By Iyemah David
The Society for Gastroenterology and Hepatology in Nigeria, (SOGHIN), has expressed concern over the non-availability of Liver Transplantation services in the country, lamenting that Nigerians still pay prohibitive costs getting cured outside the country.
The SOGHIN’s President, Professor Abiodun Otegbayo, expressed the worries in a statement, he signed and made available to newsmen on Monday.
Otegbayo called for urgent intervention from the Federal Government to curb the worrisome trend.
The president also called on the Federal Government to halt the exodus of highly skilled health professionals, including Gastroenterologists and Endoscopy Nurses, as well as trainees in the field of Hepatology.
He observed with dismay the dwindling funding for the diagnosis, treatment and research on viral hepatitis in the country by all tiers of government.
According to him, in a just concluded five-day scientific conference with the theme “Burden and Challenges of Managing Functional Gastrointestinal Disorder.”
In Kano state, where experts resolved that the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and all public health authorities should continue to monitor the trend of COVID-19 cases in the country.
He, however, called on the government to expedite action in the production of COVID-19 vaccines in the country.
