By Labaran Tijani
Radiologists in the country have called for more collaborative efforts by the government at all levels and cooperate individuals or organization to provide state of the art radio diagnostic equipment to the hospitals to enhance their function.
As radiologists worldwide marks their international day today, they said the provision of such functional equipment will empower them at providing efficient and effective radiological diagnosis in early detection and treatment of various diseases.
A consultant Radiologist and chairman of Nigerian Medical Association adhoc committee on Radiation and Radiodiagnosis, Dr Ododo Bernard Itopa made the call in Lokoja on Wednesday while speaking with journalists.
Dr Itopa who said the theme for this year’s celebration of international day of radiology is “Cardiac ( heart) imaging, evaluating the important role of radiology in detecting and treatment of the heart diseases” stated that computed tomographic machine that is very vital in evaluating the ailing heart is not readily available and accessible in most hospitals in the country.
He added where such heart monitoring machine is available, the brand are rather too low in slices for such examination, stressing that at least, 64 – slice CT scanner is needed in testing the heart effectively.
“As of today, not more than four of such in functional state are available in Nigeria, both in private or public set up”, he said.
While Dr Itopa said there is need for greater public – private – partnership framework at ensuring that this capital intensive services is made available in all our tertiary health facilities across the country, he added that this will make Nigerian radiologists to offer their specialized services, as comparable to anywhere in the world.
The Radiologist bemoans the spate of operation of quacks in Radiodiagnosis practice in country, stating that a legislation is needed to define what minimum level of requisite training and certification a person needed to obtain to run a radiodiagnostic set up, ultrasound and radiographic reporting.
“Inaccurate diagnosis leads to wrong management that carries grave consequence on the patient”, he said.
He said a radiologist is a medical specialist who after minimum of six years as undergraduate training to become a medical doctor further spent another minimum of six years postgraduate training in an accredited institutions; during which three levels of rigorous examinations must have been passed so as to get certified as specialist to conduct and interprets all modalities for body imaging and to diagnose accurately or treat ailments of the body.
The umbrella body of radiologists in Nigeria (ARIN) and NMA has lined up several activities in 36 states and FCT to mark this year celebration.
