Blog - Top-Up Pharmacy

Posted on: July 4, 2023January 25, 2024

Pharmacy Council Lauded For Upholding Standards

The Chief Executive Officer of Top-Up Pharmacy and Lena House Clinic, Dr. Richard K. Odor, in an interview with journalists on the sidelines of a staff dinner and awards night held Wednesday, noted that the issue of quark practitioners were of major concern but lauded the regulatory body for taking steps to weed out unqualified people who had infiltrated the system.

He cautioned people to desist from taking drugs without first talking to a doctor or a pharmacist.

“Drugs can become poisons depending on how they are used. You need to speak to a pharmacist on every drug you take so that you will have the full benefit of the drug because a poorly used drug becomes a poison,” he said.

Dr. Odor, while praising the workers for their distinguished service, also appreciated them for their indispensable role in the ongoing success of the organisation.

Dr Odor said from what started as a tiny single store in Tema Community Four, the company now has 20 branches employing 300 people, stressing that in the coming years, the company was looking at growing into a big pharmaceutical company with branches in all the regions of Ghana.

He said they were equally targeting the West African sub-region and also considering veering into local production of pharmaceuticals because they thought that should ultimately be the way forward to bring quality affordable medicines to the doorstep of people to take care of their healthcare needs without necessarily spending a lot of foreign currency importing these same medicines.

Challenge

Dr Odor said one of the challenges facing the business was getting an appropriate location to open a facility while the other challenge was getting access to funding.

He said because medicines were expensive trying to get the right kind of medicine and having all the stocks a client needed at any point in time was daunting.

He expressed the hope that the banks would be more welcoming and supporting the pharmaceutical industry so that the cost of doing business in the pharmacy space would be less and they could pass that benefit to the clients so that invariably, the cost of medicines would go down.

He also expressed the hope that the challenges faced in the clearing of medicines at the ports would be looked at so they could bring in registered products that would benefit the general public

The General Manager in charge of Retail, Dr Emmanuel Fiadzorgbe, said Top Up Pharmacy Group had lived up to its ideals of delivering exceptional pharmaceutical care and making a positive impact on people’s lives.

He commended the staff, who, he said, had worked tirelessly around the clock to ensure customers’ needs were met with care, professionalism, and expertise.

Awards

Five hardworking staff of the Top Up Pharmacy Group Limited were honoured for their outstanding contributions to the company. They were Dr Amanda Mingle- East Legon Branch, Best Branch Manager, Sandra Adofo- Spintex Branch, Best Sales Supervisor Solomon Adevu-Transport Department, Best Non-Sales Supervisor, Ms Prisca Ansah- Osu Branch, Best Junior Sales Staff and – George Mordzi- Tema Community 9 Branch, Best Junior Non-Sales Staff.

Long-service awards were also given to staff who had served the company for 10 years and above. They include Janet Okantu who had served the company for 15 years.

The CEO and his wife, Mrs Olena Odor, were also appreciated by the staff of the company.

Sources: graphic.com.gh

Posted on: June 20, 2023January 25, 2024

5 Morning Drinks for Weight Loss

Some beverages may help promote weight loss by boosting metabolism and providing other health benefits. In this article, we will share five drinks to add to your diet and weight loss regimen to help you achieve your weight loss goals. These drinks are best taken in the morning before breakfast.

Green Tea

Green Tea has been shown to be one of the most effective drinks for weight loss. Green tea is packed with antioxidants which help improve your metabolism and help you burn fat. It also contains caffeine, which can help with weight loss by increasing energy levels and improving performance during exercise.

According to several studies, green tea can reduce body mass index, and body weight and help you lose harmful belly fat. Start your day with a cup of green tea preferably without sugar to help you reap the greatest benefits.

Apple Cider Vinegar

Kickstart your day with a glass of apple cider vinegar mixed with water to aid you lose weight. Some studies have shown that apple cider vinegar is effective in promoting weight loss. Apple cider vinegar contains a compound known as acetic acid, which boosts metabolism, suppresses appetite, and decreases blood sugar and insulin levels after eating leading to weight loss. Acetic acid also helps burn fat and reduces fat accumulation in the belly and liver.

Mix 1 – 2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar with water and drink it 2 – 3 times a day before meals. Do not exceed the recommended doses and do not drink it undiluted as this can result in harmful side effects such as burns in the digestive tract and erosion of tooth enamel.

Ginger Tea

Ginger tea can enhance weight loss by increasing fullness, reducing appetite, and helping burn calories more effectively. Steep ginger slices in boiling water and simmer for 5 – 10 minutes. Strain and drink. You can combine ginger tea with lemon or green tea.

Aloe Vera Juice

Aloe vera juice may stimulate weight loss by boosting your metabolism and help regulate blood sugar control. Evidence from research shows that aloe vera affects the metabolism of fat and prevents the accumulation of abdominal fat.

Lemon Water

Drinking a glass of lukewarm lemon water in the morning has a lot of health benefits. Most of the health claims of lemon water causing weight loss are anecdotal. However, lemon water may promote weight loss by keeping you hydrated, boosting your metabolism, and keeping you feeling full for longer. Lemon contains vitamin C, which may help you burn fat, and pectin fibre which
may help decrease appetite and calorie intake.

Posted on: May 13, 2023January 25, 2024

The Importance of Sleep

Getting quality sleep is essential for maintaining a healthy mind and body. Most adults need about 7 to 9 hours of sleep each night. Inadequate sleep affects your ability to perform daily activities and increases the risk of chronic diseases like hypertension and diabetes.

Improved Mental Function

Sleep plays a crucial role in brain function. During sleep, the brain processes new information and forms memories. Thus, getting enough sleep helps with learning, memory, cognitive and behavioral function. Good sleep has been shown to improve problem-solving skills, decision-making skills, and alertness.

During sleep, emotions are processed. This results in improved mood and fewer negative emotional reactions. In contrast, not getting enough sleep increases the risk of mental distress, and a chronic lack of sleep may lead to mood disorders such as anxiety and depression.

Sleep also impacts judgment. Getting a good night’s rest makes you think clearly and alert. Inadequate sleep affects your reaction times, and impairs your judgment, leading to accidents and poor decision-making.

Supports the Immune System

Sleep regulates the body’s immune system. During sleep, the body produces cytokines that support your immune system in warding off infections. The body also produces growth hormones essential for development in children and adolescents during sleep. Growth hormones repair tissues and cells in children and adults.

A continuous lack of sleep impairs your immune function and its ability to fight off infections. This increases your risk of infections such as the common cold and diseases such as ulcers.

Improves Heart Health

Heart rate goes down and blood pressure decreases while you sleep. This gives your cardiovascular system ample time to rest. Inadequate sleep causes your blood pressure to remain high for longer during a 24-hour cycle, increasing the risk of heart disease, stroke, heart failure, and heart attacks.

Research shows that constantly sleeping fewer than 7 hours a day, results in a 13% increased risk of death from heart disease.

Regulates Blood Sugar

A lack of sleep increases the risk of developing insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes. Getting a good night’s rest ensures the regulation of blood sugar in the body. Sleep influences the body’s association with the hormone insulin. Insulin aids glucose to enter the body cells which then use glucose as energy.

Sleep deprivation increases the body’s resistance to insulin, increases inflammation, and causes hunger hormone changes which increases your risk of diabetes.

Maintaining Healthy Weight

Sleep deprivation disrupts the hormones leptin and ghrelin that control appetite. Inadequate sleep increases the production of ghrelin which stimulates hunger and decreases the production of leptin which suppresses hunger. Therefore, a lack of sleep leads to a greater feeling of hunger and overeating which results in obesity.

To lose or maintain weight, good quality sleep, in addition to exercise and healthy eating choices is the way to go.

Posted on: April 21, 2023January 25, 2024

Tips to Get Rid of Body Odour

Body odour can be quite embarrassing especially when the unpleasant smell is coming from you. Body odour is a common problem that can affect a person’s quality of life. It is commonly believed that sweat causes body odor. However, it isn’t sweat that produces odor but the interaction between sweat and bacteria on the skin that breaks down protein molecules in the sweat resulting in body odour.

Although a person’s hygiene practices mostly determine body odour, body odour can change due to hormonal changes in the body for example, puberty and menopause, the food we eat, obesity, medications, and medical conditions like diabetes, kidney disease, liver disease and thyroid disease. Body odor commonly occurs in the armpits, the feet, the groin, the genitals, hair, and pubic hair, behind the ears and buttocks. Try these tips to help you get rid of body odour.

Personal Hygiene

Taking a daily bath or shower can help prevent body odor by getting rid of the bacteria on the skin that result in body odor. Focus on the areas of your body where you sweat the most, like your armpits and groin. Factors such as exercise, hot weather, stress & anxiety also contribute to body odor. Make sure to shower or bath regularly during hot weather and after exercise. Cleaning your skin with antibacterial soaps can help reduce bacteria in your body.
Wash your clothes regularly and wear clean clothes. Clothes should be washed after every wear if you have body odour. Wear loose-fitting cotton clothing and underwear. Synthetic fabrics such as nylon serve as breeding grounds for bacteria.
Shave your armpits regularly. The armpit and pubic hair trap sweat and serve as a breeding ground for bacteria. By shaving your armpits frequently, sweat evaporates quickly, reducing the interaction between sweat and bacteria thus decreasing body odour.
The use of antiperspirants can help fight body odour by blocking the sweat ducts thus reducing sweat volumes and altering the amount and activity of odour-causing bacteria.

Lifestyle Modifications

Foods that contain sulphur and spicy food can cause body odor. Avoid foods that can cause body odor such as garlic, onions, cabbage, and alcohol. Observe which specific foods worsen your body odour and avoid them.
Stress and Anxiety – Reducing stress and anxiety can help prevent body odor. Stress can lead to body odour by activating the apocrine glands. According to the International Hyperhidrosis Society, the apocrine sweat glands produce the most stress-induced sweat so a person may notice their sweat smells stronger if they are stressed.

Natural Remedies

Lemon juice – The acidic nature of lemon juice lowers the pH of the skin making it difficult for odor-causing bacteria to survive on the skin. Simply cut a lemon into two halves and rub it directly in your armpits. Allow it to dry and wash it off completely with water.
Rock Salt – Rock salt removes excess sweat on the body and eliminates odor-causing bacteria on the skin. Mix lukewarm water with rock salt. Allow it to dissolve and take a bath.
Baking Soda – Baking soda has alkaline properties which neutralize the acidity in sweat processed by bacteria thus reducing unpleasant smells from the body. Make a paste with baking soda and water. Apply the paste to your armpits and other sweat-prone areas of your body. Leave it for 10 – 15 minutes to dry and wash it off with lukewarm water.
Neem Tree Leaves – The antibacterial, antiseptic, and antifungal properties of neem leaves help prevent body odor. Grind a handful of neem leaves and a cup of water into a paste. Apply the paste to the sweat-prone areas of your body like your armpits. Allow the paste to dry and wash it off. Alternatively, boil some neem leaves in water and use it to bathe daily for best results.

If your body odour does not improve and you notice that you are sweating excessively as compared to previously, or you have night sweats, you may have an underlying medical condition and will have to see a doctor.

Posted on: March 20, 2023January 25, 2024

How To Maintain Good Oral Health

Oral health is an essential part of your overall health and well-being. Good oral health not only affects your mouth but may also aid in preventing other diseases such as respiratory diseases, diabetes, cancers, and heart disease. As we mark World Oral Health Day under the theme ‘Be proud of your mouth’, here are a few tips to help you maintain good oral hygiene and achieve the perfect smile.

Brushing your teeth twice a day

Brushing your teeth for two minutes, at least twice a day is considered the primary step to keep your teeth and gums healthy. Brushing your teeth helps remove food and plaque which can lead to tooth decay and gum disease. When brushing your teeth, brush every surface; the inside, outside, and chewing surfaces of your teeth. Use a fluoride-containing toothpaste when brushing and do not rinse your mouth right after brushing to allow enough time for the fluoride to work on your teeth and gums, preventing tooth decay. Remember to replace your toothbrush every three months.

Make it a daily habit to brush your tongue. Bacteria building up on your tongue can lead to mouth odour or halitosis and white discoloration of your tongue. Brushing your tongue regularly can reduce the amount of bacteria on the tongue, which may improve oral health as well as mouth freshness.

Flossing

Daily flossing helps remove food particles stuck between your teeth. Regular flossing helps remove plaque that forms along the gum line and reduces inflammation. This may reduce gum disease and bad breath.

Eat a balanced, low-sugar diet.

Eating a well-balanced diet that is low in sugar will help you maintain good dental health. It can also help prevent other diseases such as obesity, diabetes, and heart disease. Consuming excessive amounts of sugars from processed foods, soft drinks, sweet desserts, etc. will increase your risk for tooth decay and other oral diseases.

Drinking Water

Simply drinking water every day will help you maintain good oral health. Water helps remove food particles from your mouth, keeping your mouth clean and reducing the negative effects of acidic foods and drinks on your teeth. It also helps to prevent a dry mouth, thus improving your breath. Water is also needed in the production of saliva which is essential for removing food from your teeth and aiding you to chew, taste, swallow, and digest food.

Use mouthwashes

Rinsing your mouth regularly with a fluoride mouthwash helps to kill harmful bacteria between your teeth and on your tongue. It helps prevent bad breath and improves gum health. Mouthwashes work better after you have cleaned your teeth and flossed. Mouthwashes should not be used as a substitute for brushing your teeth.

Visit the dentist regularly

It is recommended to see a dentist twice a year, even if you are not having any dental issues. Regular check-ups and dental cleanings can help maintain good oral health and help prevent oral diseases. The dentist can also educate you on good oral hygiene habits to help you keep your teeth and mouth healthy.

Posted on: February 1, 2023January 25, 2024

Getting Started – Exercise

Starting an exercise routine can be difficult. But considering the many health benefits of exercise for your body and mind, there is every reason to exercise. Check out these tips to get you started:

Start by getting physically active: To maintain good health, physical activity can be a great place to begin. Physical activity is any bodily movement produced by skeletal muscles that requires energy expenditure. All forms of movement, including walking, dancing, climbing the stairs, gardening, active recreational activities, housework, cycling, and all activities done during the day that require movement are classified as physical activity. Exercise is a planned, structured physical activity. Intensity, duration, and frequency of the exercise are typically used to measure progress in achieving your fitness goals. Look for opportunities during your day to be physically active. Climb the stairs instead of waiting for the elevator. Instead of finding the closest parking space, park at a distance, and walk to your destination. Take a dance lesson or join an aerobic exercise session on YouTube in your leisure time instead of sitting and watching TV or scrolling aimlessly through your phone.
Set an Exercise Goal: What are your reasons for wanting to exercise? Do you want to lose weight or do you want to improve and support your health? Set clear exercise goals, and decide on the type of exercise and intensity to achieve your goals. Find the reason why you want to exercise so that when you feel like giving up, it will motivate you to keep moving.
Start slowly and progress at your own pace: It does not matter how slowly you start as long as you start moving. Take one step at a time and gradually build yourself into a routine. Vigorous exercise can lead to injury if you have not exercised before or have not exercised in a long time. Allow your body to recover, take rest days if you need to, but stick with it until exercise becomes a habit. It takes two to six weeks for most people to get into a pattern of regular exercise. If you have not exercised in a long time, have a chronic health condition, or are pregnant, check with your doctor before you start to exercise.
Make exercise fun: Engaging in exercise can be fun. Find a physical activity you enjoy and engage in it. Combine different exercises such as swimming and dancing and have fun while burning those calories. Enjoy nature as you jog or run. Listen to music while you are exercising. Connect with friends and family through group activities. Make new friends by going to the gym. Have fun as you strive towards a healthy life.
Exercise with a friend: Do you need someone to motivate you to exercise? Exercise with a friend and be accountable to each other. Exercise with a friend to help you stay committed and remember to have fun while exercising.
Track your progress: Track your progress as you work towards your fitness goals. Write down your progress or use fitness apps to record your progress. Take selfies and reward yourself when you achieve your targets.

Regular physical activity and exercise are necessary for maintaining a healthy life and increasing your life span. Start slow and make it a routine. After a few weeks, it will no longer be difficult but exciting and worth the effort.

Posted on: January 11, 2023January 25, 2024

The Benefits of Exercise

You either hate it or love it – Exercise. But whether you love or hate exercising, there are many benefits to exercising, including improving your sleep quality, reducing stress and anxiety, improving your overall well-being, and even reducing your risk of early death by 30%. To get the most advantage, you should aim to get the recommended amount of exercise for your age. The average adult needs at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic physical activity each week. We hope the following benefits of exercise will motivate you to get moving.

Exercise helps prevent chronic lifestyle diseases: According to the World Health Organization (WHO), regular physical activity decreases the risk of hypertension, stroke, diabetes, and several types of cancers (including breast cancer and colon cancer). Exercise improves your circulation and keeps your heart healthy. Increased blood flow raises the oxygen levels in your body. This helps lower your risk of heart diseases such as coronary heart disease, high cholesterol, and heart attack. Thus, if you want to support and improve your overall health, then get moving!
Exercise helps maintain a healthy body weight: You burn calories when you exercise. The more intense the exercise, the more calories you will burn. This leads to weight loss as well as maintaining a healthy body weight. 150 minutes of moderate-intense physical activity, ( 30 minutes a day, 5 days a week), would aid you in maintaining a healthy body weight. To lose weight, you must burn more calories and reduce the calories you eat and drink. Do you want to fit into that beautiful dress? Hit the ground running.
Exercise improves your mental health: When you exercise, your brain releases chemicals known as endorphins. Endorphins improve your mood, make you more relaxed and make you feel happier. Endorphins also reduce pain and boost pleasure, leaving you feeling great. Research has also shown that exercise reduces depression, stress, and anxiety. Regular exercise stimulates the production of hormones that improve the growth of brain cells. This leads to enhanced mental function, improves cognition, and protects memory as you age.
Exercise improves your sleep: There is nothing as gratifying for a tired body as good, quality sleep. According to research, regular exercise improves the quality of sleep, aids in deep sleep, and reduces daytime drowsiness. Regular exercise will help you to fall asleep faster, sleep better, and stay asleep for longer. But if you want to fall asleep faster, do not exercise close to your bedtime.
Exercise improves your sexual health: Regular exercise can boost your energy levels, improve your cardiovascular health, increase your muscle mass and strength, help you relax, and reduce stress which all lead to improved sexual health. Physical activity can also improve sexual performance and sexual pleasure. It has been shown that regular exercise may lower the risk of erectile dysfunction. Exercise may help improve sexual function in men who already have erectile dysfunction.

The health benefits of regular exercise are numerous and cannot be ignored. Exercising for a few minutes out of 24 hours a day is a small investment for the massive payoff of a happy and healthy life. Every little step counts, so start moving.

Posted on: November 11, 2021May 20, 2023

Top-Up Pharmacy organises health screening in Kasoa

Top-Up Pharmacy has organised a health screening as part of activities to celebrate the one-year anniversary of its Kasoa branch.

Residents of Kasoa, Obom, Ofaakor, and other adjoining areas trooped to the premises of Top-Up Pharmacy at the Kasoa New Market to be screened for conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, cholesterol, dental, eye care, and hepatitis B.

Doctors also provided general health consultations to the beneficiaries and advised them on the proper use of medication.

Appreciation

The Executive Director of Top-Up Pharmacy, Mrs. Olena Odor, said the health screening was a way for her outfit to show appreciation to the people of Kasoa for believing in and embracing the Top-Up brand.

“Kasoa is a very fast-growing community and it is our aim to help people in terms of their health.

The health screening is our way of giving back to the community because we know it can benefit many people,” Mrs. Odor further said.

Top-Up pharmacy, she said, was interested in the wellbeing and health of not only its customers but also people within its catchment areas of operations and the entire country.

She said the company had made customer satisfaction its hallmark and was, therefore, constantly improving its services to meet customers’ needs, adding “Our services are tailored to ensure the best quality for customers.”

Advice

The Head of Sales and Marketing of Top-Up Pharmacy, Dr. Isaac Buabeng Nyantakyi, said the health screening exercise was also an opportunity for the pharmacy to advise people on the proper use of medicine.

He cautioned people to desist from taking drugs without first talking to a doctor or a pharmacist. “Drugs can become poisons depending on how they are used.

You need to speak to a pharmacist about every drug you take. Don’t just walk into a pharmacy and buy anything, especially antibiotics. People are abusing antibiotics a lot,’ he said.

Posted on: July 6, 2021May 20, 2023

Top-Up Pharmacy Organises Free Health Screening In East Legon

Top-up Pharmacy has celebrated the one-year anniversary of its East Legon branch with a health screening exercise.

The pharmacy provided free health screening for hypertension, diabetes, dental, eye care, cholesterol, and general health consultation to the residents of East Legon and its surrounding communities.

Prior to the health screening, a durbar was held to celebrate the impact and successes of the East Legon branch since its establishment a year ago.

Present at the durbar were the Member of Parliament of Ayawaso West Wuogon, Ms. Lydia Alhassan, stakeholders in the pharmaceutical industry, and opinion leaders of the area.

Top-Up Pharmacy Staff

The Chief Executive Officer of Top-Up Pharmacy, Mr. Richard K. Odor, said the focus of the company was to provide quality but affordable health care for all in a professional manner that met the peculiar needs of customers.

He said Top-Up Pharmacy began its operations in 2006 and currently had 13 branches throughout the country.

According to him, the vision of the company was to expand from retail and venture into manufacturing to serve the needs of the country and the sub-region. He thanked all stakeholders who had been part of the success story of Top-Up Pharmacy.

Ms. Alhassan lauded Top-Up Pharmacy for establishing a branch in her constituency, a feat which, she said, had made pharmacy services closer to the residents of the area, as well as provided employment for people.

“They have really done well and have supported the growth of this country. They have over 200 staff and they are contributing their quota to national development,” she said.

She advised workers of the company to continue to work hard not just for the success of Top-Up, but also to distinguish themselves.

For his part, a Deputy Registrar of the Pharmacy Council in charge of Professional Development, Mr. Albert Wiredu Arkoh, said Top-Up Pharmacy was one of the pharmacies that regularly renewed its license and followed the regulations of the council.

“The regulation states that pharmacies must constantly have pharmacists on their premises to serve the public. Top-Up Pharmacy has followed this regulation, as well as other regulations diligently,” he said.

Posted on: October 21, 2020May 20, 2023

Lena House Clinic screens Ashaiman residents for free

More than 300 residents of Ashaiman last Friday and Saturday benefited from a free health screening organised by the Lena House Clinic, a medical centre in Tema, in the Greater Accra Region.

Beneficiaries were given medication while those with complications were advised to visit the appropriate health centres for further treatment.

Some women who also had complications in their breasts were referred to the clinic for further treatment.

The beneficiaries were also educated on healthy lifestyles that would enable them to avoid diseases such as diabetes and hypertension, among others.

The two-day exercise was led by the Superintendent Medical Officer of Lena House Clinic, Dr Ransford Baafi Boateng.

In an interview, the Chief Executive Officer of Top-Up Pharmacy and Lena House Clinic, Mr Richard K. Odor, said the exercise had come to stay and would be an annual programme as part of the company’s social responsibility to the communities it operates in.

He said the exercise was also organised as part of efforts to ensure quality healthcare delivery in the country, noting that it was important for citizens to live healthy lives always.

“There are a lot of people who cannot access basic health care. Therefore, it is important for institutions to help, hence the assistance we are giving these residents.

“My advice to you all is to live healthy lifestyles because the country needs you to be strong to work for its improvement. However, if you have any health complications, do not hesitate to visit our clinic and any of our pharmacies spread across many parts of the country.