Medicine

“In any moment of decision, the best thing you can do is the right thing…. ” – Thomas Carlyle 

Around 7:00 am, I was awakened by a call from one of my friends, who wanted me to inquire on his behalf about admission into one of the colleges of Health Sciences I attended about a decade ago.

As our conversation progressed, he shared with me another contact he had made at another school, stating that, considering the security situation in that state, he could gain admission into the final year to take the final professional exams and be awarded a certified healthcare practitioner.

When I inquired further about how possible that was, considering his lack of knowledge in that field, I knew him to have studied another related healthcare course and was now looking to switch over. His answer was, “You know the ‘Nigeria factor.'”

I was taken aback, unprepared for this update. I was so naive, not expecting this level of decadence. How does it come about that a person could obtain a certificate in any health-related course without the required rigorous training and hands-on skills?

I thought this could happen somewhere, but not in my beloved profession. Our love for shortcuts is going to ruin us. This ‘Nigeria factor,’ if it continues, definitely would consume us. 

It wouldn’t come as a surprise when some of our elites do not believe in being treated at our local facilities. How certain are you that such a quack isn’t in the teaching hospitals or the National Hospital in Abuja?

The system that allows them to obtain a certificate without the required training is the same system that could lead to their employment ahead of more competent and well-grounded individuals.

Given the current state of affairs, I couldn’t entirely blame those who can afford the best private hospitals or overseas clinics. Eight years, and one man was incapable of rectifying this mess. It was a systematic and complex problem that required collective efforts.

President Muhammadu Buhari wasn’t present when the candidate paid the highest sum to the school director or head of department to get admission. Buhari or Tinubu wasn’t present when the National Board of Examinations failed to conduct the necessary checks before approving those candidates, or to verify whether they had attained the required training. 

President Goodluck Jonathan, or President Olusegun Obasanjo, wasn’t present when the agency responsible for recruitment employed such reckless individuals without conducting a thorough investigation into their accredited institution or level of expertise.

Our universities are well-regulated and produce individuals who are competent enough, but they primarily focus on producing senior nursing officers, medical doctors, senior pharmacists, and radiographers or medical laboratory scientists. What of those responsible for taking your blood sample or those who gave your child the vaccine doses?

I am not questioning the entire workforce. Indeed, there were many hard-working and competent personnel, but with the way things were moving, there was also a lot more quackery. If things like this can occur in the most regulated sector, such as healthcare, how confident are you in other professions? 

What guarantee do you have over the NAFDAC recommendation on specific products? How assured are we of the technicians managing our airline services and the local engineers constructing our bridges?

The system that you seem smart enough to outmanoeuvre, driving a car without the necessary papers and licenses, might be the very system that produces some of your teachers, your drivers, and your law enforcement, whom you entrust your very life to. This creates a form of distrust in Nigeria. 

I was interested in a documentary aired by the BBC about Heathrow Airport in the UK. Although it’s an international airport and one of the best globally, comparing the standardised system there could be absurd, but still, it’s obvious the British have a culture of meticulous attention to detail and ensuring everything is done correctly with due process.

 It’s not surprising that there are the fewest number of automobile accidents, maternal mortalities, electricity power grid collapses, and flood disasters.

In a system where everyone took responsibility as if the success or failure of a task depended on him/her, life could have been nicer. However, in our society, we enjoy the blame game too much. Every failure is attributed to the leaders at the top, sometimes ridiculously, upon a single soul, the president.

In the movie Titanic, it’s evident that the fateful accident of the mega ship was attributed to some technical errors made by the crew assistants, not just the captain alone.

 Imagine a minor negligence that led to such a catastrophe, and compare that to the thousands of such mistakes, even greater, that we commit daily in our various walks of life.

The deliberate 15 minutes you were late could have been the cause of someone’s death. The intentional habit of switching your phone off on duty could have been the source of losing someone’s life.

The lack of a proper checklist could have led to a conflagration, a dam break, a bridge collapse, or a building collapse.

Trying to do the right thing doesn’t cost more than doing otherwise. It only builds your character, gives satisfaction, and pays in the long run.

How sustainable was this, the  ‘Nigeria factor’?

Saifullahi Attahir wrote from Federal University Dutse. He can be reached via saifullahiattahir93@gmail.com.

By Usman Abdullahi Koli, ANIPR

In the words of the great German and one of the most impactful scientists, Albert Einstein, “Intellectuals solve problems, geniuses prevent them.”

In medicine, intellectualism and professionalism are the hallmarks of integrity. Back in Nigeria, like every sector, health faces its challenges. And in the words of the great scientist, dodging problems may not be far from shifting disaster; he believed that as an intellectual, the problem should be solved head-on. Professor Yusuf Bara Jibrin, the Chief Medical Director of Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital, Bauchi, epitomises these traits.

As a Professor of Internal Medicine specialising in infectious diseases, Yusuf Bara Jibrin has made significant strides in clinical development, research, training, staff welfare, and community engagements.

Prof. Jibrin is a beacon of intellectual curiosity and an embodiment of generosity in serving humanity. Through groundbreaking research, he has revolutionised our understanding of disease diagnosis and treatment, yielding numerous advancements in the medical field. His pedagogical prowess has inspired generations of medical professionals, nurturing their talents and fostering a passion for healing. Beyond his discipline, his expertise embraces various subjects, with an unending commitment to mentoring and guiding his staff and students.

Under his leadership, ATBUTH Bauchi has emerged as a premier healthcare institution in Bauchi and beyond. The sophisticated new facilities, including the General Outpatient Department (GOPD) complex, ENT department, Infertility Centre, and the upcoming Dental Clinic and Diagnostic Centre, are a testament to his commitment to excellence. His efforts have also led to the establishment of robust community engagement and management development programs, enhancing the hospital’s visibility and operational efficiency.

ATBUTH Bauchi has achieved numerous clinical milestones under this exemplary leadership. The hospital conducted its first endoscopic laser therapy for kidney stones, a significant advancement in minimally invasive surgery. The Pharmacy Department has begun using a drug formulary, aiming for essential service delivery. The successful execution of the first spinal surgery operation and the introduction of laser urethral stone procedures further underscore the hospital’s clinical capabilities.

The NCDC recognises the Molecular Genetics and Infectious Diseases Laboratory at ATBUTH as a national surveillance system, thanks to its advanced sequencing equipment. The Lassa Fever Isolation Centre has recently invested in new dialysis machines, effectively reducing Lassa fever fatalities and positioning the centre as a leader in managing Lassa fever cases in Bauchi. The Pharmaceutical Production Unit has commenced making sanitisers and hydrogen, contributing to the hospital’s competence in pharmaceutical manufacturing.

ATBUTH Bauchi has launched an Emergency Medical Service and Ambulance System equipped with a highly responsive team to provide effective emergency medical assistance. The Geriatric Management Centre is set to commence home services, focusing on the well-being of elderly individuals. The implementation of the Electronic Medical Record System has significantly reduced patient waiting times, improving overall service delivery. The established Oxygen Plant has become an independent supplier, reliably providing oxygen to Bauchi and its neighbouring states.

The management team at ATBUTH, under Prof. Jibrin’s visionary leadership, has transformed the hospital into a beacon of excellence in healthcare delivery, research, and training. Their collective efforts have propelled ATBUTH to new heights, ensuring it remains at the forefront of medical innovation and patient care.

As we acknowledge these achievements, we pray for continued success and growth for ATBUTH Bauchi. May their efforts be rewarded with further advancements and improved healthcare outcomes for the benefit of all.

Usman Abdullahi Koli wrote via mernoukoli@gmail.com.

By Aliyu Nuhu

I saw a post by a friend advising people not to check their symptoms on internet and should go to hospitals for all their complaints. He was partially correct, but wrong in underestimating the power and importance of internet-based knowledge.

Medicine recognizes home treatment for non emergency medical conditions. But there is a caveat that you should consult a doctor if symptoms persist or get worse.

Always remember that doctors themselves know a lot about their speciality, but they also know little in a vast ocean of knowledge in other fields of medicine. You can know better than them if you choose to read.

My son was given about fifteen medications to take after heart surgery. But because I have knowledge of the disease and drug options,I was able to engage the doctor and at the end the drugs were reduced to four. Take note that I did not reduce the medication on my own. I only used my knowledge of pharmacy to engage the doctor and get him to reduce them himself. Some of the drugs were to be taken for few weeks and to be discontinued. Some were doing the same job and one of them has to go. Some were to alleviate symptoms, and if the child didn’t have the symptoms what was the need for them? Some were for pains from surgery and if the wound was healed there was no need for them. I once educated a doctor for asking a child to take calcium for bone strength, but he obviously didn’t know that the body would need vitamin D to successfully process calcium. Medicine is so vast that doctors must also read the internet to keep abreast.

There are treat-at-home symptoms you can learn from internet. I successfully treated myself for common illnesses through internet and over the counter medications. Why should I for instance go to hospital to treat nail fungus? You are your own best doctor. Arm yourself with knowledge before approaching your doctor.

There are symptoms that you know you need professional help. You know the red flags for potentially life threatening symptoms. When you can’t breathe you don’t need anyone to tell you to rush to get medical help at the hospital. When you have severe headache and other symptoms you never had before you should know that you need an immediate medical emergency.

I know when to see a doctor. The important thing for you is to also know when to see your own doctor. Even when meeting with my doctor, my vast knowledge of medicine prepares me for drug options and procedural choices. Internet makes you even choose the right doctor. If you have blood in your urine check for the possible causes. The regular GP may not detect if your condition is postate cancer. Oncologist knows what other tests to do and confirm if you have the condition. If you have shortness of breath, painful arm, etc, the cardiologist is the person that will know that you need angiogram to know if there is blockage in the circulatory system.

We have good doctors no doubt but always know that we have imposters, some that did not even read medicine in the university. Our hospitals are populated with half-baked professionals that only knowledge could save you from their deadly mistakes.

A whole teaching hospital treated a relative of mine for cerebral malaria when she actually had tuberculosis of the spine. My son was diagnosed with truncus ateriosis when in actual fact he had tetralogy of fallot. Without internet I would have been lost. However, a careful check gave me better understanding of the symptoms and led me to the right laboratory that identified the right disease. Internet led me to the right doctors abroad.

It will be suicidal just to rely on doctors without having elementary knowledge of your symptoms and treatment options. Drugs have side effects and also, interaction issues with other drugs or foods. If you don’t read you won’t know. Your doctor is human and has many patients and will not have time to educate you. Educate yourself. Knowledge is not only power, but in medicine it can be a life-saver.

Aliyu Nuhu writes from Abuja, Nigeria.