>
By Emmanuel Adeleke
The Society for Gastroenterology and Hepatology in Nigeria (SOGHIN) has expressed concern over the non-availability of liver transplantation services in Nigeria, lamenting that the cost was prohibitive for an average Nigerian outside the country.
SOGHIN’s President, Professor Jesse Otegbayo, and Secretary-General, Professor Olusegun Alatishe, stated this in a communique issued at the end of the just concluded five-day scientific annual conference, themed, ‘Burden and Challenges of Managing Functional Gastrointestinal Disorder’, in Kano, Kano State.
They called for urgent intervention from Federal Government to curb the worrisome trend and halt the exodus of highly skilled health professionals, including Gastroenterologists and Endoscopy Nurses, as well as trainees in the field of Hepatology.
The society also expressed dismay over the dwindling state of priority given to the funding for the diagnosis, treatment and research on viral hepatitis in the country by respective governments.
The communique urged the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) and all public health authorities to continue to monitor the trend of COVID-19 cases in the country, adding that the government should expedite action in the production of COVID-19 vaccines in Nigeria.
The society further expressed worry over the worsening state of insecurity manifested by insurgency, banditry, kidnapping and other forms of armed attacks in the country.