Urge Southwest varsities to begin offering radiography 

 

ANGERED by the increasing rate of quackery in the radiography profession in Nigeria, radiographers under the aegis of the Lagos State Branch   of the Association of Radiographers of Nigeria (ARN) have raised the alarm over the phenomenon, even as they appealed to universities in the South West Nigerian to begin offering radiography as a course of study. 

 

  The radiographers, who spoke in Lagos during the week at an event organised by ARN to commemorate World Radiography Day, started that ultrasound and X-ray are the most abused imaging modalities by quacks in the country.

 

 Lagos ARN Chairman, Mr. Abdul Bakre, therefore urged the Federal Government through the Radiographers Registration Board of Nigeria (RRBN) and the Lagos State Government   through the Health Facilities Monitory and Accreditation Agency  (HEFAMAA)  “ to live up to their responsibilities by wiping out quacks in radiography practice in Lagos State and Nigeria as a nation.”

 

Bakre said that the  “ present   health law in   the state (Lagos) is long overdue for review,” adding that  “efforts should be geared in this direction.”

 

The radiographer, who stated that “radiographers should be included on the board of HEFAMAA”, said there is more to be done in the control, monitory and accreditation of radiographers in Lagos State in particular and Nigeria in general. 

 

The ARN chairman regretted that Nigeria currently operates with less than 2,000 radiographers, radiologists, sonographers   and sonologists, adding that the number was too far below the World Health Organisation (WHO) recommended radiographer ratio to a population.

 

   He added that in a nation where only seven universities –University of Calabar (UNICA), University of Nigeria (UNN), Nnamdi Azikiwe University (NAU), University of Lagos (UNILAG), University of Maiduguri (UNIMAID), Bayero University, Kano (BUK), Usmanu Danfodiyo University (UDUSOK), formerly University of Sokoto - offers radiography as a course of study, there was no way Nigeria would meet her human resources for radiography. 

 

Stressing that it is only UNILAG that offers radiography as a course of study in South Western Nigeria, Bakre, appealed  “ to all the South-West universities to see reasons why they should start a programme in radiography for the betterment of the South-West young school leavers, humanity and our nation as whole.”

 

Provost of Lagos State University College of Medicine (LASUCOM), Prof. Gbolahan Awosanya, a professor of radiology, however, replied that plans have advanced in the university to establish radiography as course at the Lagos State University (LASU). If realised, LASU would become the first state university   in Nigeria to offer radiography. 

 

 Awosanya, who said he has been relating with radiographers for the past 27 years, stated that ego is responsible for the infighting   and professional acrimony between radiographers and radiologists. Radiographers and radiologists are not the best of friends in Nigeria today because radiographers see the latter as hampering their professional growth, just as radiologists see radiographers as usurpers. Awosanya said such friction is unnecessary, adding that no profession is superior to the other. Urging radiographers not to allow the efforts of the pioneers of the radiography profession to die, the LASUCOM provost advised radiographers to bury   their egos and work with radiologists in a team-like manner.  

 

  RRBN Chairman, Alhaji Sanni Nasarawa, had earlier appealed to Awosanya to “ let us sheathe our sword and help us   to move this profession forward.” 

 

 In his welcome address, Nasarawa urged radiographers not to allow others to control their profession, adding that there was a great need   for radiographers to advance researches in collaboration with engineers to   build diagnostic equipment for the advancement of the profession. 

 

The board chairman also called on radiographers to be honest and observe professional ethics, adding that right professional values will propelled radiographers to deliver the right health service to patient, thereby advancing the interest of the profession and nation. 

 

He also appealed to radiographers to avoid infighting and participate in democratic processes, in other to control the future of their profession.