Women Pharmacist Empowerment In Nigeria

There is an association in Nigeria for women pharmacists. It's members are women pharmacists from all fields of pharmacy. Their focus is to encourage women pharmacists to take up responsibility and roles in the profession.

While there are many women pharmacists, there is a global trend especially in the United States of America (USA) where they don't take managerial roles or high paid positions. In other climes, they are not found in the workforce. Women pharmacist account for about 40 percent of the workforce in Nigeria. This is in sharp contrast to what is obtainable in other countries where women pharmacist are more than men pharmacist.

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While other countries do well to find out the cause and how to solve it, the cause is glaring in Nigeria. Marriage, family, children, employers not wanting female pharmacists because of maternity leave and society pressure is to be blamed.

Most times, they take maternity leave. These leaves obstruct their career paths in many ways. Besides that, they always come back not fully to work but on a part time basis with the fear they don't know when their next leave will be.

To encourage women in the profession, it calls for understanding from both them, their families and the society. To start with, they must resist the temptation to think that marriage limits them in any way.

There are many career women who within pharmacy and other professions have done  more than enough for themselves and the society even in marriage. They can borrow a leaf from them. Even though the traditional role of women put them in the house, there are ways to go around this.

Stella Okoh
CEO emzor pharmaceutical company

Marriage should be an avenue to chart a new path. For example, a stay at home mom can create a few hours everyday from her schedule and start online business such as medical writing, online consultation service, etc. There is never a limit to what a pharmacist can do. Women pharmacists are more flexible and should think of new ideas.

If you work for someone, there should be discussion on how the timing can be adjusted. Also, how maternity leave should be and all that. The employer should be kind enough to shift ground when it matters.

I have seen that some women pharmacists are scared of starting their own community pharmacy practice because of family. Working for someone is more difficult than running a business if done right. When you employ the right human and technology, you have time for yourself. But your time is determined by your employer if you work for a person.

Very few women pharmacists are in politics. If we look at the grassroot, there is a shaking foundation. When very few women support themselves in politics, there is no way they can move forward. And the pharmaceutical body has a lot to do to protect women pharmacists. When they hold more positions in the organisation they will be more inclined to take on more responsibility in the organisation and politics.

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The pharmaceutical journal team in the United Kingdom (UK) organized an award for outstanding women pharmacists based on some conditions. Those conditions were not based on wealth but success in different areas such as life affected. Pharmaceutical bodies in Nigeria can do the same using it to encourage female pharmacists to take up the profession. They should also encourage members to stop discrimination against women pharmacist. Provide a suitable environment for them to practice like introduction of paid maternity leave, daycare center, breastfeeding breaks, etc. Husbands and other families have a lot to play in the life of female pharmacists. It is sad to sit at home as a wife and mother without practicing the profession. We all can practice side by side.