The Nigerian Dental Therapists’ Association (NDTA) has said their profession has suffered setback as a result of the Higher National Diploma and Bachelor Degree dichotomy in the country.
There has been great discrimination between HND and BSc certificate holders for a long time in the country.
- I regret my action, people should pity me – Rahma Sadau
- Youths excited as N75bn FG Youth Investment Fund starts
Speaking at the 2020 Scientific Conference and Annual General meeting of the NDTA Saturday with the theme, “Repositioning Dental Therapy Practice in Nigeria, a guest speaker and lecturer at the Enugu Federal College of Dental Technology, Enugu, Dr Johnson Omale said, “One of the problem facing the dental therapy profession is that graduates are not well placed because of the Nigeria factor of HND/BSc dichotomy.
He said HND holders are seen as technological officer and not scientific officers and that is affecting them because their scheme of service do not go beyond HND degree adding that that is why they are calling for a Bachelor degree certificate in the course to help placed graduates in better position.
Dr Omale said HND has limited lots of people in this profession and that is why they are trying to bridge because having a BSc in this profession will help enhance scheme of service.
The chairman, Local Organising Committee of the association, Ifeoma Chidioka said, they are creating awareness for people to understand how important it is to take care of their oral health because it is a very important part of the body system.
Chidioka who said oral health awareness is very poor in Nigeria also urged everyone to visit the dental clinic once in every six months while saying it will help to prevent oral diseases.
“Taking care of our mouth is as important as taking care of other other part of our body too and we must do that regularly to live healthy.”
The Association also said they will elect new executives that will charge their affairs for the next four years.
