Oyewumi says medical rehabilitation practitioners can complement other health interventions such as medical and surgical and help to achieve the best outcome possible.
By Julius Alabi, Akure
A University Don and Physiotherapist, Dr. Taiwo Oyewumi has called for the establishment of at least one medical rehabilitation centre in each of the six geo-political zones of the country.
Oyewumi, who is the Head of Department (HoD) of Physiotherapy at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH) in a lecture, advised that physiotherapists should be employed in the third tier of government to make them closer to the people.
He was delivering a lecture titled Nigerian Health Sector Reforms and Rehabilitation: Issues and Opportunities, in Ibadan, Oyo state capital at Pa C.A. Ajao’s lecture series of the Nigeria Society of Physiotherapists, (NSP), Ibadan branch.
The medical expert also canvassed for the introduction of lifestyle clinics at the local government levels, including secondary and tertiary health institutions in the country.
Oyewumi stressed the need for the setting up of a committee of presidents of medical rehabilitation professionals and the inclusion of experts in the health care system in Nigeria.
Other suggestions include “inclusion and involvement of medical rehabilitation practitioners as part of policymakers in the health system.
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“Creation of a directorate of medical rehabilitation in the federal ministry of health, states ministries of health and the federal capital territory.”
On the roles of medical rehabilitation professionals in health reforms, Oyewumi pointed out that they can reduce the impact of a broad range of health conditions such as diseases, illnesses or injuries.
“They can complement other health interventions such as medical and surgical, helping to achieve the best outcome possible.”
On challenges confronting the profession, the university don stated that it is the lack of prioritization of professionals by the government.
“Omission of medical rehabilitation in the health care system, physiotherapists trained at postgraduate level for leadership roles are rare, and the inadequate number of professionals in Nigeria.
“Lack of well equipped medical rehabilitation centres in Nigeria, poor level of awareness of roles of professionals among patients, public and medical practitioners for prompt referrals.”