"FAMDAT" FREE AUGUST MEDICAL DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT

 is a medical outreach established since 2018 by Dr. Chuka Francis Amukamara (a Public Health Pharmacist) conducted every August in Awo-omamma for the medical review of all the mothers in Awo-omamma who come home every August for their annual meeting.  It is a unique program and an expression of the inventor's feeling that _"early detection and prevention of any disease is better than any known best treatment for that disease"_.

It entails free diagnosis, treatment and follow-up on identified patients who suffer from any chronic disease(s) including diabetes, hypertension, arthritis and other commonly diagnosed illnesses while patients found in critical health conditions are referred to an affiliated hospital (Greenland hospital) for further treatment and care.

FAMDAT was first conducted in Awo-omamma in 2018 using Health Medium International HMI, a  health organisation designed by Dr. Amukamara for a voluntary Pharmaceutical care and medication review of rural dwellers who mostly bear the outcome of quackery and "cares" from patent medicine dealers in Nigeria in the face of dilapidated/nonfunctional  primary health centers  and the massive emigration of Pharmacists that has led to the painful absence of Pharmacies in majorly rural communities of Nigeria.

During the 2018 FAMDAT which was facilitated by funds and supports from sons, daughters and friends of Awo-omamma from all over the world, over five hundred women from different locations in Awo-omamma but majorly Eziawo 1 were attended to, and the data of those placed on medications were compiled for followup and for demography.

To ensure a wider coverage, FAMDAT for 2019 was adopted by the association of all young graduates and undergraduates of Awo-omamma (Awo-omamma Great Academe AGA, led by Dr. Amukamara) and sponsored by a host of Organisations and individuals including the AWO-OMAMMA DEVELOPMENT FORUM (ADF), ONE-TRUST FOUNDATION, FRIENDS-IN-NEED FOUNDATION (FIN), IMO PROGRESSIVE INITIATIVE etc.

The theme of the FAMDAT 2.0 *"Healthy Mothers Beget Healthy Nations"* was culled from the effects of FAMDAT 1.0 on the productivity of the women encountered in 2018 who during the three-months followup and care recuperated and returned back to their normal farm work and petty trading.

The 2019 FAMDAT targeted a minimum of two thousand (2000) women and the elderly who it provided the following care:
Checked their Blood pressure, Sugar levels, Cholesterol levels and BMI; screening for Hepatitis B & C, Malaria parasites, H. Pylori, Medication review, general medical examination, treatment as well as a compulsory three-months followup on the identified patients. The medical team led by Dr. Amukamara is comprised of Physicians, Pharmacists, Nurses, Medical Lab. Scientists and other health professionals.

FAMDAT 2.0 held successfully in six centers: Ubachima, Okworji, Isieke, Umuezukwe, Ubogwu and Umuokwe; considering the proximities of these locations to all the rest villages that made up Awo-omamma town.

It is a product of one's passion for his community and welfare of the elderly, and a resultant of self-help, community-develops-community made evident by the supports and appreciations of the people of Awo-omamma community who for the love of their community and their understanding of the benefits of early diagnosis and prevention, adopted the dream and raise over a million naira annually to support  the program which now adds up to the annual health intervention program of the central Awo-omamma Town Union: the Awo-omamma Development Forum Worldwide led  by Chief Tony Akuneme an Assistant Controller of Nigeria Immigration.
This program has been taken to Ibillo Edo state, Beere Oyo state, Gboko Benue state and so many other communities where the team was invited.

MY MESSAGE:

The outcome and observations from this program has shown the causes of some of the untimely deaths ravaging our communities: during the just concluded famdat 2.0,  over fifty women had blood pressures between 190/100mmHg and 220/120mmHg; while few in this category reported their medication histories which were mostly atenolol and aspirin, others were unaware of their blood pressure, but they complained of a headache that does not respond to paracetamol.
When asked, those that were on drugs said that "the drug man in the village gave them the drugs".

A woman during famdat 1.0 was found  with a swollen ankle that has stayed for two months and a reported flank pain, she was being managed with ibuprofen by her patent drug seller. The Physicians in their query, found out that she has heart failure secondary to renal disease. She was referred and followed up on, for three months, today she has more life and more years.

If our government will look into the functionalities of primary health centers which are closest to these rural dwellers, some of these deaths will be prevented.
I want to use this medium to call the attention of the federal and state governments towards the revival and revitalization of primary health centers, which will help curb deaths from undiagnosed and poorly managed chronic diseases.

To the sponsors and supporters of FAMDAT program, groups and individuals who joined me to reach out to over two thousand women from Awo-omamma, I pray God to reward you all with good health and replenish your support in great folds.


ABOUT CHUKA AMUKAMARA

Chukwuka Francis Amukamara popularly known as Chuka Amukamara is a Young Pharmacist presently serving his fatherland in Benue state. He is an author of a popular drug abuse handbook WHAT DRUG HAS DONE, Lead-Editor at Echo International Magazine Sweden, a humanitarian and CEO of Health Medium International HMI, who has volunteered in several community development and humanitarian services including: as a data enumerator for Health Systems Consult Limited; Leadership coach for Florix concepts. He is a member of boards of trustees of FRIENDS-IN-NEED foundation, the state coordinator of Young Pharmacists' Group Benue state and a member of Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria.

Dr. Chuka Amukamara
healthmediuminternational@gmail.com

DRUG INTERACTIONS

In my last post, I advised every patient/patient-relatives to ensure that they take part in their prescription and medication.

I said that the following Eras were gone:
 
°Era when your "doctor" folds something in an envelope and asks you to take them as he instructs, without telling you what you're taking and writing the name and dosage on the envelope (for any case of drug-reaction or bizarre toxicities in the absence of your doctor, you may need help from antidotes to ONLY known drugs) 

°Era when your "Pharmacist" gives you drugs and says "one morning, one night"

°Era when you or your family member takes drugs without first asking a Physician or a Pharmacist about the safety of taking such drugs (avoid self-medication)

Today, I shall be taking you through this topic:

▶ DRUG INTERACTIONS

To justify why you must have at least one Physician and one Pharmacist you call for guide about your health and in the use of drugs

I do not think any Pharmacist will ask you to pay before you get answers to your questions on drugs- feel free to ask them!


*Drug interactions can be said to mean, any activity involving a certain medicine that affects the intended outcome of that  medicine.*

It can be categorized into three broad types:

▫Drug-Drug interactions

▫Drug-Conditions interactions

▫Drug-Food/beverages interactions


DRUG-DRUG INTERACTIONS

These occur when two or more medicines react with each other either chemically or biologically, to present an unintended outcome.
Depending on the drugs that are wrongly or mistakenly mixed, you may have:

°Increased effects above intended, which may expose you to toxicities or adverse effects.

°Decreased effects below the intended, this may lead to treatment failure and the consequences that follow such failures. 

Examples:

1. Mixing a sleep-aid pill with another drug intended for allergy, may further endanger your use of machinery (should this not have effect on the accidents we have in our society!)

2. Wrong combination of antibiotics, may end up reducing the expected efficacy.

DRUG-CONDITIONS INTERACTIONS

These occur when a certain existing medical condition makes certain drugs potentially harmful to the patient.

Example:

Your prescriber must know of your health problems, are you asthmatic, Hypertensive, suffering any allergy etc, please tell him!.

1. A hypertensive patient may have crisis from some certain nasal decongestants (drugs used in the management of catarrh and nose block)

2. An asthmatic patient may experience crisis from some antihypertensive drugs and so many other drugs that affect the airway.


DRUG-FOOD/BEVERAGES INTERACTIONS

You may not be aware if you did not ask or were not told, that certain food items should be avoided when you take certain medications.
Food and drinks comprise several degrees of chemicals which sometimes interact with certain medicines (another type of chemicals) - remember chemistry and reactions!

Examples:

1. Foods containing tyramine which include: cheese, fermented soy, soy sauces, miso etc are dangerous to patients who are placed on some certain medications we call mono amine oxidase inhibitors (maoi) (used in the management of depression and other indicated ailments) including: selegiline, isocarboxid, phenelzine, tranylcypromide etc.
Tyramine is the culprit in these foods that causes dangerously, high blood pressure when exposed to any of the medicines above (maoi).

2. What about alcoholic beverages (alcohol) that interact with virtually every drugs that pass through the liver for their metabolism? Affecting either upwardly or downwardly, the intended effects of these medicaments.


Always remember that drugs are chemicals which only proper use can qualify as medicines

Thank you.
Please share to all


Dr. Chuka Amukamara (BPharm, PharmD, MPSN, MWFAD)

A Public Health Pharmacist
healthmediuminternational@gmail.com

WORLD MALARIA DAY

Your role towards a "ZERO MALARIA"

1. No stagnant waters, to avert free breeding of mosquitoes

2. clear all surrounding bushes and maintain clean environment

3. Consider use of long-lasting insecticide treated mosquito nets and mosquito repellant creams

4. Ensure you test positive to malaria diagnosis, before use of anti-malarial drugs

5. Use your anti-malarial drugs as prescribed

6. Avoid self diagnosis and self medication

7. Remember: there are other diseases that present similar symptoms as malaria. Consult your health care provider.

8. Share the information with family and friends.



Chuka Amukamara (BPharm, PharmD)
Author: WHAT DRUG HAS DONE
Coordinator: Health Medium International HMI