The Nation Newspaper

Tag: medical

  • 10 win Daily Trust medical scholarship

    Ten medical students of the University of Ilorin, have won the N100,000 scholarship instituted by Media Trust Limited, publishers of Daily Trust, Weekly Trust, Sunday Trust and Aminiya. The beneficiaries, who are female medical students in three Northern universities, were selected based on their academic performance by trustees of the Medical Scholarship Scheme instituted by the media house seven years ago.

    The cheques were presented to them in a ceremony held at the College of Health Sciences in UNILORIN last week. The beneficiary universities were selected from the three geo-political zones in the North; one institution from each zone. The scholarship will be given to the students every year until the completion of their medical training.

    The beneficiary universities are the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN), University of Maiduguri and Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto.

    The Provost, College of Health Sciences, UNILORIN, Prof Wahab Johnson, described the initiative as laudable, noting that the scholarship would encourage the female education.

    He said: “It is noteworthy that you have aptly selected the so-called weaker gender as beneficiaries of the scheme. This objective is to encourage and elevate women to compete favourably with their male counterpart. It is a laudable ideal.”

    Presenting the cheques to the beneficiaries on behalf of the company, the Administrative and Legal Officer, Mr Umar Ibrahim, said the gesture was part of the organisation’s corporate social responsibility (CSR), which was aimed at encouraging women to participate in building the society. He described medical profession as the lifeline of any country.

    The beneficiaries described scholarship as motivator to achieve academic excellence.

     

  • IBB extends medical trip abroad

    IBB extends medical trip abroad

    Former military President Ibrahim Babangida on has extended his medical trip to Germany by two weeks, one of his aides said yesterday.

    Gen. Babangida who was billed to return yesterday, extended his stay by two weeks on the orders of his doctors, to enable him have enough rest, one of his aides told our reporter in Minna last night.

    The former leader left the country on September 6 accompanied by his second son, Aminu, for his routine medical checkup.

    The aide however allayed fears that the health of the former military leader is threatened.

    He said: “It is true that Oga (IBB) has postponed his return date from Germany. He was expected (yesterday) but we learnt his doctors asked him to stay behind for some observation.

    “Since he left, for a routine two weeks medical checkup we have been in regular contact with him. We speak with him everyday. He is in good frame of mind and in good health”.

    When told that the doctors might have extended IBB’s stay in because of a deteriorating condition, he said: “We are in constant touch with him. His health is not failing. He was only asked to rest formore days. Oga is in good health”.

  • Medical College bemoans underfunding

    The President, National Post Graduate Medical College of Nigeria, (NPGMCN) Prof. Rasheed Arogundade, has lamented the underfunding of the institution by the government and Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND).

    Arogundade, who spoke at the pre-convocation briefing to announce the 32nd convocation of the college which holds today, said 247 graduates  will join other 4,705 Fellows that the institution has produced since inception.

    Said Arogundade: “The main function of the college is to produce adequate medical and dental specialists of the highest quality, competence and dedication to provide world class services in teaching, research and health care. The most daunting challenge undermining attainment of this function is gross underfunding by the Federal Government.

    The institution’s library, which ought to have been the best reference Medical Library in the country for resident doctors and consultants, according to Arogundade, is merely a shadow of itself.

    “The college pathology museum is also yet to be fully developed. Inadequate funds has hindered the circulation of the college journal, which is one of the few of such journals in Nigeria listed in the world acclaimed Index Medicu,”Arogundade added.

    Paucity of funds, he noted, has resulted in epileptic implementation of the laudable overseas clinical attachments designed to give successful Part 1 candidates the exposure to facilities and practice in more advanced countries, adding that the college is currently using a rented property as its liaison office in Abuja.

    “Last year, the college decided to establish a clinical skill and sanitation laboratory, which will also serve as the Performance and Cognition Skills Examination (PACSE) Centre. This facility is intended to be equipped with mannequins that could be used to teach different clinical skills and competencies.

    “The effort of the college from past administrations to the present in getting TETFUND intervention for this project is yet to achieve positive result in spite of our visit to TETFUND Executive Secretary in May 2014,” he said.

    Today’s convocation will witness a lecture by a professor of Internal Medicine M A Araoye, as well as conferment of honorary fellows.

     

  • Medical student turns artist

    Medical student turns artist

    His first love is  in the health care profession but driven by an inner passion and love for the arts, a young medical student now ekes a living from painting, writes DANIEL ESSIET. 

    Etiobhio Samuel Osemudiamen,  a 23 year-old final year medical student of University of Benin (UNIBEN), may be pursuing a career in the medical profession, but he has another love.

    From a very young age, he had fallen in love with the arts, especially painting. And as his passion  grew, he began to realise the potential in the vocation.

    Today, he not only earns income from painting, more than enough to take care of some of his needs on campus, he is also imparting knowledge in other students that are interested in painting.

    For Osemudiamen, the journey into the world of arts began with N2, 000 with which he bought some paints and materials and began to draw.

    His experience with digital art keeps him connected to modern art as he continues his practice, while still studying medicine. Taking the stage at several events,Ose, as he is fondly called by his peers, has  not only taken people on his journey, his paint strokes create a vibrant image and also inspires people to think about innovation, taking success to the next level and living the dream.

    He has been selling art work consistently since his junior high school years. He paints, frames and sells them. He peeks inside a few galleries for more concepts whenever he can steal a moment between classes, and painting.

    In 2012, Ose established a studio, Magnum Arts,to encourage and bring out the intellectual capability in young Nigerians using fine art, and painting in general. Members feature in trainingsthat help them refine their products and increase customer acquisition. The ideas and solutions showcased by young people  not only address real customer needs and issues, but  also help in the creation of local jobs and serving young people in realising financial independence. As an artist, Ose combines his two passions to demonstrate the journey for his entrepreneurship endeavour, while also providing motivation to others.

    In the last two years, Ose  has created  online hub for lovers of arts and artists to meet, discuss and interact through sharing of ideas relevant to their field. The platform also offers a marketplace for them to showcase and sell their creations to lovers locally and across the world.

    His latest achievement is an art blogging competition involving budding  arts entrepreneurs and students.

    So far, he has gotten responses from different universities and outfits round the country and people really want the competition to be more popularised.

    His entrepreneurial achievements are becoming valuable pacesetters. This year, the club has recorded  N350,000 as  net  profit from its activities.

  • ‘I regret being a medical doctor’

    It was fashionable while I was growing up to see parents choose the career path of their children and wards. You’re not going to “amount to anything” if you’re seen reading a single honours course in the university. Parents boast about their children reading medicine, engineering and law; you’ll be forgiven as a young student if you think the university is all about these courses.

    But over time, things started changing when business administration and related courses started taking the front burner buoyed by the emergence of “wonder banks” and other fast means of making money. Suddenly values that we hold dear started eroding as “making money” became the norm. Nobody cares anymore how the money was made, all that matters is that you are rich.

    That was the beginning of the ‘demystification’ of medicine, engineering and law. Why bother spending years in the university when you’re not sure of what the future hold became pronounced. People started questioning whether reading these courses was worth all the troubles after all.

    Last week I met a young medical doctor who expressed regrets for studying medicine and qualifying as a doctor. “If I had a singing talent like Dr. Sid I would have jettisoned my stethoscope for the music scene,” he said to my surprise. For the records, Sidney Onoriode Esiri, who goes by the stage name, Dr. Sid is a Nigerian singer, songwriter and dentist.

    We discussed at length for more than an hour because this came as a shock to me especially as I have always held doctors in very high regard and would have loved to be one had I been a science student. This is because my lifestyle, comportment, deep reading culture and discipline correlate with what makes a good doctor.

    As I struggled to encourage this young doctor that he has nothing to regret, my mind went back almost fifteen years ago to a discussion I had with a doctor friend while I was still in the university. This doctor also expressed regrets at the poor human resources planning and structures, unsatisfactory working conditions, poor remuneration, and few professional development opportunities back then. I am made to understand that this is even worse today.

    When he saw the “progress” his colleagues who read Economics and Business Administration were making during the banking “boom” of the Abacha era, he told me he was in “the wrong profession.” In my young mind then, I remembered telling him that all that was happening was a bubble that will burst someday. And true to my prediction, the bubble did burst and my older friend said I should consider calling myself a prophet!

    During that period, 19 banks collapsed leading to the Failed Banks Decree promulgated by late General Sani Abacha which was decreed into law to teach Nigerian bankers who mess with depositors fund a lesson. Unfortunately, there were other bank failures later before the sanity we are now witnessing. When I related all these, the young man felt a bit relieved, especially as I pointed out that even the present day society does not see the doctor as “relevant” as they were up to the 90s.

    After much probing, I discovered that he truly love the profession even though the stress associated with it is not commensurate with the financial rewards. “As a medical doctor, it’s an endless journey of reading and personal development. There are new discoveries almost on a daily basis and if you do not keep track you’ll be left behind. Keeping track means you have to prepare and pass your professional examinations otherwise there’ll be no room for advancement,” he told me, “but one of my major problems is the way the society treats doctors.”

    I agreed with him. If you doubt that take a look around and see how the society is now obsessed with “celebrities” of various hues and shapes; some are even instant celebrities because they participate in a show or event or feature in a movie. The society doesn’t even bother if an individual is an illiterate moneybag, corrupt public official or a person of dubious character. It is no longer a secret that this has been taken notches further when such individuals are awarded honorary doctorate degrees by our universities. These are the “doctors” our society recognises and adore!

    One stark reality about contemporary Nigeria is the dearth of reliable statistics for research and planning; this reality permeates almost every facet of our national life. Take the doctor patient ratio for instance. Nigeria, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO) currently posts a poor doctor-patient ratio of 1:3500 as against the standard of 1:600. It also said the entire medical schools graduate between 3,500 and 4,000 new doctors annually. Another statistics has 1:6500 doctor-patient ratios.

    One would expect a call to action irrespective of which ratio is used because we have a dare situation in our hands, but that does not seem to be an issue here like in other things. It is the Ebola issue that seems to shake us out of our lethargy. The doctors showed their magnanimity by suspending their strike. I think this period should provide the opportunity for the government and the society to seriously look into some of the issues the doctors tabled before their strike action.

    Delivering a lecture titled “Medical Education in Nigeria: The Quest for World Standards and Local relevance,” held at Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) in 2012, the Minister of Health, Professor Onyebuchi Chukwu said only 5 percent of applicants gained admission to read medicine. Of these, 2,701 trained in Nigeria left the country to other countries to work in the last four years prior to 2012.

    It is amazing that with this exodus of our doctors we don’t seem to get it. Dr. Amayo Adadavoh and other doctors who have remained and have now died as a result of Ebola are professionals who have spent years in training. The late Dr. Adadavoh was a consultant, and do we really know what it takes for a doctor to become a consultant? We have lost, and may still lose some of our finest professionals because of the way we treat them.

    It is not rocket science to understand why some of them are leaving as the working conditions is getting worse, thereby making other countries more attractive. Some of our doctors are presently working in the US, Britain, South Africa, Ireland, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Trinidad and Tobago and other neigbouring African countries that treat their medical personnel better.

    Whenever I encounter medical practitioners and I see the evident lack of rewards for people who save lives, I always feel pained. To compound issues, whenever they demand what should ordinarily be their entitlement after spending years in medical school and a longer period preparing for other professional examinations, society is quick to condemn and remind them of their obligation to the same society that has scant regards for their own plights.

    Recollect that prior to the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) suspending its strike, there appears to be nothing, either from the people in government or those of us outside, to show that we appreciate the fact that lives of ordinary Nigerians are already hanging in the balance as a result of the strike by doctors working in public health institutions across the country. But does it matter in a system so perverted that public officials now make it a culture that they are travelling abroad for simple medical check-up that can be done in Nigeria?

    My advice to young Nigerian students who have the love of the profession at heart is this: Go ahead and read medicine in the university because it will always remain a noble and dignified profession. You should not look up to society or the government for your fulfillment; just follow the conviction of your heart. Everything about life cannot be viewed from the narrow prism of money. There are still things money can never buy, and being a qualified medical doctor is one of such.

  • How to serve patients better, by experts

    MEDICAL experts are canvassing a change in their handling of patients to serve them better.

    At a scientific symposium in Lagos with the theme: Collaboration- creating  value; they said it was necessary “patients got optimal medical care”.

    The symposium was organised by the Nigeria Association of Phamacists in Academia (NAPA), Faculty of pharmacy, University of Lagos (UNILAG) as part of activities marking the pharmacy week.

    Pro-Chancellor, Caleb University, Imota, Lagos, Prof Fola Tayo, said a professional must do everything to ensure optimal a patient care despite  the prevailing constraints. He listed the constraints as funding by government, lack of passion and  display of arrogance and or ignorance either by the patient or the professional.

    Prof Tayo said: “It is time for change in the way we, the professionals in healthcare do things; way we see one another. It is time for us to recognise that we have our individual limitations. Let us humble ourselves and make ourselves teachable. A teachable spirit is a spirit of wisdom and we need wisdom in all we do. We deal with human lives. Let health experts equip themselves with the necessary skill and competence, so we can excel and our clients will enjoy a better health.

    “There is the need for professional collaboration in the health sector. Professional bodies should create an enabling environment among members. If indeed the patient is the focus, then we should not look sideways, but concentrate on the patient so we can render the best service. Let there be meetings of professional bodies. Stop making inflammatory statements which often impact negatively on them and their practices. The healthcare delivery is not for competition because every care service is expected to give the best; there is no room for second best.”

    Director, Shire Pharmaceuticals, Philadelphia, United States, Dr Oludemi Rabiu, spoke on the emerging global trends of improving on patients’ care.

    Dr Rabiu said: “Nigerian healthcare system could benefit significantly from four fundamental shifts in the practice of modern medicine. Access revolutionary new products from biomedical research; access to new products and services from technological innovations in telecommunication and electronic data management to improve quality and proactive care; empowerment of patients to play more roles in influencing quality of care they receive; and as a significant member of the healthcare team, pharmacists should commit to lifelong learning.”

    He added: “The Pharmaceutical Society and the Pharmacist Council of Nigeria (PCN) should continue to play more active roles in the Continuous Professional Development (CPD) for pharmacists and influence the curricula of pharmacy training at the university, such that both new and old pharmacy graduates are kept abreast of development in pharmaceutical sciences; biomedicine and digital therapeutics.

    “If pharmacists are to continue to contribute effectively to the new patient-centric pharmacy practices, they must have the opportunity to acquire the new knowledge and skills required for their new role. To do this, they must become lifelong learner.”

    Nigeria, he said could adopt the initiative of ‘nurse and pharmacist independent prescribers’. “This expanded role for pharmacists and nurses would enhance capacity, help bridge shortage of primary care physicians and access of patients to prompt care,” he added.

    Dr Rabiu said: “Nurses and Pharmacists independent prescribers’ accreditation is an initiative that is gradually becoming successful in the United Kingdom (UK). Under the UK regulation, pharmacists independent prescribers are able to autonomously prescribe for any condition within their clinical competence excluding three controlled drugs for the treatment addiction.

    “Under this scheme, nurses and pharmacists having undergone accredited professional certification are able to take on role of independent and/or supplementary prescribers.

    “On the independent prescriber training, pharmacists and nurses are taught together to facilitate multi-disciplinary working. The training curriculum for ‘Nurses and Pharmacists Prescribers’ is determined by the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhc.) and Nursing and Midwifery Council.”

    He added: “In  Canada, pharmacicts can also provide a therapeutic alternative, prescribe independently or in collaboration with a physician when diagnosis is provided.”

    Dean, Faculty of Pharmacy, UNILAG Prof Olukemi Odukoya said: “Creating value for the patient in the health sector has got to an aggressive paradigm shift by all professionals. Once the focus is on the patient, the focus will make all professionals to collaborate to deliver the best international acceptable standard to such.”

  • Are they medical doctors or murderers?

    Perhaps a 300-Level Biochemistry student, identified as John, would not have died if the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) is not on strike. John was allegedly poisoned by a friend at an off-campus hostel. He returned to his hostel in pains, vomiting blood. Immediately, he was rushed to the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH). On getting there, there was no medical personnel to attend to the dying student. Doctors were on strike, the symphathisers were told. No first aid was administered on him. The poor John was left to writhe in pain.

    He was then taken to the university Health Centre. Unfortunately, he gave up the ghost on the way. What a way not to die! What is the meaning of wickedness? How else can the brutality of mankind be felt?

    Just because of pride and administrative recklessness, innocent lives are being lost. The President is fighting tooth and nail to end terrorism and Ebola. Now, NMA is pursing another agenda.

    It was in grief that I wrote this piece about the ongoing doctors’ strike. If I had not lost a colleague, maybe I would not have given this article a thought.

    A philosopher had once advocated death for all men as solution to the mischief they have caused to the world. In his time, corruption was a norm and a way of life. In his own reasoning, he prescribed death as the solution to the trouble he faced.

    But it was evident that his solution was synonymous to the cynical attitude of the ostrich who buries his head below the sand in the site of trouble, while its other parts were exposed. This is the part that our Nigerian medical doctors have chosen to plough. The moment they really need their head to think, it is buried!

    Doctors, who swore to the Hippocratic Oath to save lives, are the ones snuffing life out of the people through their self-serving strike. Just at the time the nation needs them the most, the doctors turn their back. Threatened by terrorism and the gruesome Ebola, the medical doctors are sitting in their houses while scores are dying. This is exactly what an illiterate man would do and will be termed a murderer. The so-called elite doctors, under the guise of NMA, are doing the same thing, with full immunity. They are well exercising their right to murder!

    Since when did the NMA start passing by-laws for para-medical profession, such as Pharmacist Council of Nigeria (PCN) and other health workers association? Are these professions under the NMA? When will these doctors know that lives are more important than any other thing?

    They’ve shown gross irresponsibility, fatuous ferocity and crass insolence. Leaving your responsibility as a life saver, all in the guise of helping the patient, you are now sentencing them to their early grave. Has it ever been told where the police force go on industrial action? No matter how corrupt a police force could be, their importance can never be downplayed. They are ‘essential workers’. They know their place.

    They said pharmacists should not be called doctors. A pharmacist who graduated with a Bachelor in Pharmacy (Pham B) is not called a doctor, but those with a Pham D would be tagged doctors. They argued that Pham D would bring confusion to the hospital chain of command. Why have we not heard about the confusion in developed countries of the world were Pharm D certificates are also issued? This is nothing but a mere figment of their lustful imagination, driving them to a catastrophic, embarrassing and disappointing end.

    Who are mostly affected by these actions? The poor. This is simply because most rich people have their personal doctors and can also afford the exorbitant fees of private hospitals owned by these same doctors who are on strike!

    I began to ask myself whether our doctors are truly protectors of life as they claim, or merchants of death. I began to ask myself whether this group is humane or just a bunch of greedy wolves in sheep clothing. It’s really disheartening to know that the health and lives of the poor have been sold on the platform of individualism and overblown ego.

    Indeed, strikes are anti-medical profession; this is because the ultimate job of the doctor is to care for the sick and save lives, even in its tiniest form. I have painstakingly read the grievances the doctors tendered for the recent strike. They are not just selfish, but a sign of myopic thinking. Let it be known that whatever you have sown, that you shall reap.

     

    Ezekiel, 300-Level Pharmacy, UNIBEN

  • Medical experts warn Ondo community over high birth rate

    Medical experts warn Ondo community over high birth rate

    Medical experts have advised the Ondo State government to embark on sensitisation programmes to discourage high birth rate in Ilaje Local Government Area.

    The leader of the medical team sent by the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Dr. Livinus Martins, gave the warning at the weekend.

    He said if the government failed to act, this might lead to a population explosion.

    The doctors, who spent five days in the communities, recalled a man in Ode-Igo community in Ilaje, with 13 children and wants 15 more.

    Martins said the sensitisation programmes must be organised to warn the people on the danger in having many children.

    He said about 376 people passed through laboratory tests, six went through major surgery, 770 were out-patients, 678 passed through pharmaceutical section and 41 were treated for dental problems during the medical visit.

    The State Representative on the NDDC Board, Benson Amuwa, said the commission’s aim was to make healthcare available to the riverine people.

    He lamented that the Niger Delta’s people had been deprived of their rights due to non-availability of time and fund.

    His words: “What the NDDC is aiming at is that the people of the mandate areas will enjoy basic healthcare at their doorsteps and we know that most of them cannot afford the kind of healthcare, which normally they should get.

    “From the records, we have been told that several operations have been done in a community like this. For someone to do any major operation, you will spend about N100,000. To get such amount of money in a community like this, a whole family may need to donate it.

    “NDDC has come out, making it possible for people to be treated. Our projection is that NDDC should be empowered so that it can reach more people. We still have a lot of people waiting to be treated. But the team has a time limit and by Friday, the medical experts will be gone. We need more time and fund so that we can reach more people.

    “Our medical team told us that this kind of programme should be carried out two times in a year. The NDDC, under the present board, would like to do that. But it is just the enablement. Our projection is that fund be made available because we have over 10,000 people that need medical assistance”.

    Amuwa assured the people that NDDC would complete all abandoned projects and also construct more roads.

  • Medical school alumni renovate hall

    The 1989 set of the College of Medicine University of Lagos (CMUL) has inaugurated the newly-renovated main auditorium at the Tafawa Balewa plaza of the school in Idi-Araba.

    The project was inaugurated by the provost, Prof Folasade Ogunsola, who was represented by the deputy provost, Prof Abayomi Okanlawon.

    She appreciated the alumni for remembering their alma mater 25 years after leaving the college, adding that the main auditorium was part of the infrastructural problem the college had.

    Underscoring the need for alumni investment, she said most renowned schools worldwide are funded from the contribution of their alumni.

    “Leave a trail; go to where nobody has gone, and leave a mark,” she said.

    The professor further urged the students to use the new hall for the advancement of knowledge.

    The college secretary, Oladejo Azeez, said the initiative by the 1989 set should challenge the present students.  He urged them to tolerate one another in order not to forget the institution when they graduate

    “We should not ask what our school will do for us but what we would do for our school,” he said.

    The leader of the set, Dr Felicia Bassey, who supervised the project, said it was not challenging to get her former classmates together for the project as they have kept in touch through the social media.

    She said they have greater plans for the college that would foster learning and research.  For instance, she said they plan to provide journals to help keep them up to date, and visit to give lectures to the medical students regularly.

    Dr Bassey said they were inspired to embark on the project because they were well prepared during their time, which helped them to function outside the country.

    She also urged the government to always listen to health workers.

    “The government should endeavor to always have meetings and dialogue with doctors and nurses in other to avoid strike actions” she added.

    Members of the set were conferred as alumni of the school.  Medical students showed their gratitude by presenting an award to the set. They, however, urged the government and school management to provide enabling environment for them, so they would be able to achieve greatness. The day ended with the students asking members of the set questions.

     

  • Students’ medical mission to Edo schools

    Students’ medical mission to Edo schools

    When the coastal buses that conveyed medical and dental students of the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH) stopped at the assembly ground of Ediaken Primary School in Benin City, pupils trooped out to welcome them.

    The students, decked in white laboratory coats, were urshered into their classrooms by the elated pupils.

    Unity Osakpamwan, a five-year-old pupil, asked: “Why are you people here? Hope you haven’t come to give us injection because we are not sick. I wonder why you people will leave your hospital and come after us?”

    There was an outburst of laughter. Like Unity, other pupils expressed the same fear as a similar version of the drama played out in other classes.

    The students were at the school for the annual primary school health campaign of the Christian Medical and Dental Association Students (CMDAS).The event, according to Win Efimueh, was organised to sensitise the pupils on prevailing health problems, ways of avoiding them and career counselling sessions.

    “As children, they are at the formative stage of development and any habit they pick up is likely going to stay with them. We are here to teach them the right health habit so they can inculcate them”, he stated.

    The students also presented gift items to the school and pupils who distinguished themselves in a spelling bee competition.

    Replying on behalf of the school, Mrs F.I Aigbehi, thanked the students for finding time to hold the programme. She encouraged the students to sustain the relationship between the school and association.

    Daniel Okpani and Mercy Imaro said they were happy to have partaken in the campaign.

    He said: “I feel happy because I have just mentored some pupils. The outreach also brought to my remembrance how I was 11 years ago, a feeling which inspired my empathy for the pupils.”