DAR ES SALAAM, Sept. 24 -- THERE is a habit that is now almost a culture in our midst and must stop and that is we have become a nation of self-declared doctors. Feeling a little tired? Must be malaria- grab some quinine. Headache after lunch? Surely that is typhoid – go buy antibiotics. Coughing? That must be TB or pneumonia – time for some leftover syrup from 2021. No tests, no consultations, just Google searches and a random guess.

This casual approach to health has become a dangerous trend and pharmacies (or “chemists” as we love to call them) have turned into our first and sometimes only, stop when we are unwell. We walk in, describe our symptoms in 30 seconds and walk out with a plastic bag full of medicatio...