A Kaoma based pharmacist has bemoaned the high level of self-prescription among community members in the district.

Kaoma District Hospital Pharmacist, David Kavungu says levels of self-subscription in the district are alarming adding that patients   are misusing malaria and antibiotics especially whenever they are unwell.

Mr Kavungu says the trend needs urgent intervention as it has become most common in the area. 

In an interview with ZANIS, the local pharmacist said self- prescription makes the micro-organisms in the body to multiply and eventually result in abnormal infections.

“Most people have a tendency of not going to hospitals but rather rely on paracetamol for all types of pain such as headaches which can be problematic because headaches can be caused by various conditions such as hypertension, increased intraocular pressure and also excessive use of paracetamol can damage liver and other organs in the body,” Mr Kavungu said.

He explained that self- prescription without proper knowledge can result in taking the wrong dose at the wrong time and for the wrong purpose hence leading to more health complications.

Meanwhile, Patient Moonga, a pharmacy technologist at Kaoma District Hospital, has advised the general public to willfully visit health facilities for proper diagnosis.

Ms. Moonga stated that by visiting the facilities where qualified healthcare professionals, the ailing can get appropriate medications and health care services.

She further advised drug stores countrywide to sell drugs only upon production of stamped prescriptions from a qualified medical personnel or health facility in accordance to the law.