IPSF APRO Newsletter, Issue No. 12

Since its birth in Singapore in 2001, International Pharmaceutical Students’ Federation Asia Pacific Regional Office (IPSF APRO) endeavouras to represent pharmacy students across the Asia Pacific in over 10 countries. Our purpose is to support and advance the aims and objectives of the Federation at the regional level.

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World AIDS Day Essay Challenge

Precon

ceived Misconceptions

Amanda Wee NAPSA, Australia

Preconceived misconceptions. That is the underlying cause of any form of discrimination in the world. People make assumptions based on things heard in passing, or on general worldviews formed on opinion and not facts, even before they have gathered enough information to make an appropriate and informed judgement.

If that is the case, how do we tackle discrimination for a topic that has accumulated misconceptions and myths that have outlasted two decades of medical research and scientific findings? Can we shift the global perspective even in the slightest to amend the damage done by the lack of knowledge in the early 80’s? AIDS is that topic. And I would like to explore what we, as pharmacy students and pharmacy professionals, can do to combat this ever burgeoning topic, AIDS. The unfortunate truth is that since the emergence of HIV and AIDS, it has been associated with intravenous drug users, homosexuals, prostitutes and racial minorities - groups which a majority of the global population do not want to have anything to do with.

It is a hard thing to defy cultural barriers and social norms and as such, AIDS is not an acceptable topic to discuss.

It seems that people believe that AIDS concerns an individual’s sexuality and sexual practices and are ill informed about the facts of AIDS. I even asked a few friends what they thought AIDS was, and their answers were not in the slightest bit correct. So without making it seem like we are endorsing or pushing the values of any of these groups, we need to ask the public to look beyond their misconceptions and preconceived ideas and be open to gems of truth that will show people what AIDS is really about.

My idea is simple. Human beings are curious by nature, and education has a pivotal role in the formation of opinions and beliefs.

The start of social reform is to simply inform the public of what exactly AIDS is and thereby diminish the preconceptions that lead to discrimination.

Adding shock value can make a stronger impression on a person. We have a red box with a hole on top and a large question mark on the side. Inside there will be cards with statements that debunk myths and coupled with rhetorical questions, such as “AIDS and HIV are NOT the same! Do you know the difference?’, ‘People living in [insert country] are NOT immune to AIDS. Are you at risk?’

‘Touching a toilet seat does NOT transmit AIDS. What else have you been wrong about?’.”

We will approach a member of the public and ask them a simple question such as “Would you like to change the world?” and prompt them to pick a card from the box. On the other side of the card, there will be a directive “Find out more” or “Become a force of change” with QR code or links to a website with factual information on HIV and AIDS. Most people these days find their facts online, but it is a matter of getting correct information from a reliable website.

So if we direct them to specific websites (e.g. WHO’s website which is world-renowned, or WebMD which is HON-Code approved), then they can get reliable information that does not fuel any more misconceptions. There are even stories from real HIV and AIDS sufferers, and these true stories may stir sympathy or empathy within a person.

We can link AIDS to positive things such as the success Anti-Retrovirals reducing the number of mother-to-child transmissions of HIV. Even if the person doesn’t look up the website to find out more, one little fact that they might not have known about plants the seed for a different perspective, and they may be open to changing their mind about AIDS. Social change begins one step at a time. Pharmacy students can use this method to target other students on campus, and working pharmacists can implement this in their community pharmacy.

This also creates the opportunity for conversation and discussion about the topic, which is what we want to achieve. Health awareness should not be constrained to one day or a single moment. This topic has to be continually talked about, because the more that it’s talked about, the more light is shed on it. Public awareness in the community pharmacy is a start but we should aim for AIDS and HIV to enter into mainstream media.

In recent years, the main method of mass media communication has shifted from television to social media on the internet. Outlets like FaceBook, YouTube and Twitter play a significant role in the lives of the average person. Media advocacy to push public awareness agendas has been utilised in many areas.

in 2012, a successful campaign “KONY 2012” uploaded a video on YouTube and coupled it with public rallies to increase awareness of the events surrounding the Lord’s Resistance Army in Africa.

“Having gone viral, it instigated political action and raised funds for programs against Kony and the LRA. That is the power of social media. It transcends age, background, location and even literary abilities. If we can engage the public through this medium we can quite literally change the perception of the entire globe.”

In my country our governing body recently registered a rapid HIV test to be used as preliminary screening for HIV. Although not widely available yet, it increases the accessibility for the public to get tested. This is a step in the right direction, because bringing this type of screening into Western society, or into any society where it is not commonplace, will give the public an idea of the scope of the problem.

It is helpful for AIDS sufferers to feel less embarrassed about their condition. With more promotion, we might be able to make taking this test as normal as having a blood pressure test!

Getting the facts right can be applied to any discrimination in the world. Debunking the myths and eradicating preconceived misconceptions is the first step in changing worldviews.

The technology that we have enables us to have information literally at our fingertips, so health professionals should take advantage of that to transform the way of thinking for a society that has been ingrained by the wrong facts for too long. Social change begins one step at a time, and we as pharmacists can take that first step.

Saik Mei Yen, Regional Project Officer of APRO 2013-2014

Public Health is the study and practice of how to improve the overall health of each individual person. It is the science and art of preventing diseases, prolonging life and promoting, and protecting all of our patients.

As a practitioner of medicine you have a responsibility to not only your patients but also Public Health. Participating in Public Health events in your community not only strengthens your skills as a Pharmacist, but also helps you gain valuable knowledge about how to interact with patients on a basic level. We as the pharmacy profession want to show that we do in fact care about our patients and not about dispensing medication. We want to be their ‘knight in shining armor’ answering all of their questions, educating them on disease topics, and providing them information. We can accomplish all of this through Public Health.

As a member of APRO and of IPSF, you have a responsibility not only to your region and the Federation, but also to yourself. Don’t you want to be able to talk to your patients? Don’t you want to head home every night knowing you educated a patient on how to properly take their medication? Well this is your chance! These skills can be obtained through Public Health Campaigns within your local association in IPSF.

What are you waiting for? Read the rest of this document to find out how YOU can help not only your patients, but yourself.

PROJECT: +Public +Health +++Show Project Title

Public Health Show (Poster Presentation and Exhibition)

Chairperson

Saik Mei Yen

Date

24/8/2014 (Day 2 during APPS workshop)

Location

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (APPS)

Target Audiences

One campaign from each member association (19) and open to all APPS participants to watch the show

Project aim

Program

i.

To share and exchange ideas among the country member association of their most successful public health campaign. For example: how they catch people attention in their campaign

- Each member association is allowed to send only one poster for the presentation.

- It is a poster to present the best and most successful public heath campaign held/done by the pharmacy students in your association.

Hint: Present the most serious and most prevalent Public Health problem in your country and you can gain extra marks (so that other countries can know what is happening around the Asian Pacific Region)

ii.

To compliment the best public health campaign and hope that this will support them to get sponsors in the future if they do the campaign again. iii.

To make all members aware of Public Health issues present in other associations and countries within APRO iv.

- One poster is to contain only one Public Health Campaign only; it shouldn't consist of more than two campaigns in the poster.

Raise Disease Awareness

- Bring your own poster to the workshop - 2 presenters should be present from each member association - 5-7 minutes oral presentation - A1 size poster

v.

To make the students focus on the most serious public health problems in their country.

(The reason of choosing only the best campaign and allow only one representative from each member association)

Send your best campaign poster to your association contact person.

CP will choose and send the soft copy of best poster to represent your association.

Poster Evaluation (Online) - Judges: IPSF Public Health Chairperson (Sheena) and Mei Yen. (50%) by 10/8/2014

Poster submission by 15/7/14 via email in a zip file to rpo@apro.ipsf.org

Compile all the posters in a folder and share with IPSF Public Health Chairperson.

(Mei Yen)

Poster Oral Presentation (Workshop) Judges: - IPSF: Mei Yen - Local judges invited by the RCs (30%) – 1. Madam Noraini (Ministry of Health, Malaysia) 2. Ms. Leong Siew Lian (Lecturer, Cyberjaya University College Medical Sciences) 3. Ms. Rita (Pharmacist U44, Hospital Kuala Lumpur)

Poster Exhibition (Lunch Break) - All APPS participants to vote (20%) by putting stickers on the poster.

- Purpose is to make all the participants at least read the posters and appreciate the efforts done by their association.

Prepare a poster with the following contents: - Description of the campaign e.g. Background, aim, motivation, etc - Dates, time, and location - Type of target audience and number of patients affected by Campaign

Registration - Register your poster with your country contact person, and they shall choose the best among in their country to present in the competition.

- Send your soft copy poster by 15/7/2014 to rpo@apro.ipsf.org - If you don’t have a best campaign yet, do one now!!!

Prize - Certificates for all associations that participate in this Poster Presentation - First place will be given a trophy and certificate.

- Number of students taking part in the activity - Method/activities and results - Pictures - Materials used during the Campaign (posters, handouts, etc.)

Note: printing and delivering the poster (in A1-format) is the member association's responsibility!

Crossword!

Puzzle!

Crossword puzzles are said to the most popular word game in the world.

Now we incorporate crossword puzzle with pharmacy-related stuffs. Let try to do it together!

Across

Down 1. Dapagliflozin is an anti-diabetic in the class of ________ inhibitors.

2. DOTS is the name given to the ________ control strategy recommended by the World Health Organization.

5. The triple therapy regimen for ________ infection includes two antibiotics and one proton pump inhibitor for seven days.

6. According to World Health Organization (WHO), body mass index (BMI) of more than 30 is classified under _________.

7. In the context of pharmacoeconomics, cost ___________ analysis is used to define the most economical treatment among different alternatives with equal efficacy / effectiveness and safety profiles.

9. Which only disease eradicated by vaccines?

11. An instruction written by a medical practitioner that authorizes a patient to be issued with a medicine or treatment.

13. A facility that provides controlled conditions in which scientific or technological research, experiments, and measurement may be performed.

15. An ancient philosophy of life as well a system of exercises that encourages the union of mind, body and spirit.

16. Commonly comes from the tobacco plant (Nicotina tobacum).

17. The study of the body plan of animals.

19. Condition of inflammatory arthritis associated with hyperuricaemia.

22. Used to describe small red blood cells (with low MCVs)

3. Malaria is a _______-borne disease.

4. Is a type of alternative medicine with the basic principle of ‘likes cure likes’.

8. The drugs which made up the core of anti-tuberculosis regimen are isoniazid, rifampicin, ethambutol and ____________.

10. ___________ is the property wherein two drugs with identical active ingredients (as a brand-name drug and its generic equivalent) having similar bioavailability and produce the same effect at the site of physiological activity.

12. Is a patterned use of a substance (drug) in which the user consumes the substance in amounts or with methods which are harmful to themselves or others.

14. World _________ day is celebrated every year on 31th May set by WHO. 18. Study of chemical processes within and relating to living organisms.

20. A group of disease characterized by a decrease in either the hemoglobin or the volume of red blood cells, which results in decreased oxygen- carrying capacity of the blood.

21. A blood disorder passed down through families (inherited) in which the body makes an abnormal form of hemoglobin, the protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen. The disorder results in excessive destruction of red blood cells, which leads to anemia.

11st Newsletter Crossword Answer