Fund local medical research, association urges govt

Amarachi Okeh

The Academy of Medicine Specialities of Nigeria has urged the government to fund local medical research. 

The association bemoaned the lack of funding from the government to support the growth of medical research in the country.

According to the president of the association, Prof. Oladapo Ashiru, funding is an essential and critical part of medical advancements in any country.

Ashiru spoke at a press briefing held ahead of the association’s second Annual General Meeting, Scientific Conference and Convocation scheduled to hold on 29th October at the Sheraton Hotels and Towers, Ikeja.

The Academy of Medicine Specialties of Nigeria is a non-profit organisation that provides advice on medical matters, education and research, medical care and public health

The NGO, with 135 fellows, is a professional body of distinguished professors and academicians selected from across different medical specialties.

The keynote lecture for the event titled “Tackling the twin threats of non-communicable and communicable diseases to healthcare in Nigeria” would be given taken by Prof. Oyewale Tomori.

Also five eminent researchers: Prof O.C Ezechi, Prof. C.O Eregie, Prof. A.E Akinwutan, Prof. Azeez Butali and Prof. F.J Owotadw are to be inducted as new fellows of the association at the AGM.

Speaking further at the press briefing, Prof. Ashiru called on capable private individuals to donate to the furtherance of medical advancement in the country.

He said, “Funding is something that we have a problem with in the country. We don’t have a statutory allocation from the government to support research in the academy.

“In the US, the US National Academy is supported by the US government, the National Institute of Health and Individuals like the Rockefellers, Ford Foundation, and Bill Gates foundation.

“They give money to research but where is the money from in Nigeria? Very few. Fellows have to tax themselves even to have meetings

“But hopefully, we are making a plea to the ministries of health and science, they should be the ministries that should be supporting these academic efforts.

Also, Ashiru urged that the necessary agencies place stricter travel restrictions for passengers flying from Uganda following the outbreak of Ebola in the country.

Ashiru said, “Right now Ebola is going on in Uganda and flights are coming from East Africa into Nigeria, we need to start taking the temperature of the people coming into the ports.

“It is important that we step up the Ebola protocol than we did before. If one person should travel here with the disease, then there’s a problem.

“Be watchful of what is going on. At least for now, flights coming from East Africa need to be monitored.”

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