It is essential according to medical experts that only competent and adequately trained professionals manage medical imaging services in Nigeria.
They emphasized the significance due to the dangers and adverse health effects linked with treatments provided by unqualified practitioners or individuals lacking proper training for operating certain radiological devices.
They met yesterday in Abuja at a complimentary training workshop for radiographers, radiologists, medical physicists, and other medical imaging specialists. This event was organized by Cassona Global Imaging Ltd in collaboration with Neusoft Medical Systems.
The theme of the workshop was ‘The Future of Radiology’.
Medical imaging involves employing various imaging techniques and procedures to obtain images of the internal structures of the human body, aiding in patient diagnosis and therapy.
It includes the utilization of X-rays, ultrasound imagery, CT scans, Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), among others, for screening, diagnosing, and treating conditions.
The Director of Radiography and Head of Inspection and Monitoring at the Radiographers Registration Board of Nigeria, Onwuegbuufu Ebere Obinna, stated that numerous untrained individuals who lack professional registration and licensing are increasingly utilizing radiant energy. This practice puts patients seeking diagnostic services at risk of potential harm.
Even though he stated that the organization was striving to combat pseudoscience, he urged various groups and businesses to lower the costs of medical imaging devices to enhance accessibility for Nigerians.
He said the training programme was timely, adding that “the profession itself is evolving, and technology is the way to advance. We are working towards the possibility of having accurate and timely diagnosis, and that image acquisition should have clinical relevance, can be stored, retrieved and transmitted to the clinicians.”
The guest trainer and Senior Clinical Application Specialist at Neusoft Medical Systems, Samer Noureldin, said it is important for health professionals to keep learning because there is new knowledge and improvement in science coming up generally, and also in the specific field of medical imaging devices and applications.
He said the participants were given insights on advances in CT Scan machines, including the model installed at the Saint Mary’s Catholic Hospital, Gwagwalada, Abuja, as well as other advanced imaging devices.
He stated, “The mid-tier CT scanner handles all imaging tasks apart from cardiac procedures. Additionally, we possess more advanced equipment offering various functionalities, which significantly aid in simplifying diagnostic processes and assist both radiologists and technologists in obtaining crucial imagery for accurate patient assessments.”
Nketiah Suphianu, Sales Lead and Branch Manager, Cassona Imaging Limited, said Nigeria and other African countries are lagging behind in the use of advanced medical imaging technology.
He said this inspired the organisation to organise the free workshop and training programme for medical imaging professionals.
He said the organisation has put in place a flexible payment plan of 24 months for health facilities to make medical imaging equipment affordable for the population.
The clinical medical physicist who leads Dosimetry Services at the National Hospital in Abuja, and also attended the training session, mentioned that radiation possesses both positive and negative aspects; furthermore, he emphasized that it can be detrimental to human health if not managed correctly.
He mentioned that the program assisted radiographers, radiologists, and medical physicists in staying updated about operating cutting-edge machinery.
He mentioned that the ‘japa syndrome’ was impacting the medical imaging sector, noting that the nation has fewer than 100 certified clinical medical physicists catering to its needs.
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