Scholars smile with Generika Drugstore and Ayala Foundation, Inc. (AFI) officials during a virtual meet-and-greet before their semester started in August.
Aspiring pharmacist Micaella Abedejos from Davao City is pursuing her degree for a deeply personal reason: she wants to help her sick grandmother, who is taking several medications.
"Whenever I come home from school, my grandmother would ask me about her medications, and being able to explain it to her made me happy," 20-year-old Micaella shared.
Her knowledge from pharmacy school empowered her to explain to her grandmother the purpose of each medication, helping her manage her health and avoid potential errors. To Micaella, this is the important role pharmacists play in the community—to educate and empower the vulnerable sectors of our society.
“This inspired me to share my knowledge about her medications because I didn't want her taking them without knowing what they were for. I felt motivated to help and make a difference,” she added.
Micaella’s mother is a housewife, and her father works as an informal electronics repairman. Due to their irregular and limited income, it would have been challenging for them to support her college education, especially with three other siblings also in school.
But with her academic excellence and determination, Micaella was one of the chosen beneficiaries of the Enrollment to Employment Scholarship Program of Generika Drugstore, in partnership with Ayala Foundation Inc. (AFI).
This initiative responds to the demand for pharmacists, especially in rural areas, by making it possible for students to pursue their studies.
Atty. Yet Abarca, the President and CEO of Generika Drugstore, emphasized that the scholarship program is in fulfillment of its promise to provide ginhawa by giving Filipino communities access to quality affordable generic medicines. She noted that pharmacists often serve as the primary point of contact for healthcare, especially in underserved areas where drugstores outnumber clinics and hospitals.
“This is really a milestone for us as we embark on this program with Ayala Foundation. Central to our promise of ginhawa is the pharmacist. We take pride in our network of friendly and knowledgeable pharmacists who are at the core of delivering our ginhawa promise to the communities that we serve,” Abarca said.
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