PRIME PARAGON INTERVIEW: PHARM. TOSIN OGUNDEJI
"Pharmacist Tosin Ogundeji, although the son of a pharmacist, did not set out on becoming a pharmacist. However today, he is not just a Pharmacist, but a supply chain manager with a specialization in HIV/AIDs. In this interview with PSN-YPG Lagos, he shares with us his views on HIV/AIDS patient care, supply chain, the importance of having mentors and how to establish mentor-direction relationships, and more..."
Please introduce yourself to YPs
I am Tosin Ogundeji. I currently work as a Technical Associate in Pharmacy and Supply Chain Management with CDC/PEPFAR-APIN.
What is the story behind how you got into pharmacy school?
Well, I will say mine was influenced to a large extent by my parents, particularly my dad, who is a Pharmacist. I remember growing up with the fantasy and obsession of wanting to be a Surgeon just like most kids, my age group. Over time, my decisions were tilted to the “Pharmacy direction” given real-life conversations with my dad.
Upon graduating as a pharmacist, what did you set out to achieve, did it include what you currently do and how much of these will you say you have achieved?
Honestly, in retrospection, I will say I didn’t have quite a concise and definite plan for which of the diverse Pharmacy branches I was going to specialize in. For one, who is by default a purposeful individual, as well as one who likes a prospective and pragmatic approach to situations, it was perhaps not the most ideal situation. Thankfully, I was able to explore the option of having senior colleagues that I could discuss that area of life with. I will therefore go on to understand the essence of mentoring tips in helping to correct generic skills and knowledge and most importantly delicately equipping with the adequate resources to navigate present and future situations.
Who are your mentors?
I have quite a few people across various fields –clinicians, monitoring and evaluation specialists, pharmacists– I talk to from time to time about work and the possibilities surrounding it. I won’t say I have a particular one.
How did you establish a "mentor-mentee" relationship with them?
I was able to do this by developing and building my communication skills or “people skills” as some call it. Checking up on them from time to time to can play a huge factor and not necessarily waiting till you need something before you reach out.
You are currently a Technical associate with pharmacy and supply chain, at APIN Public Health Initiative. What does your current role entail?
Basically, I provide technical and mentoring support to Health care workers, most notably pharmacists, on “Pharmacy best practices” and the need to consistently provide high quality HIV/AIDs services with a focus on improving health outcomes. On the logistics arm, it entails ensuring the sustained availability and proper utilization of ARVs and OIs at supported health facilities in the state.
How did you get into your current role?
I was privileged to work in my NYSC year with “Global Funds-LSMOH/APIN”. I was subsequently retained at the end of the service year.
How will you say your current role is different from other roles you’ve played in the past in Community and Hospital practice?
The major variant will be the absence of direct contact with clients that was the benchmark of services rendered in both the community and hospital pharmacy practice. My current role, entails the iterative mentoring and empowerment of the pharmacy focal persons involved in the direct and routine care.
What steps (including additional trainings and certifications) did you have to take to be able to secure your current role and perform your duties maximally?
With regards to steps, just like I mentioned earlier, constant engagements with my senior colleagues in the public health profession expanded my scope of knowledge and further calibrated, and is still very much doing so in my current capacity.
My employers routinely organize trainings and review meetings to serve as a means of CME-“Continuing Medical Education”. I also utilize the privilege of online trainings to help bolster my skills and knowledge in the Public Health sphere particularly as it connects to Pharmacy and Supply Chain Management.
What are the challenges you have faced or currently face as a pharmacist particularly in your current role and how do you manage them?
The major challenge will be the management of the different individuals we have working in the capacity of Pharmacists at our supported health facilities. I have come to realize, over time that it is one just like every other profession that requires a fine degree of “emotional intelligence” and this has helped greatly in able to effectively manage situations.
There is also the challenge of global scarcity of certain commodities and this tends to hamper service delivery. Co-ordinating inter-facility commodity re-distribution helps in conditions such as this.
How would you rate involvement of pharmacist in the management of HIV/AIDS particularly in Nigeria, and what improvements will you like to see?
In terms of rating, I will adjudge it to be quite fair, with a great room for improvement. Pharmaceutical care in HIV/AIDS clients is an area of practice that is quite unique and requires a conscious zeal and the right motivation as the basic ingredient, as it differs from the average community and hospital pharmacy cases. It represents one of the constantly evolving and exciting areas of care, as there are always new and attention-grabbing program trends to be inculcated, in the management of cases. For improvements, I hope and strongly believe that there will be more Pharmacy and Supply Chain Management positions amongst Implementing Partners (IPs) of the various national and international NGOs.
What opportunities do you see for pharmacist in management of HIV/AIDS in Nigeria?
There are endless possibilities and positions available to pharmacists in the management of HIV/AIDS in Nigeria amongst the various IPs. From Technical Associate roles, Technical officer roles, Associate director roles, to Director roles, all are positioned for multi-disciplinary management of clients.
What are your interests and goals as a pharmacist and what are you doing to achieve these goals?
I am constantly searching for new ideas, trends, knowledge and positions both nationally and internationally to foster my goal of ensuring easy and uninterrupted access to quality health facilities across many LGAs as possible in the country.
In terms of career are you pitching your tent here (in HIV/AIDS management) or are there other ventures you will like to explore?
Currently, there are major interests in other public health scenarios notably malaria, tuberculosis and COVID-19. Work is currently ongoing in these areas with the hope of effectively helping to manage those cases in the country, thereby remarkably reducing it incidence.
What is one ideology you live by?
I tend to see possibility in every situation, no matter how bleak it looks. This, I will say has propelled me to navigate everyday challenges as well as take risks where necessary, all in the frame of being a better individual to the society as large.
It has been a pleasure speaking with you, sir. Thank you so much. We wish you the very best.
Thank you for the opportunity to speak with you as well. Cheers!
This interview was conducted by Pharm Sejoro Tonuewa, a member of the Editorial Committee, PSN-YPG Lagos.
