Editorial
Practicing pharmacists of Alshifa
are always in the forefront of rendering service to downtrodden people of
the society and has been continuing the service to the community meticulously
right from the beginning. Joining them are our PharmD/M.Pharm students who were
actively involved in various community services through out the first
half of 2014 which includes one month mass drug administration
program for filariasis, one day glaucoma awareness program conducted at Alshifa
hospital, followed by street drama and awareness campaign at prominent
locations of Perinthalmanna locality on March 24th as part of world TB Day.
In the beginning of 2014,
Pharmacy Practice department organized a social service program to help the
poor section of the society and as part of the program, Team Alshifa visited
Vettilakkolli Adivasi hamlet, joined by many of our enthusiastic students to
donate food and clothes to those in need. Being health care professionals, our
team made sure to bring in awareness and provide a counseling session to the
local villager’s about the ill effects of alcohol, tobacco etc and advised the
locals to enroll their kids in Anganvaadis ( preliminary schools) to encourage
education.
We believe in holistic approach
of moulding our students where each student finds their identity, meaning and
purpose in life through connections to the community and nature. By
participating in such social activities soft survival skills like, leadership
qualities, Compassion, Social adaptability, Commitment and above all,
humanitarian values gets instilled among the growing individuals, thereby
guiding them towards becoming a thorough professional as well as a good
humanitarian.
To stimulate the awareness
of world environment day, an interesting talk was organized titled ‘Birds
around us’ followed by planting 1000 trees across the Alshifa campus.
Experiences gained by the students and faculty through the community services
and training programs have been highlighted in this issue of the newsletter.
Department conducted a 2 day hands on training session in clinical skills for
Pharm.D students. The newsletter includes regular columns by Dr Mohanta,
Professor, Dept of Pharmacy, Annamalai University. T.N Mr Linu Mohan, Asst Professor,Alshifa college
of pharmacy and Mrs Shinu. Asst Professor,Alshifa college of pharmacy. Our
column drug update, which was sidelined for about a year has been brought back
in this issue. titled ‘Tides of Indian Pharma’
Dr Ekbal has written a very
special article titled ‘Clinical
Drug Trials and Contract Research: Need
for Monitoring System’
Dr Ekbal, is a well known doctor by profession. He is
always in the forefront by making hue and cry against medical atrocities.
Clinical trials in India is often a nightmare and has been carried out without
following any medical ethics. Dr Ekbal has cautioned general public about
such malpractices through his writeup .
I profusely thank Dr Ekbal
who has put his heart and soul in framing this thought provoking article. As
goes the saying, a pen is mightier than sword I hope this article will be an eye-opener to
government authorities to take action against malpractices and medical
atrocities happening everywhere.
Touching the life of needy will
ultimately lead to the progress of a Nation. A better society and better living
conditions can be shaped, if every individual start taking such social
initiatives. For the betterment of the community we live in, a health
care Pharmacist has a greater role to play. With our subject knowledge
base, relentless efforts and perseverance towards the goal, we hope we
can bring in a difference in the society we are a part of. One should feel the
pulse of pharmacist in every sphere of his life.. hope the day is not so far ..
Dilip.Chandrasekhar
Editor in chief.
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