At least 100,000 infants die from sickle cell genetic disorder in Nigeria every year, a professor of Radiology at the University of Lagos, Rasheed Ajani Arogundade, said.
The professor, while delivering the July 2015 inaugural lecture of the university, said the country still has the highest number of sickle cell cases in Africa,
He said according to the indices of the World Health Organisation (WHO), Nigeria accounts for 75 per cent of the cases in Africa.
He said advances in computer technology have made it possible for radiologists to utilise an array of imaging modalities with the use of modern facilities such as Ultrasound (US), Computerised Tomography(CT) and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), among others.
He also urged investment in radiology equipment in Nigeria through the Public-Private Partnership (PPP). “We live in a constantly changing technological environment and Nigeria cannot afford to persistently remain behind the rest of the world. Radiology is particularly technology-driven and capital intensive. Equipment investment through the PPP remains the current solution and best option,” he said.
He added: “Availability of essential diagnostic imaging equipment will also obviate the need for unnecessary medical tourism and conservation of our natural resources, while teaching hospitals in the country must acquire and maintain appropriate imagining equipment to improve radiology practice, training and research.
Only acquisition of equipment with locally available engineering maintenance backup will guarantee durable functionality and uninterrupted training of medical students and residents doctors, as well as good quality materials for internationally acceptable research.”