Street Play on eve of National Pharmacy Week

In this blog,I would like to put forth details regarding a street play that was conducted by our college on the eve of National Pharmacy Week (NPW).

Objective of Conduction

National Pharmacy Week (NPW) is celebrated by all the pharma colleges spread across India with an aim to promote the status of pharmacy in the nation.

It includes every activity related to pharmacy which would elevate the pharma and health awareness among the common people.Since, pharmacy proffession is dedicated towards health care of the people, it's most important that people recognise and appreciate our proffession; and most of all understand that we pharmacists are there for them and to ensure them the highest quality of health possible. As, most of the people here are poor and have a poor educational background and even the educated people are unaware of the role of the pharmacists, the prior step to be initiated is thus to impart the importance of our role ,somehow, to the people. Since, people are better attracted towards dramas and plays, they may be the best tools to accomplish the objective.
Hence, our college decided to conduct a street play in the village adjoining our campus to promote the awareness of the importance of pharmacists in today's world.

Theme of the Play

The ideas that were communicated to the people through the play through 3 stories as listed :

1) AIDS awareness
2) Hazards of Self-medication and importance of Individualization of Drug Therapy
3) Importance of Patient Councelling

A primary concern was put on AIDS awareness since it affects the major portion of Indian population. The awareness was communicated by a classic illustration of a conversation between two friends. Both wanted to have coitus (sexual intercourse) with unknowns. But one among them was reluctant to use the safety measures, and the other repeatedly insisted him on using safe devices. The conversation was very informative and also attractive, since it seemed like a pretty natural and spontaneous event really taking place between two enthusiastic, but illiterate youngsters.

Regarding hazards of Self-medication, it was that shown an illiterate mother had given a medication to her son when he suffered from the same disease which she had once suffered from. Thinking that, her son contracted the same disease, she gave him the same medication and after few hours he started vommitting and feeling restlessness. Worrying about this situation, they approached a physician who denied them to use any medication without the prior concern of a health care proffessional like a doctor or a pharmacist. He imposed a prime importance on the individualization of drug therapy, which suggested that two individuals shouldn't take the same medicine even if they suffer from same disease since both have a unique 'body'.

Atlast, the most important aspect of health care, patient councelling and its importance was dramatized in an excellent manner in which a king, shocked by the poor health condition in his kingdom called in for a health care provider 'who could answer every health related questions and problems' to his people. The man named himself as a 'pharmacist' who answered every questions of people and helped them know their health better.

Extra initiatives taken

After the completion of the play, an information leaflet printed in the regional language of marathi was distributed among the local villagers which answered few of the most commonly asked health questions by the people.

Also the local people were enquired if they wanted any health related questions to be answered and all the questions asked were answered and clarified successfully.

Response given by the villagers

During the progress of the play, all the villagers in and around the area had assembled on their own without the requirement of any sorts of call. They sat down and watched the play with such an interest as if they were watching an interesting film. Not only that, during the progress of the play, they themselves called their friends and relatives for the show. This brought us great happiness and satisfaction since the people responded positively to our efforts. Seeing their rapt attention with which they attended the play, it's obvious that now the localites of the village are 'somewhat' informed about our noble proffession!!!