Antidoting the ‘Cain’ in Us

Teacher’s Diary

Teachers, have you noticed how ‘simple’ can be even more effective? Shortly after writing my last post titled ‘Tame the Cain in You (a Teacher’s Diary on Wednesday, 2/4/18), a friend shared how N50 Paracetamol does the job just as well as a posh N300 brand. It hit me strongly that a way to tame our jealousies is to identify and develop that active ingredient in us. Your active ingredient is your talent; that skill that you are most proficient in. There is no one without a gifting/a talent. Everyone can’t be Tiwa Savage or Whizkid who continue to do so well for themselves and the entertainment world.

A number of friends and relations mocked my studying English in University. Somehow I survived their jibes by realising very early that this course would be the gateway to whatever else I do in life. So, I gave myself to the discipline, enjoyed it and still borrow from lessons gained then till tomorrow! English did me well, all thanks to God.

In your teaching subject and extracurricular role, as a teacher in school, do you dare to be a brand or are you just a generic teacher?

First things first, let’s check out how it works with medications – if you check their packaging, medications sometimes have more than one name. One of these names would be the generic name of the medication whilst the other name would be its brand name. For example, ibuprofen is the generic name whilst Hedex or Nurofen are two brand names for ibuprofen; sildenafil is generic name for Viagra (its brand name)

Paracetamol, which is extremely popular, is the generic name for Panadol, Calpol, Tylenol, Emzor Paracetamol or Dawa Ya magi etc. Paracetamol has been around for over one hundred years. It is sold in its generic name as well as by brand names. Paracetamol is sold in many countries by a range of manufacturers that each use different brand names.

The generic or scientific name of a medication refers to the active ingredient in the medication. This is the official medical name for this medication given by an expert committee. Generic medications are usually cheaper even though they contain the same active ingredients and have the same clinical effects as their brand versions. Generic names do not start with capital letters.

A manufacturer, the pharmaceutical company or the distributor of the drug selects and names a drug its brand name. The brand name therefore acts as the trade name of the medication. An easy to pronounce, quick to remember and aesthetic – for recognition word is usually coined as a brand name. The brand version of a medication is just as clinically effective because it contains the active ingredient of the medication.

In some people’s experiences, some generic drugs work differently from their brands and vice versa. This may be so if you bear in mind that, even though generic and brand drugs have the same active ingredients, they may differ in add ons like: colouring agents, emulsifiers, fillers, preservatives and binders. I shall be explaining how you can colour, emulsify, fill, preserve and bind your teaching

Omoru writes from the UK