The role of the pharmacist on these medical missions is crucial. Most of the patients seen in clinic are poor and uneducated. We were caring for acute illness. Allergy, infection, malaria, vitamin A deficiency, parasitic infection, dermatologic conditions, venereal infections, pain and indigestion were rampant amongst these patients.

These patients at times were seeing medication for the first time. Education down to the use of a blister pack foil and the need to remove the tablet from it was a necessity. There were no stupid questions in this pharmacy.

Every patient took their medication in front of the pharmacist and translator and it was confirmed that they were able to echo back the directions for use of their medications. Patients in pharmacy were so grateful and thought of us a miracle workers and magicians with the magic pills. We would wait for the brown well water to arrive and paper cups of water would accompany each ziplock baggie filled with medication for each patient.

We arrived during the Kenyan rainy season. Our mornings would start cloudy, the day would be sunny and at 5 o’clock the clouds would open each evening. Rain or shine, in ponchos and wet shoes we made sure each and every patient was counseled and properly dosed. The clinics were busy and bustling and pharmacy runners would run batches of medications directly to teams.

Pharmacists on these medical missions were never commonplace. The team leader would constantly remind the team that we have not one but two clinical pharmacists on staff. When we first landed in Kenya, the team thought we were just two women there to help and by the end of the mission, we were given a standing ovation, especially the dermatology department who worked hand in hand with pharmacy.

The emergency room physician assistant of the mission made the best comment. He told the medical students “If you don’t know something, just go to the pharmacists because they know everything!”

Thank you International Medical Relief for allowing us to make pharmacists proud and show what a vital part of the healthcare team we represent.