Health, Health Briefs
The Federal Government has called on the Radiographers Registration Board of Nigeria (RRBN) to eradicate quackery from the profession.
The Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr Iziaq Salako, gave the charge when he paid a visit to the board on Thursday in Abuja.
According to him, one of the priorities of the government is to fight quackery in healthcare delivery.
Salako noted that as a registration and regulatory body, the board was charged with the responsibility of ensuring that quacks do not practice the profession.
“You have the law of the country behind you.
“So, I want you to be more innovative and forthcoming in ensuring that it is only people who are qualified to practice as radiographers that do. Also, that only facilities that are properly registered are providing such services in our country.
“This is because once you have a quack providing services, apart from the fact that he’s not bound by any ethics, it means he can do anything, and if he does, you do not have any ethical control over him.”
He said the implication was because the quack has not subscribed to the oath, his practice is substandard, thereby putting the lives of Nigerians in danger.
The minister urged the board to be more comprehensive in monitoring and enforcement to ensure that only qualified people practice radiography.
Salako also acknowledged the importance of radiography to the healthcare sector.
He commended the board for its robust attempt at using digital technology to make things easier.
Earlier, the Registrar, Prof. Mark Okeji, said the board had 4,632 radiographers in its register, but a lot of radiographers were now leaving the country for greener pastures owing to “Brain Drain Syndrome”.
He, however, said to improve on the situation, the board had doubled its quota to the universities in order to balance the manpower needs of the country.
“We have also encouraged the establishment of more B.Sc. programmes in Nigerian universities since I assumed office.
“We have 40 universities offering radiography now from the initial nine when I took over and most are at various stages and will start graduation soon.”
He listed the activities of the board to include overseeing the professional training of radiographers in all the universities in Nigeria, registration of qualified radiographers and monitoring and enforcement activities.
Okeji, however, said that the board was plagued with challenge of inadequate accommodation for offices, insufficient monitoring and enforcement vehicles, as well as inadequate funding for the monitoring and enforcement activities.
He, therefore, urged the minister to use his office to help solve some of the stated issues.(NAN)
30th January, 2025.
A.E
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