REFUGEES
medications recommended by the World Health Organization’s list of essential medicines at a local Greek pharmacy for both patients and for our own pharmacy stock.
On a regular basis I noticed that residents of the camp would often turn up with empty boxes of medicines, seeking refills that could take days to deliver. This meant that they were sometimes left for several days without essential medications. Together with the nursing/medical staff, we took drug histories from the residents and I set up a repeat prescription service - similar to the UK system - that would allow these patients to have a supply of their regular medications prepared two weeks in advance. I also involved the team and resident translators in dispensing and labelling (in English and Arabic) and I carried out the final check.
Over a four-week period, I worked within a team of doctors, nurses and paramedics. I calculated doses, produced antibiotic/analgesia dosing charts, wrote SOPs, diagnosed and recommended medications for a
broad range of conditions - both acute and chronic (allergies, antibiotic therapy, pain, cardiac, dermatology etc) and, with paramedic expertise, I sourced medications and assembled an emergency medical box. I also created a chart detailing both adult and paediatric doses.
While only a newly-qualified Scottish pharmacist, I was working within a team of American health professionals, who referred to practically every medication by a different name to what I was used to. I also liaised with Greek pharmacists, while handing medications from all over the world. (I had to Google/ translate around 70 per cent of the medications handled!)
During that time, I also delivered care to an Iraqi and Syrian population with the aid of young resident translators…
..to say it was a ‘bit of a challenge’ would be a good choice of words! I spent a lot of time getting to know the residents and taught them about pharmacy. The resident translators helped me to build the pharmacy, translated during patient consultations and wrote medication
labels in Arabic. Without them, the medical clinic would not have been able to function.
I embarked on my second trip hoping to split my time equally between working in the medical clinic and other activities, such as teaching English, fitness classes, art, and engaging in various activities with the women. After meeting Team Rubicon on the ground, I could not leave after two weeks of working with them. They had never considered deploying a pharmacist, however, due to an imminent doctor shortage and a lack of pharmaceutical knowledge, I was able to stay with them for the entirety of my trip. Team Rubicon saw pharmacy expertise as invaluable, particularly when it came to advising on medication choice, dosing and calculations.
These trips have changed my outlook on life, values and attitude. Both of my trips were entirely self-funded. I fundraised and spent this money on medicines and aid for the refugees. Volunteering in the refugee camps is something that I hope to do for a long time. •
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