By Chioma Obinna

With less than 5,000 Radiographers in Nigeria, the Registrar/ Chief Executive of the Radiographer Registration Board of Nigeria, RRBN, Professor Mark Okeji has said that the handover of a brand-new ultrasound machine by Mindray Healthcare China to the Nigerian Institute of Radiographers would address the shortage of radiographers and improve maternal mortality rates in Nigeria.

Okeji said with only 5,000 serving a population of 220 million, increased training is essential for achieving universal healthcare.

He stated that the high-tech ultrasound machine will be a valuable tool for their students, towards providing them with practical experience and reducing the need for expensive overseas training.  Okeji believes this will not only equip graduates with the necessary skills but also save valuable foreign exchange.

“This would allow Nigerian experts to collaborate with their Chinese counterparts and further advance ultrasound practices in the country.”

Okeji said the project was in line with the agenda of the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, and the Renewed Hope Agenda aimed at encouraging in-country training of the health workforce for efficient healthcare delivery to the citizens.

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 “It will also open the vista for the many students being trained here to have their first-hand practical experience with Mindray equipment. This is in line with the company’s vision of “healthcare within reach’.”

Other areas he requested for assistance include; the provision of support for teaching resources, such as manuals, books, models, publications and white papers, and organising academic exchange programmes with experts from China.

He expressed appreciation for the timely donation, adding that the top of the ultrasound equipment would be used for the training of sonographers in Nigeria.

“it has been proven by research that sonography can reduce maternal and child mortality because you’re going to be able to see what is inside of a woman, assess the presentation, assess the lower centre. It can also be used to assess the entire body and the soft tissues. 

“We also train non-radiographers in the practice of sonography. Currently, there is an ongoing training. Two sets are going on concurrently. We have 65 in one set and another 52 in another set and different modules.

Pledging Mindray commitment to a long-term partnership, Central African Region/Nigeria Country Manager Tyson Zhang emphasised the company’s commitment to improving Nigeria’s healthcare.

Zhang pledged to continue supporting training initiatives and expressed a desire for a long-lasting partnership.

Raising concerns about outdated equipment, Dr. Livinus Abonyi, head of radiology at the University of Lagos, urged Mindray to provide better support for older models used in hospitals.

He stressed the importance of proper phase-out procedures and ongoing maintenance to ensure continued functionality.

“If any model is going to be phased out, enough sufficient time or thereabouts, or a mechanism should be put in place on how to address it.”

The high point was the unveiling of the machine by the former registrar of RRBN.