By Chioma OBINNA

With just 400 radiographers serving 140 million Nigerians, and an average of 10 radiographers attending to 350 beds in most teaching hospitals across the country against the World Health Organisation’s recommended 20 patients to a radiographer, the incidence of improper and inaccurate diagnosis is bound to be on the increase.

Declaring as unacceptable the low number of radiographers in public service, National President of the Association of Radiographers of Nigeria (ARN), Prince Ayo Okhiria  then charged Federal government to immediately expedite action through the health and education ministries to accelerate training programmes in more universities across the nation for producing radiographers.

In a chat he said: “We are calling on the tiers of government, particularly the Presidency and the Legislature to watch out for deceivers in high places currently scheming to hoodwink government into taking dishonourable paths.

We advise the Minister of Health to resist and also direct his principal officers and agents to desist from being biased leaders and territorial guards for select groups. We request the Radiography Registration Board to expand and intensify its statutory function of inspection and monitoring and applying the full force of the law on erring agencies.”

Lamenting what he described as “aggression against the profession,” he alleged that many elements in the health sector have become uncomfortable with the growth of the practice and practitioners denying Nigerians the benefit of easy access to radiographic service.

The Association’s forthcoming annual conference will focus on “Radiography in Cancer; Prevention & Management.”