Health experts have called for improved medical residency training and reduction in cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) to improve the health system and well-being of Nigerians.

The experts spoke during the Society of Family Physicians of Nigeria (SOFPON) Scientific Conference on Sunday in Lagos.

The theme of the conference is ”Residency Training in a Service-Oriented Environment amidst Dwindling Human Resources for Health-Challenges and Way Out”.

Dr Sixtus Ozuomba, Chairman, SOFPON, Lagos Chapter, said that the theme reflected the dicey situation that the family physicians found themselves in the present day Nigeria.

Ozuomba noted that residency training in a service-oriented environment was a huge challenge to both the trainer and the trainee.

He said that excellence in service must not be sacrificed in the pursuit of academic excellence.

”The bad situation is worsened by the fast dwindling human resource for health, occasioned by the rapid efflux of medical personnel of all cadres to the western world in search of better livelihood.

”The healthcare workers that stay behind, like the proverbial willing horse, are ridden to exhaustion; overworked, underpaid, are faced with the escalating cost of living without a commensurate increase in remuneration.

”They have to contend with largely hungry and angry patients, and still have to contend with the pressure from their immediate bosses, who are not unaware of the situation, but have to align with political correctness and survival.

”The family physician because of his reputation for versatility and not being limited by systems, age or gender is the worst hit, as he is often called upon to fill the yawning gaps.

”We can’t continue to tell people to relax, take life easy, whereas the doctor giving the advice is doing the opposite.

”The doctor that’s expected to keep people alive, needs to be alive to do that,” he said.

He appealed to the government to create an enabling environment, recruit more workers to replace the exited ones, invest in training and incentives for health workers to boost morale and productivity.

According to Ozuomba, the burden of cardiovascular diseases is on the rise in Nigeria.

He said that family physicians, as the first contact doctors, were becoming crucial in the treatment and control of CVDs in individuals, families and communities.

Similarly, Prof. Olumuyiwa Odusanya, Vice-Chancellor, Lagos State University of Science and Technology, Ikorodu, said that residency training programmes enable graduates of medical colleges the opportunity to advance their knowledge in a medical or surgical specialty.

Odusanya said that residency trainees in Nigeria were exposed to multifaceted challenges that included demographic, workplace and psychosocial issues which made them contemplate emigration.

He noted that many had emigrated in search of better job satisfaction, working conditions, remuneration, career progression, professional advancement, and improved quality of life.

Odusanya appealed to policy makers and managers of health facilities to tackle these challenges, noting that the solutions would stimulate development in the nation’s health sector.

Also, Dr Oladapo Adewuya, Consultant Cardiologist, said concerted efforts should be made to reduce the alarming increase of cardiovascular diseases among Nigerians.

Adewuya, who works at R-Jolad Hospital, Gbagada, Lagos, made this known while speaking on the conference’s sub-theme, ‘Stemming the Tide of Cardiovascular Diseases’.

Cardiovascular Diseases (CVDs) are diseases that affect the heart or blood vessels. Undetected, untreated CVDs could lead to stroke, heart attack or avoidable deaths.

Adewuya said that one in three Nigerians have cardiovascular diseases, noting that a recent research showed a 150 per cent increase in prevalence of cardiovascular diseases in South-West Nigeria.

Adewuya said that CVDs were preventable and reversible when identified early.

He also advised members of the public to shun tobacco use, unhealthy diet, obesity, physical inactivity and harmful use of alcohol.

According to him, cardiovascular diseases has led to many avoidable deaths, while information, education and communication to the public should be enhanced.

”I have seen a 25-years-old man suffer a myocardial infarction (heart attack) from using a sexual enhancement drug bought on the street.

”As physicians, we have to intensify efforts in educating the public to stop risky behaviour,” he said.

He said that family physicians have a role to play in curbing the rising trend and reducing the workload of the few available cardiologists.

He said that they could do so by requesting a baseline investigation of every patient to detect and reduce the prevalence of CVDs in Nigeria.

Also, Dr Benjamin Olowojebutu, Chairman, Nigerian Medical Association, Lagos Zone, said that collaborative efforts would be required to stem the prevalence of cardiovascular diseases.

Olowojebutu said that more than 6,000 medical doctors left Nigeria in the last one year, noting that even mentors were leaving.

”The level of commitment to the medical residency training has reduced, level of training and mentorship has reduced,” he said.

The NMA chairman urged the government to increase the number of training institutions for family medicine in Lagos, adding that family medicine was the first point of call in hospitals.

Also, Dr Atinuke Onayiga, Chairman, Lagos State Health Service Commission, said the state government prioritised human resources for health, human capital development and medical infrastructure development as a means of achieving the Health and Environment mandate of its THEMES agenda.

Onayiga noted that Lagos was the only state that took bold steps in establishing training for family medicine and anesthesia at hospital level.

She said that effort should be made to improve the retainership strategy and also attract Nigerian doctors back to the country.

”Nigeria is already on an economic recovery trajectory to woo more investors, allow systems to become more vibrant and I believe this would enhance our health system and human resources,” she said.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria