… Say’s Individuals should follow Prophet Muhammad (SAW) guidelines in choosing life partners and in living the family life
By Gabriel Udeh, Kaduna
Islamic Medical Association of Nigeria (IMAN) rose from its 21st Annual General Meeting (AGM) and Scientific Conference, and expressed serious concern over the continuous re-emergence of infectious diseases like COVID-19, Lassa fever, Yellow fever, Diphtheria which remain a major cause of morbidity and mortality across all ages.
IMAM in a communique issued at the end of the AGM held in Dutse and made available to newsmen in Zaria in Kaduna state, attributed some of the reasons for the re-emergence of the infection diseases to culture of marrying for reasons outside Islamically acceptable norms.
The body also noted that Preventive efforts on emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases were not being complied with by families, and communities.
According to the communique signed by National President and Secretary, Prof. Ibrahim Oreagba and Dr Abdul Rasheed Nasir respectively, IMAM also stated that, there is erroneous belief that COVID-19 is not real and this has contributed to the poor compliance with the control measures “Also there are poor addiction and prevention skills within the families hurts which are a major factor contributing to addiction rise in the family.
“There is a culture of marrying for reasons outside Islamic acceptable norms”.
“There is poor awareness of the narrow margin between Halal and Haram in Islamic cooperatives Sub-optimal provision of Ibadah friendly practices in addressing the spiritual needs of patients which has been found as a major reason for low seeking of orthodox health services”, it stated.
The communique also identified that Professional rivalry has contributed to poor team work within the health work force. Participants therefore expressed the need for increased awareness and utilization of preventive measure against COVID-19, and other infectious diseases like the use of facemask, physical distancing, hand hygiene, proper waste management and environmental sanitation.
Also continuing community engagement using information education and communication ( IEC) materials to increase awareness of diseases, was advocated.
“Families should acquire necessary skills to heal family hurts and lower the incidence of all forms of addictions within the family and community”.
“Individuals should follow the guidelines given by the Prophet Muhammad SAW in choosing life partners and in living the family life”.
“There is need for operators of Islamic cooperatives to acquire and implement the necessary education to distinguish between Halal and Haram aspects of Islamic Financing”.
“There is need to review the curriculum of all health training institutions to incorporate the Ibadah friendly concepts,” it also stated.
The conference also implored on health workers to embrace team work in the spirit of Islamic Brotherhood to improve patient-centered care.
About 740 delegates from 26 states of the Federation, FCT, and outside the country including Malaysia, Ghana, Niger and Sierra Leone attended the conference.
The theme of the conference was “Emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases, medico-Islamic perspectives’’.
During the conference, free medical and surgical outreaches were held with a total of 3000 patients treated for various medical conditions. Also, 65 surgeries in both adults and children were performed at no cost to the beneficiaries. “The surgeries will continue with 500 eye surgical cases.
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