Radiographers demand separate department in hospitals

Medical radiographers and radiation scientists under the aegis of the Medical Imaging Society of Nigeria, (MISON) have called for a separate department for radiographers in health facilities across the country.

They made the call yesterday during an event organized by the association in conjunction with General Electronics (GE) to commemorate the World Radiography Day in Abuja with the theme “Awakening the Spirit of Radiographers in Nigeria”.

A Deputy Director with the National Hospital, and member of the association, Mr. Okoye Neirus, said radiographers should not be lumped up with medical doctors in the same department.

He said the department of radiography needs to be autonomous just as departments of radiography are autonomous in universities.

“We should have our own separate department in the clinical sector which must be headed by a radiographer. If we look at the present management structure in the clinical sector, a department is the smallest official unit of communication but very sadly as presently constituted, radiographers are joined with doctors in one department which is headed by only doctors,” he said.

Neirus said the department was exclusively made for doctors and that radiographers have no opportunities in the department, adding, “we must take our future in our hands and rise up to this challenge. This ugly trend must be challenged by all radiographers irrespective of whether you are in the academic or clinical sector.”

Chairman, MISON Federal Capital Territory chapter, Emma Ngwu, said the 2017 celebration was intended to create awareness on radiography, engender harmony amongst radiographers or medical imaging practitioners, as well as promote international best practices.

He enjoined radiographers to protect the profession from quacks and offer quality and safe services to patients.