The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Radiography

  • Why quackery thrives in radiography, by experts

    Experts have given reasons why there are quacks in the radiography profession. This, they said, is traceable to the inability of regulatory agency to function properly as well as shortage of personnel in the medical examination profession.

    Speaking in Lagos at the World Radiography Day organised by the Association of Radiographers of Nigeria (ARN), Lagos State Chapter, ARN former President Ayo Okheria said quackery thrives due to shortage of manpower in the medical examination field.

    Okheria said: “The manpower issue can be resolved easily – establish more training institutions in the universities and look at how you can increase the inputs – the admission. Of course, the third level I have always said is, if you know that health care is important, and radiographers play a major role in it, you can also take an additional step of encouraging people to go and study this course in the form of scholarships, grants and sponsorships.

    The other part of it is the regulation; there’s a body that has been set up to regulate the training and practice of radiography. Empower this body to do its job very well – create more offices, recruit more officers, provide more funds so they can do their job effectively and efficiently.”

    Former registrar of Radiographers Registration Board of Nigeria (RRBN) Reuben Babatunde, said radiography is the eye of medicine, adding “without radiography, it would be very difficult to treat anybody without diagnosis. Although radiography is not only about diagnosis, it’s also about treatment, when it comes to cancer.”

    According to him, 75 per cent of ailment must be diagnosed before treatment; otherwise the doctor will treat wrongly. Babatunde alleged that some doctors engage in radiography work without having the training.

    “When we say quacks in this case, we are talking of people who are doing what they are not certified to do, including doctors. Some people appear as doctors and they are not doctors. Some people are bent on not engaging the correct personnel,” he said.

    ARN Lagos State Chapter Acting Chairman Comrade Suleiman Shehu, said the radiography equipment in the country is obsolete. He said CT Scan and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) machines can only be found in four or five medical centres in the country. This, he said, is grossly inadequate to service the populace. Shehu, a Principal Radiographer with Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Ebute Meta, said radiography as a profession is an endangered specie because “we have people who are not qualified to handle these machines.”

     

     

  • Radiography students mark Health Week

    Radiography students mark Health Week

    The University of Lagos (UNILAG) chapter of the Nigerian Association of Radiography Students (NARS) has marked its ninth Health Week.

    The event, which held at College of Medicine in Idi-Araba, featured seminars, excursion and a cooking contest.

    According to the organisers, the week-long event with the theme: Breaking new grounds in radiography: Future prospect, was aimed at promoting camaraderie among students and educating the public n the importance of the profession.

    The activities started with an excursion to Whispering Palms in Badagry, Lagos. The expedition offered students an opportunity to socialise and participate in outdoor games to relax.

    The excursion was followed by an awareness trip to Baptist Academy in Obanikoro, Lagos, where members of the association spoke to science-oriented pupils about what it takes to study Radiography and the relevance of the profession in the society.

    During the interactive session, some of the pupils showed interest in studying the discipline to improve the quality of healthcare delivery in the country.

    NARS President Babatunde Ogunyemi said the awareness was an avenue to guide the pupils in choosing career.

    “It was exciting to see secondary school pupils fully engaged in career talks and health discussions shape their future,” he said.

    The cooking contest, which held at the college’s Lawn Tennis Court, had participants from all levels. Each team, comprising a boy and girl, was required to cook delicious meals for the first two rounds. The judges, which comprised nutrition experts, judged the meals based on their nutritional values and taste.

    Many male students used the occasion to showcase their cooking talents.

    The contest was followed by a symposium, which had the president of Association of Radiographers in Nigeria (ARN), Mrs A.O. Balogun, as guest speaker. The seminar was also attended by ARN officials, including Mrs Moji Animasahun, Mrs Kemi Ogunsolu, Mr Sule Joshua, Mr Femi Jibowu and Mr C.L. Abara, who also dazzled participants with the history of radiography.

    The event ended with a dinner and an award night, where exceptional students were honoured and celebrated.

     

  • Radiography students mark Week

    The University of Lagos (UNILAG) Chapter of the Nigerian Association of Radiography Students (NARS)        has held its 7th Health Week amid excitement.

    The event, which was held at the UNILAG College of Medicine in Idi-Araba, started with awareness and a novelty match between the 300-Level and 200-Level students. The 200-Level team won the match by a lone goal.

    On the second day, the students visited Beth Torey Orphanage Home in Apapa area of Lagos. According to the students, the gesture was to reach out and support the less-privileged. They donated materials, including food stuff and toiletries.

    In the evening, the students held traditional night to showcase Nigerian cultures. The students were clad in traditional attires. A live band entertained the students as they danced round the campus. Fruits and palm wine were served at the event.

    On the third day, the students held a symposium with the theme: “Radiography, the future of medicine,” which focused on how to survive cancer and balance work pressure and personal life. The event was sponsored by CWAY Waters and The Future Project. The symposium ended with presentation of certificates and awards to the speakers and members of executive led by Olamilekan Ashaye.

    The Week ended with Barbecue Nite, where the students celebrated with roasted meat.

     

  • History as girl bags first class in Radiography at UNICAL

    History as girl bags first class in Radiography at UNICAL

    Eteng Rajuno has made history by becoming the first student to bag a First Class in Radiography at the University of Calabar (UNICAL).  She was honoured at the eighth Induction and Oath taking of the College of Medical Science. STANLEY UCHEGBU (Accounting) reports.

    The induction at the College of Medical Science of the University of Calabar (UNICAL) was remarkable. Although it was the eighth oath taking at the Radiography and Radiological Sciences departments, it was special. An inductee, Ms Eteng Rejuno, made history by bagging a first class, the first since Radiography was introduced in the school in 1981.

    It was a moment of joy for the graduates, as they took the oath. The inductees filed into the  Conference Centre of the UNICAL Hotel venue, beaming with smiles. They were joined by their family members and friends.

    Of the lot admitted into the department five years ago, 61 were lucky to complete the programme. To the management, the ceremony was a turning point in the history of the institution and the Radiography Department.

    The Vice-Chancellor, Prof James Epoke, led other principal officers, including the Medical Science Provost, Prof Saturday Etuk, represented by his deputy, Prof Edisua Itam; Dean of the Faculty of Allied Medical Science, Prof Anne Asuquo and Dean of the Faculty of the Clinical Science, Prof Maurice Asuquo.

    Others were Registrar, Radiography Board of Nigeria (RBN), Mr Michael Okpaleke, Cross River State Chairman of Association of Radiographers of Nigeria, Mr. Otu Asinyang, Medical College Secretary, Mrs. Uduak Akang, Head of Radiography Department, Dr Nneoyi Egbe, lecturers and medical practitioners, among others.

    Prof Epoke urged the inductee not to tarnish the reputation of the profession, saying the institution was known for producing sound radiographers. He told the inductees to shun unethical practices that may erode the value of the profession, adding that the RBN would not hesitate to withdraw certificates of erring members.

    “Today, history is made in the Department of Radiography. We produced the first student to be graduated with a First Class in the department. And this makes the event remarkable. I will enjoin you to always seek knowledge and make the best of your career,” he said.

    Prof Etuk, whose speech was read by Prof Itam, described radiography as an evolving profession, stressing the need for constant update of knowledge to meet up with challenges and demands. He urged the inductees to see themselves as new breeds that would bring about advancement in the profession.

    Okpaleke advised the graduates to improve on the knowledge they acquired in school and be conversant with new techniques. He said: “Knowledge you have acquired is just the foundation, you are expected to improve on it. You must be abreast of trends on the field and make a success of it. You need to continuously develop yourself in new techniques because the practice of today is different from what we had in the years past.”

    In his lecture entitled: Ethical basis for improving radiography service delivery, Dr Egbe demonstrated with diagrams how to maintain radiation dose and therapeutic need of patients in line with best practice. He said a radiographer owed a patient an enhanced service.

    The high point was the oath taking session, which was performed by Okpaleke and Dr Egbe.

    Eteng had Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of 4.5 – the highest recorded since the institution started awarding Bachelor degree in the discipline. For the feat, Eteng bagged seven honours, including automatic employment in the school after her National Youth Service.

    Others best students are Emmanuel Agiande, who was the best in clinical proficiency, and Mabington Okwuonu, best in leadership creativity.

    Speaking on behalf of the graduates, Eteng praised the department’s lecturers and parents for their efforts in making their dreams come true.

    She said: “We thank the management, the college authorities, our parents, friends and well-wishers for the roles they played in ensuring that we are being inducted today. We specially appreciate our parents for their financial and moral support.”

    The inductees presented gifts to their lecturers and donated a generator to the department. This was done by Mabington,  a former president of Nigerian Association of Radiography Students.