Pharmacy Daily | Preventing vector-borne diseases

PHARMACISTS around the world are being urged to play their part in combating vector-borne diseases, with environmental and societal changes contributing to the proliferation of these illnesses.

Launching a new publication, Vector-borne diseases: A handbook for pharmacists, International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP) President, Dominique Jordan, said pharmacists have a key role to play in preventing the spread of diseases such as malaria and dengue, which have spread beyond tropical and subtropical areas due to climate change, deforestation and migration.

"Vector-borne diseases account for nearly one fifth of all infectious diseases and cause over 700,000 deaths every year," he said.

"In addition to their health burden, their economic impact is enormous, especially so because they disproportionately affect the world's poorest countries.

"Combating vector-borne diseases is fundamental for achieving many of the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals.

"Most of these diseases are preventable and pharmacists are ideally placed to support communities and patients in protecting themselves.

"We hope this handbook will be of great value to pharmacists all around the world."

The new handbook notes that pharmacists "have a special position as highly accessible healthcare professionals with a diverse skillset".

"Pharmacists are trained to counsel on appropriate medicines use, address patient concerns, educate on healthy lifestyles and disease prevention and, in many nations, administer vaccines," the authors of the handbook said.

"It is through these actions that pharmacists develop relationships of trust with their patients, providing reliable advice to promote and encourage positive attitudes and healthy actions by patients.

"In the case of vector-borne illnesses, pharmacists can provide accurate and appropriate advice on what patients can do to protect themselves and their communities.

"They can raise awareness of these diseases and take on the role of providing support to those affected with a vector-borne illness.

"It is part of pharmacists' role to keep communities informed and safe."

CLICK HERE to access the handbook.