End brain drain now, to avoid mass exodus of Doctors, Radiologist from Nigeria- NMA tells FG

The Nigeria Medical Association, NMA, has called on the Federal and State Governments, to increase their efforts toward ending brain drain in the health sector, so as to avoid mass exodus of Doctors and Radiologists from Nigeria.

Fresh Angle International can report that the Nigerian Medical Association Committee Chairman on Radiation and Radio Diagnosis, Dr. Ododo Bernard, gave the warning during a press Conference held weekend in Lokoja, Kogi State.

Dr. Bernard noted that, the 2019 International Radiology Day was very unique as it coincided with the Second National Health Summit organized by the Nigeria Medical Association, NMA, where medical practitioners and other health care workers, sat with health policy makers and government agencies to discuss the problems militating against effective service delivery to patients as well as proffered workable and achievable solutions.

 He said there was need for government at all levels to train health specialists, especially Doctors and in particular Radiologists, so as to discourage them from moving out of the country to trade their skills in foreign environment, where modern facilities and tools are readily available with better remuneration for service.

According to him, there is need to retain the Radiologists, "who are very vital in diagnosis of ailments of the body, using various technologies to image the internal parts of the  body and interpret the result to pave way for appropriate treatment of  diseases".

He stated that every secondary or tertiary  health facilities owned by the states and tertiary institutions owned by federal 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, 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 tertiary health trust fund similar to TETFUND, to improve health facilities, re-channel large chunk of retrieved looted funds into this project and consider 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 roles 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 quarter in the health sector.

Our Kogi State Correspondent reports that the 2019 International day of Radiologist with the theme ' Sport Imaging', was celebrated November 8 across the 36 States of Nigeria, including the Federal Capital territory.

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