Guest Post by Okoli Muna

Diary of a confused Pharmacy student. Episode 1

Wait!! Before you start seeing me as one of those pharmacist wannabes that just wanted to be a pharmacist without studying pharmacy, I am a pharmacy student who was recently introduced to the vast world of pharmacology with a near little knowledge of Pathology and dosing. This was my situation or something worse than this when my faculty decided in it's generosity to send me on an emergency IT.

The frenzy and Euphoria it created amongst my colleagues got me more interested as my first vow of I must go for IT came when as a freshman in the campus, I was lured to attend the first NFCPS fellowship. At that fellowship the way and manner the Magnifique class of 015 brandished and danced from front to back a fat looking envelope. I won't want to talk about the sad tales I got from my elder colleagues whom told me of our different it is in the practice. I brushed them off saying my case should be different.

As the frenzy died down, as the day came closer it dawned on me that the moment is now. I made a last minute effort to fix my lab coat, at least make it look professional. With mixed feelings I waited for Monday to arrive and like a professional, I woke up from the bed and got ready for work. I could remember checking out myself more than three times in front of the mirror. I almost left the house brushing my hair all in a bid to appear professional.

In a space of 30 minutes, I was already at my work place, and before I could open up my eyes and close, the shouts of young Pharm. welcome o was all over the place as the sales guys were hailing me. I immediately got uncomfortable in the lab coat I was wearing, looked for the closest seat and sat down. Then it dawned on me that it is actually a different world. Yes, I kept seeing drugs without a white board marker or a textbook. I didn't see my able course rep telling us how much the handouts cost, I could not still place Ilodigwe's face neither could I see Nworu or Ihekwereme's own. I think I saw a lil bit of Agbata in the sulfasalazine I saw on the counter. Before I could come back to my normal self, one of the sales guy who I later found his name to be Nonso already called out to me to come and examine a patient who just came in...

Will be contd. later..

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

We All Are Role Models

Image
I, with the help of an amazing team, organized a laudable health mission at Nnobi. But the best part wasn't just taking care of people and attending to the medical and drug needs of a village. The best part was the pride and the motivation to be a better me. I really did feel like a light. I felt I was contributing. I know all of us Pharmacy Students felt the same way too. People walk up to you and tell you "My daughters are studying so they can be like you when they grow up". Trust me, those are the best words I've heard all year. I'm soooo glad I'm training to be a health professional and also that I'm being a source of inspiration to people, both known and unknown. It's a totally amazing feeling. Can't be replaced by anything in the world. This favourite quote of mine from my first year totally captures it all... In Marianne Williamson's words, Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyo...
Read more

MY DUAL NATIONALITY

I am enroute Lagos for what I choose to call a business trip. In the usual fashion of most buses, a suited man starts praying to God, committing the journey in his hands which is fine by me. Then, out of the blues, he begins to pray for Biafra....in his opinion, a country destined for world greatness and ordained by God. I looked at my friend, Dubem, with incredulity. Wow! Just wow! It was funny, ridiculous and saddening at the same time. And to think that most Igbos want a Biafra. A country that has no fixed ideology. A country born out of our inherent need for independence. A country that would be made up of one-third the people of Nigeria. It baffles me that they can't see ....or rather, they've refused to see...that, unless the core Nigerian issues are addressed, the Biafran state will not succeed. Though I don't blame those who want a Biafra, it is still a sad thought. To most people, Biafra is a symbol of hope. Something to anticipate and pray for in this almost de...
Read more

Tribalism Has A Bad Smell

Image
I have always thought that the Northerners are the major crop of Nigerians who just can't seem to stand the Igbos. I honestly thought we were tolerant of other tribes...at least to some extent. But something happened that abruptly changed my mind. My school is hosting a convention of all the Pharmacy schools in Nigeria and people from all parts of the nation were in attendance. Hausas. Yorubas. Efik. Middle belt. Etc. After a hectic event, people were very hungry and I decided to show them to a nearby eatery owned by a Calabar woman. The moment these guys (about 17) alighted their bus and walked into the eatery, every other costumer stood up and left. Some even left their food half eaten or untouched and there was a sickening smell of tension and fear in the air. I started to feel bad for bringing them there in the first place. I honestly felt for them....the hostile attitude just by virtue of their tribe. I discussed the experience with friends and they all felt it was the norm...
Read more