Opella, a leading healthcare company, and the Egyptian Organization of Pharmacy, Development and Training (EOP), have joined forces to launch an educational initiative aimed at training pharmacists in managing air pollution-aggravated allergies in Egypt. The programme, titled “the Air and Allergy Care with Your Pharmacist”, was launched during the 9th Egyptian Pharmacists Conference & Middle East (EPC) on October 24. This initiative seeks to equip pharmacists with the necessary knowledge and tools to support consumers experiencing allergy symptoms linked to environmental factors.
The pilot phase of the programme will initially train approximately 400 pharmacists, providing them with scientific knowledge, air-quality information, and practical tools to effectively manage allergy cases. The goal is to reach around 50,000 people in Egypt by the end of 2026. According to Feirouz Ellouze, General Manager for Opella Africa, Middle East and Türkiye, pharmacists are among the most accessible healthcare professionals in communities, making them a crucial part of this initiative.
The four-hour curriculum for the programme covers essential topics such as air pollution and allergic rhinitis, symptom recognition, supporting clinical evidence, and the pharmacist’s role in respiratory health. Participating pharmacists will receive a certificate, a pharmacy badge, and a toolkit designed to aid consumer consultations. This comprehensive training will enable pharmacists to provide informed guidance to consumers and support their self-care.
The initiative also aims to introduce Air Quality Index (AQI) screens in pharmacies, which will serve as an awareness tool to facilitate discussions on how air quality changes affect allergy symptoms. Marwa Mazen, Vice President of EOP, emphasized that pharmacists are uniquely positioned to translate scientific evidence into practical guidance, making them a vital part of this programme.
The programme addresses the significant reliance on community pharmacists for everyday health decisions in Egypt. A 2024 study of 1,630 Egyptian adults found that 62.8% had self-medicated during the previous three months, with 53.61% of those respondents citing a pharmacist’s recommendation as their most common source of guidance. This highlights the importance of empowering pharmacists with the necessary knowledge and tools.
By strengthening pharmacists’ ability to support informed self-care, the initiative aims to make self-care more accessible and effective. The programme will enable pharmacists to turn knowledge into meaningful conversations at the pharmacy counter, ultimately contributing to better health outcomes for consumers.
The partnership between Opella and EOP demonstrates a commitment to improving healthcare in Egypt. With the launch of this programme, both organizations are working together to enhance the role of pharmacists in supporting respiratory health, health literacy, and responsible self-care.
Key points
- Opella and EOP aim to train approximately 400 pharmacists in the pilot phase of the programme.
- The initiative seeks to reach around 50,000 people in Egypt by the end of 2026.
- The programme includes a four-hour curriculum covering air pollution and allergic rhinitis, symptom recognition, and the pharmacist’s role in respiratory health.
