AS Nigeria joins the world to commemorate World Radiography Day Saturday, radiographers under the aegis of the Association of Radiographers of Nigeria (ARN) has urged the Federal Government to take steps to standardise the profession in Nigeria, while also appealing to the “Federal Ministry of Health to create a separate department for radiographers in teaching, specialist and general hospitals to enhance professionalism.” 

 

  This call was made known by the National President of ARN, Dr. Mark Okeji, in a press statement made available to The Guardian Friday, saying that such separation will go along way to “ensure adequate use of government resources by people who are trained in radiography and reduce inter-professional acrimony.” 

 

  Okeji, who said such separation would go along away to promote standards in the radiography profession, also decried the increasing rate of quackery in the profession, noting that unnecessary exposure to radiation by quacks can lead to cancers.  He, however, urged every radiographer in Nigeria to raise standard of practice through regular training. 

 

  Okeji said that there are few challenges facing us the country at present noting that practising radiographers is less than 2000, and therapy radiographers are in acute short supply with less than 30 trained therapy radiographers. 

 

  He called on the Federal Ministry of Health to create a separate department for radiographers in teaching, specialist and general hospitals to enhance professionalism, ensure adequate use of government resources by people who are trained in it and reduce inter-professional acrimony.       

 

by Joseph Okoghenun