECADE By Gabrielle Burgess
2020, the new decade where engaging in physical activity to maintain or achieve the ideal level of health and fitness is high priority amongst many. The decade when executives actually do their executive medicals and google becomes our M.D.
T
he decade where more vegan, vegetarian and healthy options are added to menus and there is raised environmental awareness about food choices. After all, exercise and healthy eating habits go hand in hand. Who knew we would live to see the decade when the Gala Dinner for the 2020 Golden Globes was 100% Vegan?! It is now a practice to go online, use various gadgets and apps to find exercise routines to suit us, whether it is to focus on a particular area of the body (arms, legs, abs etc.), train at a certain pace (cardio, resistance training etc.) or just to work and stretch our muscles while mentally relaxing at the same time (Yoga). The decade when our watch O W E R us E D when |Â 20 becomes our trainer (called Fitbit) and applauds us for 10,000 steps M orPbuzzes we need to be more active, tracks our heart rate and more.
18
The decade when trainers come to us in our living room and we can scroll across the television screen, mirror or computer and choose our workout with the touch of a finger. 2020 is when Indoor Cycling has different brands such as Spinning, SoulCycle, Peloton and more. We become competitive with other riders on a leader board as we cycle or just know where we fall. We flip the pedals and clip in our sneakers for a smoother, more secure ride. How many sneakers do we have? In 2020? We have Running shoes, Cross Trainers, Spinning shoes, Tennis sneakers, you name it. We have to renew gym memberships, online subscriptions and we dare not think about smashing a Tennis racquet if a huge point is lost. Some of us have kids that do at least do one or two sports. Now and then there may be injuries or a pain that keeps nagging us long enough to see a real doctor. Don't forget the marathons that pop up ever so often, which many have become addicted to entering, whether it is to add an extra workout to the week or improve our previous time while still contributing to some charity or the other. Exercising in the new decade is expensive!
Grandma can keep up with us in the gym in 2020. Middle aged women look and feel better than ever. 50 becomes the new 30 and 40 becomes the new 20.
MPOWERED | JANUARY 2020
We regret not being as confident with outfits when we were actually 30 or 20, had a fast metabolism, no aching bones and didn't have to exercise so hard or even at all. Tina Turner legs were natural. If you have it, flaunt it. The decade when everyone can become an Instagram or Facebook model or Carnival comes around and both men and women do just that! In the new decade, despite our busy schedules with late work days, the traffic, drop offs and any other obstacle that may try to postpone or cancel our exercise routines, we will find our way around it. We may slip on a weekend here or there with a binge, but will train harder and make up for it the next week. Some do the reverse and train hard to earn their carbs. Kudos. For the majority of us, exercising is no longer a chore or torture. We are no longer afraid to step on the scale. Exercising in the new decade is an acquired lifestyle. We are less worried, or not worried at all, when it is time for medical check ups. In fact, we may go more often and set reminders. We sweat, we socialise, we laugh, we scream and we cry. But we sleep better at night, we wake up happy with what we see, feel better about ourselves and are more energized to tackle each work day in 2020. Can you relate?
Gabrielle Burgess (Certified Personal Trainer & Sports Nutritionist) Founder/Owner www.sugalifestyle.com
7 Behindthe-Scenes Secrets of Pharmacists BY JAKE ROSSEN
Reprinted from www.mentalfloss.com
Though they often toil in retail settings next to candy bars and magazine racks, pharmacists are fully accredited medical professionals who process, check, and consult on the roughly 4.3 billion prescriptions physicians write every year. To find out more about life behind the apothecary counter, mental_floss spoke with a few of the men and women in the nifty white smocks about frustrating quotas, illegible handwriting, and why you might see a little mayonnaise smeared on your pill bottle.
1 THEY STOP DOCTORS FROM KILLING YOU. Jason — he prefers not to reveal his last name — has been a retail pharmacist in the Midwest for more than 20 years. When he hears complaints about slow service from patients who think of the chain stores as glorified drive-throughs for prescriptions, he sighs. “It’s not just putting pills in a bottle,” he says. “With a prescription, there’s a good likelihood of there being wrong information. We catch interactions that could kill you.” On an average day, Jason might see 200 orders. He estimates 10 to 15 percent contain errors in quantity, instructions, or dosing that need to be corrected by phoning the physician.
MPOWERED 2020 | 26
...only the pharmacist can doublecheck if a medication is accurate before it’s turned over.
2. THEY USUALLY HAVE ABOUT 15 MINUTES TO ACCOMPLISH THAT.
3. DECIPHERING A DOCTOR’S HANDWRITING IS LIKE CRACKING A CODE.
Owing to the volume of prescriptions processed by major chains like CVS and Walgreens, the one or two staff pharmacists on the clock have precious little time to spare. While pharmacy technicians can count pills and perform other tasks, only the pharmacist can double-check if a medication for accurate before it’s turned over. “We have a time limit,” says Aaron, a retail pharmacist in Texas. “Reports get printed out at the end of the week and we get reprimanded for not meeting metrics. People ask if there’s anything they need to know about their medication. Yes, lots, but I only have a few seconds to give you the highlights.”
One course not taught in pharmacy school: how to decipher the frenzied scribbling of your neighborhood physician. “You’re expected to learn it on the job,” Jason says. “You learn traits. Some doctors don’t learn any Roman numeral besides ‘I’, so 11 of them means '11'. It’s like a puzzle.” Sometimes Jason will phone the doctor’s office to crack the secret of a handwriting habit. “The funny thing is, you can move 10 minutes away to another side of town and have to learn a whole new set of patterns.
4. THEY OFTEN DON’T GET A LUNCH BREAK. After graduating pharmacy school, Megan spent a little over a year at a retail pharmacy counter. “It was pretty much the worst year of my life,” she says, citing the fast-food pace of the job as a deterrent to continuing. How fast? Orders typically come in so quickly that pharmacists don’t take a lunch break. They have to eat portable meals or snacks while standing. “You don’t really get any breaks unless you take it upon yourself. Labor laws don’t apply. Employers aren’t saying we can’t, but when you’re in the weeds, it’s hard to make it actually happen.”
MPOWERED 2020 | 27
5. THEY WISH YOU’D STOP HANDING THEM DIRTY PRESCRIPTIONS.
7. DEFINITELY READ THE PAMPHLET. (JUST DON’T LET IT SCARE YOU).
Like sweaty money coming from a sock, prescriptions of vague origin can be repulsive to the person who has to handle them. “People hand you paper that looks like it’s been through a garbage disposal and act like it’s no problem,” Megan says. As a courtesy, try to avoid spilling food, water, or blood on your prescription. (She’s seen them all.)
Many consumers have adopted a management system for the drug information document that typically gets stapled to every prescription bag: They toss it in the garbage. This is not wise. “I stress for patients to read it,” Aaron says, citing time constraints at the pharmacy. But he also cautions not to let the list of possible side effects scare you. “The side effects aren’t listed by how often they occurred in a clinical trial. 1 percent is different from 10 percent. You might see ‘psychosis’ and not know it happened in pointfive percent of patients.”
6. THEY HATE ELECTRONIC PRESCRIPTIONS. According to Jason, they don’t reduce errors—they just make them more legible. “There are over 200 systems in my state alone,” he says. With no continuity, “There’s a real disconnect.” Doctors don’t always understand the drop-down menu— advising patients to take a cream “one tablet daily,” for example — and patients think their medication will be ready in seconds. It won’t. “Imagine 100 people in your office sending you an email at once, then coming in and asking, ‘Did you read it yet?’”
“Imagine 100 people in your office sending you an email at once, then coming in and asking, ‘Did you read it yet?
Love
The Skin
You're
In
At Tree Hut, we aim to balance the right ingredients for the right results - for delicious products that deliver. Tree Hut has a deeprooted belief system. We believe in the power of natural ingredients. We believe in the comfort of an amazing fragrance. We believe there's always time for a little pampering. We believe in loving your skin and loving it even more after using Tree Hut. And we believe it's not about creating your beauty - but revealing it. For over the last 10 years, we've seen the benefits of natural ingredients, which is why we source ours from all over the world. From Central
African
Certified
Organic
Shea
Butter to Polynesian coconut shells, we search the globe to unearth the most delectable ingredients. And while we search high and low for the very best, all Tree Hut products are made in the USA.
MDS MAKES MAJOR MOVE Consumer Market Maneuver
Having solidified its position as a formidable player in the Medical and Pharmaceutical distribution field, MDS marks its 21st year with a major overhaul and expansion of its Consumer Division. Team expansion includes the addition of a Sales and Marketing Manager with focus on building the business in line with the Company’s organisational strategy and accessing new business opportunities. The identification of additional brands that would take the company into major retail outlets was a focus going into the fiscal year and this has materialised within the period based on our successes in acquiring products within the region.
New brands include established US-based skin care line Tree Hut, which sets itself apart by infusing certified organic Shea - one of the most effective natural moisturizers, into each product. Tree Hut is owned by Naterra International Skin Care, and the company has a history spanning more than a decade.
Baby Magic
The Baby Magic line has been around for more than 65 years but has recently rebranded itself in keeping with the trendy millennials. Baby Magic provides solutions for bed-time, bath time and all of the times in-between. The line ranges across baby lotions, baby gels, creamy baby oil as well as a 2-in-1 wash and a moisturizing lotion. Scents include Lavender, original, and sweet buttercup.
OUR CONSUMERS ARE DEMANDING MORE CHOICES AND WE ARE THE COMPANY THAT OFFERS EXACTLY WHAT THEY WANT ." Louis Manning, MDS Consumer Sales & Marketing Manager
Hawaiian SIlky The Hawaiian Silky line has been added with a range of hair products that also include kits to enhance the manageability of the hair. The Hawaiian Silky Miracle worker brand was created based on the success of the Hawaiian Silky 14-in-1 product. This includes a multi-benefits shampoo and conditioner and they provide a wide range of benefits that deliver transformational results.
Stauffer's Stauffer’s is a line of snack items ranging from crackers and cookies and is known for its popular animal crackers. The Stauffer’s line
Wonder Gro
is a division of Meiji Co in Japan
The Wonder-Gro brand is a line of
supported by the parent
products designed to nourish,
company.
but managed domestically with
restore and promote healthy hair. This easy to use hair care line is infused with tried and true ingredients including Jamaican Black Castor Oil, Coconut Oil, Argan Oil, Hemp Seed and Bergamot. These include hair and scalp conditioners, oils, edge products and an amazing growth
Swinger Matches
oil that works wonders. Matches have also been added out of Trinidad which is owned by Trinidad Match Limited and has been in the market since November 2019. The match is much improved and provides a balance in the traditional trade that the Consumer Division visits.
MPOWERED 2020 | 32
TODAY'S PHARMACIST Dispensing More Than Just Meds When you introduce yourself as a pharmacist, the given response most often indicates that many individuals believe that the extent of our role involves filling prescriptions and counting pills. They might even congratulate you on having done a really good job in school at learning to decipher doctors’ handwriting. In light of the limited perception of our role, we are often tasked with explaining that our tertiary training of four (4) years or more, most certainly did not teach us to read physicians’ handwriting and that the services that we provide far exceed that which they perceive. Pharmacists are the most accessible of all healthcare providers. If a patient is wondering how his/her blood pressure is doing, their pharmacist can provide testing and information on proper management and may refer them to a physician for medical management if necessary. Pharmacists in other parts of the world provide vaccination services, involved in public health initiatives, research, academia and making a real impact in the community. The pharmacist remains a central part of the healthcare team, filling the gap between physician and the patient to ensure the patient achieves positive health outcomes through medication. We review patient therapies and dispense only if we are confident that the treatment is appropriate, safe, effective and affordable. Otherwise, he/she will contact the doctor to discuss other options. By making interventions and providing drug information and health education, pharmacists provide support to other healthcare professionals as we aim to do what is best for our patients and their health. Undoubtedly, pharmacists’ roles have evolved. We have developed our practice skills to become practitioners of the future. As pharmacists, no longer do we just dispense products, we provide care.
Lisa Reid Pharmacist & Clinic Duty Coordinator School of Pharmacy, UTECH
Article originally printed int The Jamaica Observer August 5, 2019
TIGHTL E M E N T
E N
By Dr. Daryl Daley
J
VAGINAL REJUVENATION ANINE is a yoga instructor who recently caught the flu. She is fed up. On top of having to run to the bathroom after every yoga session to “clean up” because of urine leaking down her underwear, she is sneezing non-stop. With each sneeze a gush of urine escapes. She needs help.
Janine is one of thousands of women globally suffering from stress incontinence. Janine, and others, need to know their options for treatment. The urethra is the tube which connects the bladder to the top of the opening of the vagina. The bladder is held in place mainly by the levator ani muscle and a group of other pelvic floor muscles.
Under a combination of voluntary and nervous interactions, when we feel the need to urinate the bladder muscles contract and push urine through the urethra. With advancing age, decreasing oestrogen levels and pelvic floor damage following childbirth, the bladder neck begins to dysfunction and not work how it is supposed to. Please note, this does not happen to everyone. Factors such as genetics, body mass, number of pregnancies and size of babies born contribute to this. When the pressure in the abdomen is increased, such as while exercising, sneezing, coughing or laughing, this pressure is exerted on the bladder. In normal circumstances, the bladder neck is functioning and holds the urine in place. When there is dysfunction, it is unable to do this and urine escapes through the urethra — leading to leakage of urine and unnecessary embarrassment.
In mild cases, pelvic floor exercises — Kegel exercises — can be beneficial for those women suffering from this condition. However, in moderate to severe conditions, alternatives are needed. These alternatives are high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) or laser vaginal rejuvenation. The HIFU is a non-surgical 20minute procedure and involves placing a probe into the vagina. It emits ultrasound energy deep within the vagina and bladder neck which causes collagen to reform, making the muscles stronger. I have had near perfect success rates with this in the ideal patient. The patient is usually symptom free for at least eight months and will require top ups.
Laser vaginal rejuvenation is a day surgical procedure and involves bringing the muscles closer around the bladder neck and holding it in place. In this, too, I have had near perfect results. There is also the additional advantage of increased sexual gratification with this procedure. Less commonly mentioned are the use of transurethral tapes and slings, which have been losing popularity because of severe side effects associated with them. These tapes act the same way by holding up the bladder neck and are effective. However, they are generally not recommended because of associated infections and scar tissue formation. Know your options. Don't suffer like Janine! Dr Daryl Daley is a cosmetic gynaecologist and obstetrician operating from Gynae Associates, 23 Tangerine Place, Kingston 10. Follow him on Instagram @drdaryldaleyobgyn or phone 876-929-6038-9.
THE HYPE ABOUT HYPER HIDROSIS Living on a tropical island can often feel like the sun has a personal vendetta for all who dare to venture outdoors; lurking in such close proximity that we can be tricked into believing that we can possibly touch it with outstretched arms. So severe is its pelting that it is bound to catch any of us drenched with rolling sweat beads on occasion. However, this is quite acceptable and deemed to be a natural response to such a heated trigger. There is also equal expectancy for a saturated reply from exertion through physical activity – with no thought of raising an eyebrow from onlookers. But, what happens when you are exposed to extremely frigid conditions yet you drip incessantly, uncontrollably and continuously? This was my story for years and there was never a thought that this excessive sweating was a legitimate condition that could be referenced by name (hyperhidrosis), and could be entertained as a discussion point with a dermatologist, podiatrist or general practitioner. What I knew for sure was that it was highly embarrassing, emotionally crippling, socially debilitating and often acutely depressing. For more than half of my life I tried not to be seen - walking at the back of the 'friend pack' or positioning myself out of sight at parties for fear that the soiled clothing would assume the spotlight and suitors would be repulsed.
by Nikeisha Boothe
HYPER HIDROSIS: A myriad of incidents stain my mind as though they happened yesterday. One such occurring during my college years - a period during which I constantly fell victim to tube tops as though they were a uniform of sorts - when I overheard my boyfriend’s mother mentioning her disdain for my attire. Little did she know, they were the only thing that I could manage to wear without sweat stains loudly announcing themselves due to the absence of sleeves that would otherwise guard my underarm too closely. Anything of a more covered nature would require the deployment of interesting tactics to provide temporary relief:
· Stuffing the underarm area with folded paper towels Wearing dark coloured clothing Taking multiple showers each day Periodically placing ice cubes at the site ·
Excessive sweating that goes beyond what is needed to cool the body. (hyper): too much (hidrosis): sweat
So what's the hype about hyperhidrosis? The fact that it is not only a physiological condition but one of great emotional and social impact as well. If you are like me, you have a few questions, such as, is it unhealthy to stop your body from its natural sweating process in certain areas of your body in the long term? Based on some medical reviews, the function of sweating is to eliminate waste products from the body, but minimally compared to the liver and kidneys. It also allows you to cool yourself as the body heats, but you have sweat glands all over your body so even if you are not sweating in your underarms, for example, you are not ever going to overheat. So, if you and/or anyone you know are battling excessive sweating don't break a sweat over it! Just simply speak with a medical professional or your local pharmacist on possible options.
Right: Excessive sweating and sweat marks can be embarrassing.
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