Ugandan pharmacist scoops international award

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Dr. Rehema Gonsha has been awarded by Women World Wide Do Dubai (WWWD), an initiative that elevates and empowers women across the globe.

Gonsha is the proprietor of Extra Care pharmacies and New Vision’s 2021 TOP 40 UNDER 40 achiever.

She was recognised for being a barrier breaker, brainy, bold and balanced in the trade and professional sector. Gonsha received the accolade at Accelerate Global Business Summit organized by WWWD in Dubai.

“I am thrilled and overwhelmed. This award means a lot to me and my team. We are motivated to serve our clients more diligently,” she says.

Dr. Gonsha at her phamarcy. (Credit: Ritah Mukasa)

Others awarded include; Tanzania’s president Samia Suluhu Hassan, Dr. Diana Ntamu and Prof. George Piwang-Jalobo who was recognized in three categories; barrier breaking, brand and benevolence for promoting girls education.

Gonsha is a community pharmacy enthusiast. Upon graduation from Makerere University, she worked at Mulago national referral hospital and was touched by the way low income patients struggled to access pharmaceutical care.

In 2013, she started a community pharmacy in Gayaza, Wakiso district which she has since expanded. Aside from selling genuine but discounted drugs, Gonsha offers free consultation and counselling to her clients. She organizes medical camps, blood donation drives and donates food relief to less privileged families.  

Gonsha attended 2 Way primary school in Busia, Nabumali High School for O level and Kawempe Muslim SSS for A level.  She would later join Makerere University for a bachelor’s degree in pharmacy after which she did a post graduate in pharmaceutical care at Wilkes University in USA.

In addition to that, Gonsha holds a post graduate diploma in business administration and masters in management sciences both from Uganda Management Institute (UMI).

She was awarded the best community pharmacist in Uganda 2019 by Pharmaceutical Society of Uganda (PSU) and named the most outstanding community pharmacist in Uganda 2018- 2019 by Makerere University Pharmacy Students Association (MUPSA) among other awards she has received along the way.