As Nigerians join the rest of the world to celebrate the 2019
International day of Radiology, the Nigeria Medical Association, NMA,
has called on both the Federal and State Governments to put in more
effort at ending brain drain in the health system.
The Nigerian Medical Association committee chairman on Radiation and
Radiodiagnosis, Dr Ododo Bernard made the call during a press
Conference in Lokoja on Saturday.
Bernard noted that, the 2019 International Radiology day is very
unique as it coincided with the second National health summit
organized by the NMA, where medical practitioners and other health
care workers sat with health policy makers and government agencies to
discuss on the problems militating against effective service delivery.
According to him, there is need to retain the Radiologists who are
very vital in diagnosis of ailments of the body using various
technologies.
He stated that every secondary or tertiary health facility owned by
the government should be equipped with modern ultrasound scanner,
x-ray machines, Computed Tomography, Magnetic resonance imaging and
modern Radiotherapy facilities (for the treatment of cancers) to
ensure quick and efficient diagnosis and treatment of diseases.
“Delay or inaccurate diagnosis invariably leads to inappropriate
treatment which could result in further worsening of our health
indices,” he said.
Speaking further on ways this could be achieved, he advised government
to consider setting up of tertiary health trust fund similar to
TETFUND to improve health facilities, re-channelling large chunk of
retrieved looted funds into the project and considering Public Private
Partnership (PPP) that is built on transparency.
Also speaking, the National President, Association of Radiologists in
Nigeria (ARIN) Dr Kamal Jimoh enumerated the strategic role being
played by a radiologist in the effective management of patients,
stressing the need for government at all levels to provide enabling
environment for this group of specialists to contribute their vital
quota in the health sector.
The 2019 International day of Radiologist with the theme ‘Sport
imaging’ was celebrated on 8th November across the 36 States of
Nigeria, including the Federal Capital territory.
