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Goodlife Towns

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We recently celebrated the opening of our 60th branch in the region on December 3rd 2019. The unveiling of the latest store means Goodlife now has presence in almost all major towns in Kenya.Our stakeholders, suppliers, and business partners joined us the commemoration of this great achievement. The event was well attended with our CEO Amaan Khalfan hosting Leap Frog Investments’ Felix Olale and Dr. Kariuki Gachoki from the Pharmacy and Posions Board who was also the guest of honor.

Speaking at the function, Goodlife CEO Amaan Khalfan mentioned our unique offering in the form of a health and wellness hub with services, including testing for blood pressure, blood glucose, malaria, and vitamins, as well as other basic diagnostic procedures to meet the needs of the over 60% of Kenyans who normally visit pharmacies as their first port of call for healthcare.

“Pharmacies play a crucial role in helping East Africans access basic healthcare and we have therefore evolved and tailored our offerings beyond the traditional over-the-counter and prescription drugs. We are helping patients address most of their healthcare needs affordably through our new service offerings and partnerships with reputable third-party providers in order to eliminate unnecessary waiting times and medical consultation fees. Our offering ensures that healthcare needs are diagnosed and treated early, before they get complicated. This has created a more convenient offering for customers that is also cost effective and delivers better quality of care”, he said.

From left Dr. Daniel Karuma (Goodlife), Chris Kieu (Goodlife), Chris Getonga(Mimosa Chemist), Dr. Felix Olale (Leap Frog Investements), Dr. Kariuki Gachoka, (PPB) Amaan Khalfan (Goodlife) Justin Melvin (Goodlife), Ruth Elwak (Goodlife) and Fred Obondo (Goodlife).

The celebration highlighted our partnership with other key health players which you can now find in our stores including ,Valentis Health – Dial Daktari services which is an on- call doctor services, Essilor who offer affordable eye care through their My Vision shop, Pathologists Lancet Kenya(PLK) for laboratory services and DiaspoCare2019 who offer access and payment of medication and health services among others. This arrangement enables its customers to access a suite of services that would normally only be found in hospitals, while at the same time facilitating easier access to healthcare services. These innovative approaches are timely, especially as the public continues to grapple with high cost of healthcare in a sector that has suffered perpetual under investment in the face of a rising burden of chronic diseases.

“The dramatic increase in chronic diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, and cancer has created a high burden on the healthcare system, especially considering that we are still grappling with infectious diseases such as HIV, Malaria and Tuberculosis,” said Dr Felix Olale, Partner at LeapFrog Investments and Global Head of Healthcare Investments.

LeapFrog’s investment has enabled Goodlife Pharmacy to improve its supply chain, accelerate its store expansion, broaden its services, and increase its outreach activities into lower income communities. Mr Khalfan said the Company intends to roll out over 100 locations over the next few years across East Africa to address the need for quality access to primary healthcare.

Dr. Olale said that the government’s plan to achieve Universal Health Coverage (UHC) by 2022 is a welcome development. “We will only succeed if everyone comes together to play a role. Goodlife is working hard to do its part to increase convenience, improve affordability, and raise the quality of healthcare for all East Africans”.

Check out the Gallery for the same.

Goodlife Pharmacy to Offer Free Diabetes Screening Countrywide

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Nairobi, Friday November 01, 2019 … Leading East African private pharmacy chain, Goodlife Pharmacy, has rolled out free diabetes screening to the public aged 12-74 across all its 52 outlets countrywide. These tests will run throughout November to drive awareness on diabetes and the risk factors in the lead-up to the International World Diabetes Day on 14th November.

Goodlife Pharmacy has private consultation rooms, staffed with certified pharmacy practitioners to carry out the tests. Patients will receive their blood sugar results instantly and be guided about a referral or enrollment into a diabetes management program. Diabetes is one of the major non communicable diseases (NCDs), alongside hypertension, cancer, amongst others whose increased incidence is a growing cause of deaths. Industry estimates attribute about 27 per cent of deaths in Kenya to NCDs.

“In many of the chronic illnesses, a majority of patients do not become aware of the opportunistic (silent) diseases that develop as a result these chronic cases. By availing our outlets as platforms to the general public to be screened free of charge, Kenyans will have a chance to know their diabetes status so they can seek holistic management or change their lifestyles”, said Amaan Khalfan, Goodlife Pharmacy Chief Executive Officer.

Goodlife has partnered with Lancet Group of Laboratories, a leading pathology laboratory service specializing vital diagnostic, monitoring and screening testing to conduct the more specialized HBA1C – which is a form of blood test that provides information about a patient’s average levels of blood glucose over the past three months. This test is essential in diagnosing pre-diabetes and type 2 diabetes. It is also the primary test used for diabetes management.

“While we are only able to provide the HBA1C tests at selected outlets, we encourage the public to take the test with a simple glucometer which is available in all our outlets to know their predisposition. This is normally an important first step that everyone should undergo”, he said.

Diabetes is a chronic disease that occurs when a person’s body can no longer make insulin or use insulin. Insulin is needed for glucose (sugar) to move from the blood into muscle cells where it is used by the cells for energy. Diabetes manifests itself as Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes. Type 1 diabetes is usually diagnosed during childhood and is believed to be unpreventable while Type 2 diabetes occurs in adults and is generally associated with excess weight or obesity and poor diet. Recent studies show that Type 2 diabetes is now increasingly being identified in children and adolescents.

According to the International Diabetes Federation (IDF), the known risk factors for diabetes include aging, ethnicity, family history of diabetes, previous gestational diabetes and a sedentary lifestyle. To prevent Type 2 diabetes, experts encourage patients to adopt an active, healthy lifestyle that includes a sensible, balanced diet and regular physical activity.

 

 

Make the First Day Easier

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Going back to school can be stressful for the whole family. The holidays provide a much-needed break for everyone, however, with the lack of structure, it can wreak havoc when it comes back to returning to school.

The holiday schedule and routine tends to be more relaxed and carefree with traveling, camps, and family vacations. The different change in environment from holiday to school can be a challenging transition.

If you’re stressed about the upcoming school term, check out these back-to-school tips for!

  1. Be Prepared When Transitioning Back-to-School

Start your back to school shopping ahead. Make sure you get your kids essentials, from soaps to their skincare solutions, so you are not stressed as the holiday wraps up.

Avoid scheduling camps and activities during the latter part of the holiday, you do not want to be scrambling to get things done.

  1. How Healthy Is Your Kid?

You want to make sure your kid is healthy when they go back to school, so get them checked at a Goodlife near you.

Find out what is new and what is changing. From period talk to sex talk. You don’t want your kid going back to school with some issues they might be embarrassed to bring up by themselves.

  1. Make the First Day Easier

Parents should remember that they need not wait until the first day of class to ask for help. Schools are open to addressing any concerns a parent or child might have. From any new allergies to medication issues and nutritional matters. Including the specific needs of your child when you go sit down to meet with their teacher

  1. Get them tested

Before you let your kid back in the education system, you ought to ensure that they are in tip-top condition. That includes getting their vitamins checked so if they are lacking in anything you give them the right nutritional support for when they are in school.  

The last thing you want is to be called back to school with your child sick from something that could have been tested and treated for before they went back to class. With the cold season, you might want to consider getting them and yourself a flu vaccine!

  1. Get them the right essentials!

Sadly schools, especially boarding schools are not the most hygienic places for your kids to be but they still need to learn. So what can you do to ensure your child maintains their hygiene? Well, you can start by getting them some hand sanitizers and wet wipes for when they are on the go. The last thing you want is for your daughter to run out her female essentials mid-term so ensure she has enough tampons or sanitary pads for the school term. Getting some nutritional supplements is also a good idea to ensure they keep up with nutritional needs as they are still in the growing ages.

If your kids are going back to boarding school, then you should make sure they have everything they need. You want to ensure they stay healthy throughout the school term and maintain their hygiene. Visit a Goodlife near you for your back to school shopping.

 

 

Travel Essentials

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Travelling can be a lot of fun. But it can also be a terrible experience with some missing essentials in your suitcase. Trying to fit everything in your bag might seem impossible but there just something you don’t want to be on the road without. So here are a few travel essentials tips for your next adventure. 

Toiletries

Just coz you are out of the city doesn’t mean you play it easy with your hygiene.  From your scented soaps to toothbrushes and wet wipes, you’ll need it all for your next adventure. Travelling to new areas might mean that you won’t have access to some of the products you are already used to such as tampons and pads so make sure you pack a few before heading out.

Insect Repellant

Camping out in the wilderness means camping out with all those mosquitoes and bigs you fight off in your bedroom. An insect repellant from Goodlife will come in handy when you are trying to become one with nature.

Sunscreen

Planning a trip to the beach, or maybe your off o see the sand dunes of Dubai. Then you don’t want to come back home with sunburns all over. Take care of your skin under the sun with some sunscreen from Goodlife. 

 Hand Sanitizer

Travel exposes you to so many awful germs. You may end up not having access to clean water to wash your hands but having hand sanitizer will help you keeping the germs at bay so your trip doesn’t get ruined by any illnesses

Probiotics

When travelling, of course, you’re going to be sampling food that you wouldn’t normally eat at home. Sometimes all of that new food can really mess with our digestive systems. If this happens to you, try to invest in a good probiotic though check with your doctor for additional recommendations.

Sun Glasses

Basking in the sun on your vacation doesn’t mean putting your eyes against the sun. Take care of them by packing your sunnies in your carry-on bag because coz you’ll want to put them on as soon as you get to your destination

So next time you looking to take a trip by yourself or with the family, pass by your nearest Goodlife store and get your travelling essentials in one stop.

Fight The Flu

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As cold rolls into town, so does the flue and all its miserable symptoms. Yet, doctors and women alike have long noticed that men tend to bemoan those symptoms more than women. The phenomenon even has a name, the “man flu.”

So, are men just whiny wimps? According to analysis out of Canada, the answer is no, because respiratory illnesses may indeed hit men harder than women.

A study author Dr Kyle Sue, a clinical assistant professor in family medicine with the Health Sciences Centre at the Memorial University of Newfoundland, indicates there are already many physiologic differences between men and women, so it makes sense that we could differ in our responses to cold and flu viruses as well.

So what can you do this cold season for preventive measures against the common cold?

  • A flu vaccine is the first and most important step in protecting against the flu.
  • Wash your hands frequently during the flu season. You may use soap and water or an alcohol-based hand rinse. You can get alcohol rinses available at all our pharmacies. Remember to wash your hands for 20 seconds.
  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Viruses are often spread after a person touches something that is contaminated with the virus and then touches his or her eyes, nose or mouth.
  • Avoid contact with people who are sick. If your coworker is ill, steer clear of his or her sneezes and coughs. When possible, avoid shaking hands with someone who is ill with a cold. If you are caring for an ill family member, wash your hands frequently and minimize proximity to his or her face.
  • Cover your mouth or tuck it into your elbow when coughing or sneezing and encourage others to do so. Wash your hands afterwards.
  • Stay home if you have a respiratory infection when A general guideline is to stay home 24 hours
  • Get enough sleep and avoid getting “run down”.

Nothing can cure a cold, but that doesn’t mean you have to be miserable, there are some remedies that might help ease your symptoms and keep you from feeling so miserable. If you catch a cold, you can expect to be sick for one to two weeks. Besides getting enough rest, these remedies might help you feel better:

  • Stay hydrated. Water, orange juice, clear broth or warm lemon water with honey helps loosen congestion and prevents dehydration. Avoid alcohol, coffee and caffeinated sodas, which can make dehydration worse.
  • Your body needs to heal.
  • Soothe a sore throat.
    A saltwater gargle — 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon salt dissolved in a glass of warm water can temporarily relieve a sore or scratchy throat. You can also try, sore throat sprays, lozenges.
  • Combat stuffiness.
    Over-the-counter saline nasal drops and sprays can help relieve stuffiness and congestion.
  • Sip warm liquids.
    A cold remedy used in many cultures, taking in warm liquids, such as chicken soup, tea, or warm apple juice, might be soothing and might ease congestion by increasing mucus flow.
  • Add moisture to the air.
    A cool mist vaporizer or humidifier can add moisture to your home, which might help loosen congestion. Change the water daily, and clean the unit according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Don’t use steam, which hasn’t been shown to help and may cause burns.
  • Try over-the-counter (OTC) cold and cough medications.
    For adults and children older than 5, OTC decongestants, antihistamines and pain relievers might offer some symptom relief. However, they won’t prevent a cold or shorten its duration. Overuse and misuse of these medications can cause serious damage.Take medications only as directed. Some cold remedies contain multiple ingredients, such as a decongestant plus a pain reliever, so read the labels of cold medications you take to make sure you’re not taking too much of any medication.

So if you feel like you coming down with a cold, walk into your nearest Goodlife pharmacy coz we go the right thing to keep ease your symptoms.

Just For The Health Of It

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We all know that it’s common for men to skip the doctor until they become sick, injure themselves or are faced with a serious health problem. And a majority of men will postpone seeking care for a few days to see whether they feel any better. It’s the whole “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” line of thinking.

But there are steps the men in your life can take today to improve their vitality and help prevent health problems down the road. Of course, there are some things that can’t be changed, such as family history and age, but everyday choices can have a big impact on their current and future health.

Offer the men in your life the following tips for staying healthy:

 

Get routine health checkups, screenings and don’t forget dental exams. Just because you’re healthy doesn’t mean you’re off the hook. Going to your health care provider for regular checkups could just save your life. By keeping up with these appointments, your health care provider can make sure you stay up-to-date with immunizations, yes, they’re for adults, too! and important preventive health screenings. It also gives you a chance to talk about any health concerns or changes you’ve noticed. Make sure to talk with your health care provider about your family medical history and ask which screenings you might need. You can walk into a Goodlife pharmacy today an get your BMI, blood pressure, vitamin and blood sugar checked for free.

Certain cancers depending on risk factors, including your age and family history

Depression: Did you know men are four times more likely to commit suicide than women, which is thought to be due to under-diagnosed depression?

 

And, if you’re like most people, you dread going to the dentist, but add that to your “to do” list. Dental exams aren’t just important for your teeth and gums; your mouth may also be a red flag for other health conditions. You can also get your oral solutions at any goodlife pharmacy to keep you oral healthy.

Eat a healthy, well-balanced diet. Eating a diet that’s low in fat,cholesterol, and salt, and packed with fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains and fiber can help improve your health, prevent heart disease, diabetes and certain cancers.

Get moving. Try to get 30 minutes of moderate physical activity on most days of the week. Taking a walk, jogging, swimming and mowing the lawn all count. But don’t be a weekend sports warrior. Start slowly if you aren’t normally active and gradually build up. Talk to your doctor about the right exercise program for you.

Lose the gut for good. It’s important to maintain a healthy weight. Excess weight, especially around the waist, can be hard on your body. Carrying too much body fat forces your heart to work harder and increases your chances of heart disease and stroke, even if you have no other risk factors! So, try to curb weight gain as you age.

Drink alcohol in moderation. If you drink alcohol, limit your consumption to no more than two drinks per day. )

Don’t use tobacco. Tobacco smoke contains more than 4,000 chemicals and is a known cause of cancer. Smoking also increases the likelihood of high blood pressure, heart disease, lung problems and other health problems. And if you think chewing tobacco is safer, think again. Not only is chewing tobacco a known cause of cancer, it also contributes to gum disease and tooth loss and may be linked to fertility problems. If you smoke or chew, talk to your health care professional about ways to quit. Consider nicotine replacement therapy products that include self-help programs, if appropriate.

Learn to manage stress. Many men define themselves by their careers, which can raise stress levels. Over time, stress can take a toll on your emotional and physical health. Notice early warning signs of stress, such as irritability, tension in your shoulders and neck, grinding your teeth or clenching your hands into fists, and find healthy ways to de-stress.

Talk to family and friends about how they can help you integrate these tips into your everyday life and stick with them.

 

Symptoms of Food Allergies in Babies

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Starting to feed a baby solid foods is an exciting moment for parents. However, it comes with a lot of questions and concerns, especially about food allergies. What are the symptoms? What foods are most likely to cause allergies in babies? How do you avoid them?

Symptoms of Food Allergies

Food allergy symptoms usually appear almost immediately or after a short time after the food is eaten. These include:

    • Hives or welts- An outbreak of swollen, pale red bumps or plaques on the skin that appear suddenly.
    • Flushed skin or rash- An abnormal change in skin colour or texture. There are many types of rashes, including eczema.
    • Face, tongue, or lip swelling
    • Vomiting and/or diarrhoea
    • Coughing or wheezing- breathing with a whistling or rattling sound in the chest.
    • Difficulty breathing

 

Severe allergic reactions can be fatal very quickly. If your baby is having trouble breathing/wheezing, has swelling on her face/lips, or develops severe vomiting or diarrhoea after eating, seek medical attention immediately.

Did you know that it is possible for babies to have allergic reactions to foods before they start eating them? This is because they can develop allergies to the foods that their mother eats, through breastfeeding.

These are the most common allergenic foods for babies:

  • Milk
  • Egg
  • Peanuts
  • Tree nuts (such as walnuts or almonds)
  • Fish
  • Shellfish
  • Soy
  • Wheat

 

Breastfeeding your baby for 4-6 months is the best way to prevent a milk allergy. Breast milk or formula is higher in nutrition. Introducing whole milk should be done under a doctor’s advice. Further, it’s most important to introduce a baby to new foods gradually in case of food allergies. Bringing in new foods into the diet one by one is most recommended by doctors.

Remember, just because a baby’s initial allergic reaction to a new food may be mild, it may get worse upon following exposures. Talk to your paediatrician about any food allergy symptoms in your baby.

Eye Care Essentials

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  1. Learn If You Are At Risk For Eye Disease

Does your family have a history of diabetes or high blood pressure? Factors like these contribute to your risk of developing sight-threatening eye diseases, so make sure you’re aware of them.

  1. Live A Healthy Lifestyle

The way you live can have a huge impact on your overall health, and that includes your eyes. Eating healthy foods, including plenty of fruits and dark green vegetables will help your eyes stay healthy, as will regular exercise. Avoid bad habits like smoking, as smoking increases a person’s risk of developing a number of sight-threatening conditions.

  1. Schedule Regular Physical Exams

Chronic diseases like high blood pressure and diabetes can cause numerous problems if undiagnosed and untreated, including eye problems. Diabetes, in particular, can lead to vision loss due to diabetic retinopathy and macular degeneration, and untreated high blood pressure can lead to eye strokes.

  1. Schedule Regular Eye Exams

The only way your eye doctor will be able to catch an eye disease early on to begin managing and treating it will be if you are scheduling your regular eye exams. Catching these diseases early is often the difference between vision loss and successfully saving the patient’s sight.

  1. Be On The Watch For Changes In Your Vision

Whenever you notice a change in your vision, you should come see us right away. It could be something as simple as needing an updated prescription for your glasses or contacts, but symptoms like red eyes, flashes of light, a sudden increase in the number of floaters you see, and eye pain or swelling may be signs of serious eye problems that need immediate attention.

  1. Protect Your Eyes From UV Rays

Even people with no predisposition for eye disease need eye protection from the sun, but it’s not as simple as grabbing the nearest cheap pair of sunglasses you can find. Make sure that the pair you wear block 100% of UV-A and UV-B rays before you buy them because sunglasses that don’t block UV rays can actually be worse than no sunglasses at all.

Get yourself an eye check at Goodlife Pharmacy, Westlands Arcade today!

Protecting your Vision at Work

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As adults, we spend about 80% (if not more) of our time at work! The type of job you have will determine the kinds of risks your eyes are exposed to. We’re therefore going to break them up into two main categories: jobs that mainly involve physical labour and desk jobs.

Preventing Workplace Eye Injuries

Jobs such as construction or manufacturing work, mining, carpentry, auto repair, electrical work, plumbing, welding, and maintenance are all high-risk jobs when it comes to eye injury.

If you work in one of these fields, make sure to wear your safety glasses, goggles, face shield, welding helmet, or full-face respirator as needed.

If you have an office job, you likely don’t face the same risks of eye injuries, but your work conditions could still be hazardous to your eye health. The most common eye problem for office workers is computer vision syndrome, also known as digital eye strain.

Constantly staring at your computer screen might not cause permanent damage to your eyesight, but it can make your eyes tired and irritated and negatively impact your work, with symptoms including headaches, neck pain, inattentiveness, back strain, and dry eye.

A few ways you can fight back against that eye strain include repositioning your screen, following the 20-20-20 rule (Every 20 minutes, look at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds) making an effort to blink more often, using artificial tears, drinking plenty of water, using an anti-glare screen or wearing computer glasses, and, finally, scheduling regular eye exams!