When the COVID-19 pandemic struck, I was deeply concerned by the operational challenges community pharmacists in Nigeria faced. Pharmacies remained one of the few accessible healthcare points during lockdowns, yet many struggled to maintain safe and effective services. I saw firsthand the urgent need for structured, context-specific guidance to support pharmacy operations during public health emergencies.
This experience inspired my PhD research dessertation topic at Obafemi Awolowo University, where I focused on developing Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for managing community pharmacies during such crises. My goal was to create a practical, evidence-based tool that could enhance pharmacy resilience and ensure uninterrupted access to essential medicines.
Turning lived experience into policy tools
What makes my approach innovative is that the SOPs were not developed in isolation. They were drawn directly from the lived experiences of Nigerian community pharmacists during the COVID-19 pandemic. I collected and analysed the strategies they used to navigate lockdowns, supply chain disruptions, and safety concerns. These insights formed the foundation of the SOPs, making them both practical and grounded in real-world challenges.
To ensure the SOPs were not only relevant but also implementable, I piloted them with a small group of pharmacists. Their feedback helped refine the structure and content, and I began to see the potential for broader adoption.
Amplifying impact through my fellowship at Oxford
The Africa Oxford Initiative (AfOx) Visiting Fellowship has been instrumental in advancing this work. I have had the privilege of collaborating with Dr Louise Sigfrid and the Policy and Practice Research Group. This partnership has significantly enriched my research.
Dr. Sigfrid’s insights helped me improve the evaluation tools used to assess the SOPs. I also gained access to Oxford’s extensive academic resources, including the Bodleian and Merton College libraries, which have been invaluable in strengthening the theoretical framework of my work.
Through the fellowship, I had the opportunity to be a panelist at the pre-conference meeting for early-career researchers at the International Pandemic Sciences Institute Conference. I also participated in pharmacy conferences and engaged with pharmacy faculties and community pharmacists in the UK. These interactions offered a comparative perspective and opened doors for future research collaborations.
Contributing to policy change
One of the most exciting outcomes of this fellowship has been the opportunity to engage with key stakeholders in Nigeria. I am now in discussions with pharmacy policy makers and the President of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria to explore the adoption of the SOPs as a national practice tool. This could mark a significant step toward institutionalising emergency preparedness in the pharmacy sector.
The fellowship has also helped me forge lasting relationships with researchers in Oxford and beyond. I am confident that these collaborations will continue to grow, supporting not only the refinement of the SOPs but also broader efforts to strengthen health systems in Africa.
By equipping community pharmacies with standardised emergency protocols, we can ensure that they remain reliable points of care during crises. This contributes to a more integrated and resilient health system—one that can better withstand future public health emergencies and sustain Healthy People.
Dr Rachel Obonose Titus is a Lecturer in the Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacy Administration at Obafemi Awolowo University, Nigeria. Dr Titus was an AfOx fellow based at the at the Pandemic Sciences Institute and was affiliated with Merton College at the University of Oxford.