DR. HILLARY KAGWA

I am Dr. Hillary Kagwa, a Clinical Pharmacist and the acting County Director of Health Kiambu County.I was born in Maringo estate Eastland Nairobi and grew up in Githurai 45 Kiambu County.

I am a proud alumni of Muhoho high school, Gatundu South constituency.I hold a Bachelor’s Degree in Pharmacy and a Master’s in Clinical Pharmacy from the University of Nairobi.

I have also undertaken a Post Graduate Diploma in the Management of Diabetes and its complications from the International Diabetes Federation and a Renal Preceptorship in Pharmacy Practice at the East African Kidney Institute (EAKI).

I am the chairman of the Hospital Pharmacists Association of Kenya(HOPAK) and a member of the Pharmaceutical Society of Kenya(PSK) and the Pan-African Society of Cardiology (PASCAR).

I did my internship at Belladonna Pharmacy, Village market, Kiambu Level 5 hospital and Medivet Pharmaceuticals.

My interest in Clinical was spurred during my internship at Webuye District Hospital Bungoma County. The physicians from the hospital insisted on a pharmacist being part of the ward rounds. I joined them regularly and eventually got involved in the running of the Diabetes and anticoagulation clinic at the hospital.

I enrolled for a Masters in Clinical pharmacy and I have really enjoyed practising it. I majored in Internal medicine and did a minor in Critical care pharmacy practice.

What I enjoy most is interacting with patients as I conduct Medication Therapy Management (MTM). I came to realise that patients trust pharmacists especially when you lend them a listening ear. Through such interactions I have seen positive patient outcomes in the continuum of care as regards adherence to medications, understanding of their conditions, proper use of medications and devices at Gatundu level 5 hospital.

When I did a Renal Preceptorship course I was domiciled in the renal unit where the patients are a unique population due to the reduced or non existent renal function and my experience with the patients has been a humbling experience as we manage their comorbidities as they undergo dialysis.

I currently work at the County Health Management Team stationed at Thika as the acting County Director of Health. I also am the Secretary to the Kiambu County COVID 19 Vaccine Deployment and vaccination taskforce and was awarded the Hospital Pharmacist of the Year by the Pharmaceutical Society of Kenya in 2021.

Even though I miss my clinical pharmacy practice due to management duties at the policy level, I’d like to say it’s also satisfying influencing decisions that go towards improved patient outcomes and service delivery. Am passionate about Antimicrobial Resistance and currently am the Antimicrobial Resistance Focal person in the county. At the management level I also hold the position of the Lead Information, Therapeutic and Safety at the Health Products and Technologies Unit at the the county.

My advise to the young Pharmacists is; you have so much potential and so much to offer from your training. Let’s move from a product oriented to a patient oriented pharmacy practice which is very fulfilling.

There are so many fields in pharmacy practice that you can create a niche in ranging from Hospital, Community, Industrial pharmacy, regulatory affairs, Quality assurance and many more including upcoming fields like Radio Pharmacy and Oncology Pharmacy not to mention Health Economics and Public Health in pharmacy.

Be part of a multidisciplinary health care team and free to share your inputs based on evidence based medicine.

In clinical practice I came  to realise there’s a huge gap that begs for Pharmacists interventions and it’s only us who can rise up to the occasion without being coerced to do so.

I am a strong advocate for a change in the training curriculum of pharmacists training to enhance the Clinical skills for basics like immunization especially with the outbreak of the Sars Cov 2 Corona virus and family planning services to be offered on community pharmacy practice. I also believe Pharmacists and doctors in general should have  basic training in Business Management skills to make them all rounded in life.

Dear Young Pharmacist, arise and take up your rightful role in ensuring efficacious, quality, safe and cost effective use of medicines and Medical devices.

The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.!!