EDITORIAL IPSF African Regional Office (AfRO) was born in the 54th IPSF Annual Congress held in Cluj-Napoca, Romania in 1st-11th August 2008 when its establishment was voted in as a way of tackling the importance of decentralizing IPSF work in the region. This is the 6th AfRO newsletter released. It is a full insight, a glance into the IPSF AfRO. Inside the new sletter, you will meet the Regional Working Group. These are the people who represent IPSF in the Region, they are the implementors and the leaders of other pharmacy students in Africa. You wont only meet the RWG but two students also share their amazing journey in Kigali, Rwanda during the 4th IPSF African Pharmaceutical Symposium this year, through their articles.
Design and Layout
Rene NGABOYISONGA
REGIONAL MEDIA AND PUBLICATIONS OFFICER
The African regional office is hornoured to welcome you to the 5th IPSF African Pharmaceutical Symposium in Mombasa, Kenya and to the 62nd IPSF World Congress in Harare, Zimbabwe. We hope to meet you there next year. Viva la Pharmacie!
IPSF AfRO newsletter #6
THE AMAZING RWG
H
I would also like to congratulate ADEPHARM, Ivory Coast and PANS, Nigeria for attaining full membership during the 61st IPSF World Congress. Realistically, we expect to meet challenges but no matter how difficult the circumstances, we acquire knowledge, skills and experience to move on, this doesn’t benefit each of us personally but our countries, the region, the federation and the world, as we grow into value-based, no excuse for leaders with an aim to transform nations and the world. The 4th IPSF African Pharmaceutical Symposium in Kigali was breathtaking, with a record participation of more than 350 delegates. Next year is our Region’s year within IPSF, early in June, we are all heading to Mombasa, Kenya for the 5th IPSF African Pharmaceutical and later in July to Harare, Zimbabwe for the 62nd World Congress, coming back Africa after more than 20 years. See you in Mombasa! See you in Harare! IPSF is on African Vibes in 2016! Viva la Pharmacie!
STUDENTS TODAY, PHARMACISTS TOMORROW
2
ello IPSFers, I’m Israel BIMPE, from the Country of thousands hills Rwanda, I serve as the Vice President of the International Pharmaceutical Students Federation (2015 – 16) and Chairperson of the IPSF Afri can Regional Office (2015 – 16). I’m a final year student at the University of Rwanda. I’m grateful for the very motivated Regional Working Group (RWG) and skilful Executive Committee (ExCo). I look forward to co llaborate and make many friends through IPSF during this mandate. In the African Regional Office, this year we aim to sustain the development of the Regional Office and IPSF at large by reaching out to more non-member countries in the West and the South, build leadership capacities within the Region and engage in projects and initiatives to increase activity within our region. The African Regional Office currently has 13 members in IPSF. I would like to welcome with Joy the Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda and Lesotho, new member countries that joined IPSF during the 61st IPSF World Congress.
IPSF AfRO newsletter #6
THE AMAZING RWG
STUDENTS TODAY, PHARMACISTS TOMORROW
3
Dear IPSFers As we transit from Millennium Development Goals to Sustainable Development, it is required from each stakeholder to improve their practice and evolve for us to reach the Global Goals. The practice of Pharmacy shall not be left behind in this transition, this mandate us to be architects of the future where we represent a generation pharmacist and pharmaceutical scientists which is more creative and innovative contributor to the knowledge base within health. Let us be a gateway of solutions for our communities and ultimately change the world.
THE AMAZING RWG
IPSF AfRO newsletter #6
As Secretary, it is my responsibility to ensure the Regional Office as well as the Regional Assembly runs smoothly. Above all, the mission is to spread the IPSF spirit to those lacking it, inspiring those who feel discouraged and ensuring that the society around us benefits from our presence! This and many more we will do to ensure that the growth of our beloved region is sustained. ‘‘If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader’’ – John Quincy Adams Hoping to see you all at the next IPSF event where we will get to share and live the IPSF dream! Viva la Pharmacie.
STUDENTS TODAY, PHARMACISTS TOMORROW
4
H
ello Africa, and greetings from Nigeria! I am Aniekan Ekpenyong, a recent Pharmacy graduate and my interests are in Public Health and Drug Policy Formulation. My journey with IPSF began in the summer of 2014, when I became the Contact Person for PANS Nigeria. Prior to this, I never heard about IPSF as PANS became a MiA just a year before. At first, things were quite complicated as I had then not learnt how IPSF worked. However, my happiness came when Nigeria was accepted as Full Members at the 61st GA in India and I just knew IPSF was the place to be. This motivated me to be a part of the dynamic team of young leaders from all over Africa
THE AMAZING RWG
ello IPSF’ers, My name is Rene Ngaboyisonga, i am the current Regional Media and Publications Officer of the IPSF African Regional Office. My philosophy has always been ‘ I will always give back to the society, because my talents and capabilities are more for the society than they are for me’. Since last year, when i got a position as a coordinator in the Media and Design Committee of IPSF, i was caught up in the IPSF Spirit, it felt so good to be a part of the amazing IPSF family, together giving back to the society. am in my final year of Pharmacy at the University of Rwanda, college of Medicine
and Health Sciences; so far, i have made so many connections and friends that i can’t count. Most of them, we met during the African Pharmaceutical Symposium in Kigali, Rwanda. There, i realised i was not the only one motivated to change the world and to make it a better place through my carreer, but guess what; i met hundreds of IPSF’ers like me. To close, the Year 2016: The African Regional Office is hosting the IPSF World Congress in Harare, zimbabwe and the 5th IPSF AfPS in Mombasa, Kenya. What can i say? What a glorious Year! Come and meet thousands of people with who you can change the world. Viva la pharmacie!
STUDENTS TODAY, PHARMACISTS TOMORROW
5
H
IPSF AfRO newsletter #6
IPSF AfRO newsletter #6
arlier this year if someone told me that I would be holding the position of RPO for AfRO-IPSF I would have disregarded that statement immediately. Little did I know that my participation in the 4th AfPS in Rwanda last July was the door that would welcome me to this world of enthusiastic, young and passionate IPSF’ers. our role/contribution towards delivering better health services. Materializing our ideas and seeing to it that the region grows and is able to be recognized for its unity and drive towards the well-being of the profession globally.
Passionate about the future of Pharmacy, I am geared to ensuring that my time in “office” is spent on narrating our story, the African Pharmacist’s story. Organizing fun and engaging projects and campaigns through which people will get to know and understand who is a pharmacist and Being a first timer I am eager to experience this new challenge that I have embraced. The infectious IPSF spirit has already caught up with me, let’s do this. I look forward to seeing you all in Mombasa, Kenya for the 5th AfPS, “kosa uchekwe” that’s Kiswahili for “miss it and you will be laughed at”. Viva la Pharmacie! “WHAT YOU KNOW DOESN’T MATTER, IT’S ABOUT HOW
STUDENTS TODAY, PHARMACISTS TOMORROW
6
E
THE AMAZING RWG
IPSF AfRO newsletter #6
THE AMAZING RWG
“The purpose of life is not to be happy. It is to be useful, to be honourable, to be compassionate, and to have it make some difference that you have lived and lived well.” Ralph Waldo Emerson. Serving my fellow Africans brings hope and happiness. Being a Pharmacist is not living in luxury, but it is being precious to others. As the RRO, I am lucky enough to serve Africa and the Whole world through IPSF. My communication and leadership skills are useful for the sake of Pharmacists professional image. Bringing together many Pharmacy Students from different African Countries at IPSF AfRO will improve thoughts and mind-sets of African Pharmacists where future Pharmacists will be acting according to Africans needs and a new generation of Pharmacists will be revealing a good and positive change across Africa. All this will be achieved through IPSF membership promotion. “Persistence. Perfection. Patience. Power. Prioritize your passion. It keeps you sane.” Criss Jami, Killosophy. “At IPSF, you learn, you live and you share!”
STUDENTS TODAY, PHARMACISTS TOMORROW
7
I
am a 5th year Pharmacy Student at University of Rwanda, College of Medicine and Health Sciences. My interest in Clinical Pharmacology gives me opportunities to provide optimum quality of care to patients with cancers. Networking and listening to others give me courage and opportunities to make good decision-making. Active participation in community volunteering activities, indicates my bright future. Being a member and volunteer at Rwanda Pharmacy Students Association since 2011, gave me an opportunity of knowing and recognizing IPSF’s activities. I officially served IPSF-AfRO as the Chairperson of the 4th IPSF AfPS in 2014-2015, and from there I believed in my abilities of even doing more. For this reason I was much interested in Regional Relations portfolio; and thanks to AfRO, I am now the Regional Relations Officer at IPSF AfRO.
IPSF AfRO newsletter #6
he narrative is true. The world is looking into Africa, and Africa is rising! 3 out of the 6 IPSF annual events are scheduled to take place in this continent in 2016; The World Congress in Zimbabwe, the African Pharmaceutical Symposium in Kenya, and the East Mediterranean Symposium in Egypt (albeit classified in the IPSF EMRO Region.) I’m truly delighted to be part of that story. My role is quite significant as much as it is simple. The planning and actualization of the 5th IPSF- African Pharmaceutical Symposium has been entrusted to my hands. This next one year I get to live out my life’s purpose, and I’m blessed to do so with a team of 11 passionate individuals, who have the AfPS in their minds fulltime!
After impacting our communities, organizing projects with our people’s best interests at heart, developing ourselves professionally, taking the practice of pharmacy to the next level all the while having so much fun in it, then we will congregate in Mombasa from every corner of this great continent and have one climax of the year like never before. The 5th IPSF- AfPS theme is one that is close to my heart. It reads; ‘Re-writing the African Narrative in Healthcare: Access, Quality, and Innovation.’ We’ve let other people’s opinion of Africa define us, come on over let’s rewrite that narrative! We’ll get to do all that in this kind of an environment- Coastal city, beach-front hotel, whole stretch of the shore to ourselves… you know you can’t miss. See you at the 5th IPSF- African Pharmaceutical Symposium!
STUDENTS TODAY, PHARMACISTS TOMORROW
8
T
THE AMAZING RWG
MY AfPS JOURNEY
1
. University of Rwanda cares (than I thought): Yet to celebrate its two-year anniversary, the University of Rwanda was a key partner (it’s beyond sponsoring or supporting) in success of the AfPS 2015, Rwanda Pharmaceutical Students Association (RPSA) members can understand me better on this. The lonely Rwanda’s public university contributed as much as Rwf 15.494.702 out of Rwf 27.500.000 used, that’s 56.35% of the total event budget, not to mention provided facilities such as venue, key speakers, buses and hostels for local participants among so others. Deputy Dean of the university’s college of medicine and health sciences (UR-CMHS), Professor Pierre Claver Kayumba (AfPS patron) sacrificed a lot (beyond imaginations) for this symposium, on the behalf of everyone who never had this chance, I simply say ‘Thank You’
2
. Pharmacy students are committed: The 4th IPSF AfPS has opened up my mind more, made me think and rethink before I jumped to saying that pharmacy is a profession apart. IPSF that englobes pharmacy students worldwide is the oldest student-led organization and regularly holds the IPSF World Congress every year. For the case of Rwanda, RPSA is the only association that regularly organizes annual symposium, you won’t find such a similar thing, either on professional or students’ level. The importance and benefits of such gatherings, be it RPSA, AfPS or IPSF are irrefutable, it’s high time universities, NGOs, private and public health organs (institutions) and governments seize this power in pharmacy youth to educate, save lives and contribute to forging a healthier world.
STUDENTS TODAY, PHARMACISTS TOMORROW
9
A
lmost four months ago, Rwanda hosted the fourth IPSF African Pharmaceutical Symposium from July 9 to 13 in Kigali. Today, we reminisce about tens things we learned from the eventful continental show. For those unfamiliar with IPSF, this acronym stands for International Pharmaceutical Students Federation. Regarded as the best Africa Pharmaceutical Symposium since the inaugural edition in 2012, the 4th IPSF Afro Symposium (4th IPSF AfPS) was held at University of Rwanda’s headquarters from 9th to 13th of July. The event attracted over 350 participants from 12 countries. The theme of the symposium was ‘Idealising Pharmacy Profession by Merging Research and Practice’ and it was tipped by various officials including University of Rwanda deputy chancellor for academic affairs and research, Professor Nelson M. Ijumba “We consider research to be a fundamental enabler for us since our mission is to contribute to the development of Rwanda, through knowledge creation and commitment to the highest standards of academic excellence, where students are prepared for lives of service, leadership and solutions.” Prof. Ijumba said in his opening remark. The four-day long multi-event gathering included educational and scientific symposium, workshops and abstracts presentations, Leaders in Training (LIT) program, patient counselling event, different night events, regional assembly as well as the Post Symposium Tour, PST. Back to my initial point, the following are ten things I learned from the 4th IPSF AfPS
IPSF AfRO newsletter #6
MY AfPS JOURNEY
... CONT’D FROM P09
3
. African pharmacists are (should be) one people, forget about distance and boarders: We’re living the 21st century (.com generation) where communications have been notably eased. We should maximize minimum opportunities we get, to network and become one people as pharmacy fraternity of Africa. It is through that channel and raising high ethical standards individually, in communities, on national level, regional scene and the continent as a whole that we will inherit younger generations a greener pasture where a kid will grow up not targeting to become a pilot, engineer or doctor but a pharmacist.
4
. Numbers don’t lie, AfPS2015Rwanda was the best: One of the things that many people based on to name AfPS2015 the best IPSF Afro symposium in records so far, was the number of participants and I will also use that statistics endorse that rank. The maiden AfPS in Algeria (2012) had an estimated number of 200 participants, the second edition in Arusha, Tanzania (2013) attracted roughly 250 people before the 2014 (third) edition got around 150 attendees while Rwanda overwhelmed to land a total number of 349 participants
STUDENTS TODAY, PHARMACISTS TOMORROW
12
5
. Kigali is cleaner than most Kigalians (like me) realize: Admitting the cleanliness of Kigali doesn’t necessarily require to travel and compare…, to keep receiving and interacting with guests from over 10 countries made me again realize how smart my city is. On July 9 (day of most arrivals), I was trying to network with various guests and one Kenyan friend opened up and told me, “Kigali is over-organized, back in Nairobi you won’t find such a thing. Here, drivers respect pedestrians, no littering rubbish around, roads are perfectly clean …” If you live/stay in Kigali and wake up finding neighborhoods clea n, don’t take it for granted. There are thousands of millions of people who would love to have such cleanliness in their home cities but don’t.
IPSF AfRO newsletter #6
MY AfPS JOURNEY
... CONT’D FROM P12
6
. Rwandans girls are beautiful: I won’t take much time explaining this point, ask any foreign friend what s/he knows about Rwanda and ‘beautiful ladies’ will come among top three. I will waste this little time on this brief paragraph only because it’s a lady who made me re-digest and hesitantly (pretending as if I didn’t know) admit that maybe it’s true Rwanda has got that too.
8
7
I’m happy to tell you that I have already started my learning, don’t be surprised if we meet in Mombasa next year and hear no English word from me, lucky if I don’t charge you interpretation service fee.
9
. Poor are the people who missed both LIT and PST: Don’t rush into the book Corinthians, this not a bible verse. However, if you did not attend the leaders in training program and added an insult to an injury by ditching post symposium tour, know that you missed a lot. LIT: held for one day (July 8) with a limited number of 20 attendees, participants enjoyed an entertaining leadership mentorship from former IPSF Afro region chairperson Dr. Bedan Maina (Kenya) and newly appointed chairperson Israel Bimpe of Rwanda. PST: Words can’t say it enough, with a 29-seater bus packed at maximum. The 25-participant team headed to South-West (five hours from Kigali) of Rwanda on Tuesday, July 14 morning for the post symposium tour and no one was left disappointed, the canopy walk experience was beyond everyone’s expectations.
10
. Your turn to share…
STUDENTS TODAY, PHARMACISTS TOMORROW
13
. Missing AfPS 2016 is not an option: Now that AfPS 2016 has been awarded to Kenya, I have got many reasons as to why I should not miss the 5th African Pharmaceutical Symposium. For one or two major reasons justifying the worthy of my travel, courtesy of AfPS2015Rwanda I now have over twenty Kenyan friends to ease my stay in Kenya. Besides, it has always been my desire to visit Mombasa and enjoy beach at the Indian Ocean. But hold on…, the overall major reason is the AfPS, the symposium will be another learning and networking platform for me as we join our efforts in making pharmacy better and saving African lives.
. As far as my East African-ship is concerned, I need to learn swahili by all means: I’m keenly eager to learn Kiswahili and rightly so, more than 85% of international participants of the AfPS 2014 were from Kiswahili speaking countries namely Kenya, DR Congo and Tanzania.
IPSF AfRO newsletter #6
MY AfPS JOURNEY
I
Being the only one representing Uganda, I made sure my present was felt. I engage delegates on what they knew about Uganda. I would ask them to tell me anything they know about Uganda. The responses were very interesting. “I know Eddy Kenzo, the guy who sang sitya loss”, said Francis from Ivory Coast. Alain from Democratic Republic of Congo gave a similar response. In case you doubted the popularity of our very own Eddy Kenzo (BET winner), there you have it. Jacobs and Mgambi from Tanzania told me they know of Zari. For my readers who don’t Zari, she is a socialite in Kampala who is currently dating a Tanzanian musician called Diamond Platinum. The most shocking was from a lady from Kenya who told me that Makerere University is Tanzania. She told me to hide her identity in this blog. Are you wondering how she came to that conclusion? “Julius Nyerere (former President of Tanzania) studied from Makerere University, so Makerere University should be in Tanzania”, she confidently told me. I forgave her for her ‘incorrect’ knowledge. I hope students from Makerere University who are reading this can also do the same. My proudest moment: When I received the Uganda national flag. On Scientific Symposium my right is Ms. Ange Marie Uwase (chairperson of the symposium). Several sub topics were discussed including: Antimicrobial Resistance; Patient-centered care and follow On my right is Prosper Maposa (Chairperson of IPSF Afro Region) up; traditional medicine and Non- communicable diseases (NCDs); research development, an area for improvement in Africa, counterfeit drug and health care outcomes, generic manufacturers versus branded manufacturers, global health perspective towards NCDs and Innovations in health. I made my presentation under the subtopic of innovations in health. My presentation was entitled, “Use of Social Media to Promote Health; Case Study of the Medical Concierge Group (TMCG)”. STUDENTS TODAY, PHARMACISTS TOMORROW
14
had planned to travel to Rwanda only once this year but the events that felt between February and June made it inevitable for me to make my second trip. This time I went for the 4th IPSF African Pharmaceutical Symposium (AfPS) 2015. IPSF stands for International Pharmaceutical Students Federation. The symposium was held at the headquarters of University of Rwanda in Kigali from the 9th-13th July 2015 under the theme, “Idealizing Pharmacy Profession by Promoting Research and Practice”. The symposium attracted over 300 Pharmacy students and Pharmacy professionals from east, west, south, and central Africa. In order to make the trip and my stay more interesting and exciting, I made sure I did things differently this time. The Journey Unlike in February when I travelled in the night, this time I travelled during the day. I got to appreciate the beauty of western Uganda more. I used a different bus service, Trinity express. The bus was very comfortable (I forgot to take pictures of the interior of the bus) and the fare was shs.40, 000 only. It’s one bus that I would recommend if you’re travelling from Kampala to Kigali. At the boarder I used my recently acquired national ID. I was the only Ugandan at the symposium It wasn’t my making, that I would be the only Ugandan at the symposium; the rest of my colleagues couldn’t make it for various reasons.
IPSF AfRO newsletter #6
MY AfPS JOURNEY
Social events
T
he symposium had several social events among others international night, auction night, cultural night and gala night. Each country represented at the symposium was required to make a show of something about their culture; music, dance, drama or a simple talk. Despite the fact that I was the only one from Uganda, I wasn’t exempted from performing in the international night. With my undergraduate gown as my costume, I showed the rest of Africa, the culture at Makerere University.
Special thanks
I
STUDENTS TODAY, PHARMACISTS TOMORROW
15
would to specially thank the following people; my dad for funding part of the trip; Dr. David Musinguzi (Managing Director TMCG) for guiding me in making the presentation and to Reception Committee (RC) of 4th IPSF AfPS. The RC that was chaired by Ms. Marie Ange Uwase did exceedingly well in organizing the symposium. PS: You liked the story yeah? You felt like you should have been in Rwanda? Worry not! The 5th AfPS will be in Mombasa from Thursday16th to Monday 20th June 2016. Find the details here in the pre-symposium booklet https://drive.google.com/file/d/0Bz PXcTB5bfzb0w2N0wzVVE0SXM/view . Start saving now and let’s all be in Mombasa next year.