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🚨 A typical day in the life of a clinical pharmacist in a tertiary hospital in Northern Nigeria. 5:50 am. Power outage again. The generator fuel is finished and I do not have solar panels because of the current economic situation. I rush to prepare for the day while my wife gets the children ready for school. My mind is already heavy, but we must keep going. 8:30 am – First patient in the ward round: Mama Aisha, an 8-year diabetic on insulin. She was in tears. “Pharmacist, the insulin that used to be ₦18,000 is now ₦34,000. My husband’s salary cannot cover it.” I swallowed my own frustration. My salary has not increased in two years, yet fuel, rent, and school fees keep rising. Still, I smiled and counselled her on how to make the vial last longer. 9:45 am – No power yet. The pharmacy store is extremely hot. Medications that should be stored at 25°C are at risk in this northern heat. I rearrange the cold chain with ice blocks from the nearby pure water seller. A patient asked, “Why isn’t the AC working?” Inflation has turned basic comfort into a luxury. 11:15 am – A diabetic father in the medical ward skipped his medications last week because “prayer alone will heal me.” His blood sugar was now 18 mmol/L and he was shaky. I explained gently: “Prayer and medicine work together. God gave us knowledge for a reason.” He smiled a little. Inside, I wondered how many healthcare workers are silently fighting similar battles. 1:00 pm – Lunch was a bottle of pure water and a snack. No time to go home. My wife who is off-duty called: “The children keep asking when Daddy will return. The school fees reminder just came in.” Economic hardship doesn’t only affect our patients; it is taking a toll on the mental wellbeing of healthcare professionals too. Many of us are struggling in silence. 2:00 pm – Power finally returned. I quickly dispensed antihypertensive medications for a teacher who said, “I will manage this month.” She didn’t know I was also managing my own bills, generator fuel, and my wife’s small business that is barely surviving the inflation. Yet we still encourage patients to hold on. 4:00 pm – End of shift. I carefully check and store the remaining medications. Heat can destroy their efficacy if not handled properly. A young intern asked me, “Sir, how do you keep going?” I replied, “I remember why I became a pharmacist, to serve. Then I go home to my family. Their joy is my strength.” 6:00 pm – Finally home. My little daughter ran to me: “Daddy, did you bring something sweet?” I smiled and said, do you want injection? 😂 My wife hugged me and asked, “How was your day?” I didn’t tell her everything, but we prayed together as a family. Faith and small consistent steps keep us going. This was just one day. As clinical pharmacists in Nigeria, we carry the weight of patient care, economic pressures, extreme heat, power outages, and our own family responsibilities, yet we still show up every day. The psychological wellbeing of healthcare workers is suffering in silence. We need to talk about it more. Practical tip from today: 📍 Always store your medications in a cool, dry place. In this heat and with frequent power outages, ask your pharmacist how best to protect them. Small actions can save lives. Tag a fellow healthcare worker or clinical pharmacist you know. What’s one challenge you face in your daily work? Share below, let’s support one another. We are in this together, family. 🙏 #HealthTipsNG #PharmNaija #ClinicalPharmacist #HealthcareInNigeria