Chima Azubuike
Professor of Clinical Microbiology, Department of Clinical Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Basic Clinical Sciences, College of Medical Sciences, Gombe State University, Mohammed Manga, says lack of laboratory investigation before treating Sexually Transmitted Infections is responsible for most deaths recorded in health facilities.
He disclosed this during his inaugural lecture themed, ‘A Privileged Nomadic Microbial Warrior: Battles in Health and Medical Education’.
The don stated, “Managing infections without optimal use of clinical microbiology specialists/laboratory is linked to most morbidities and mortalities in our setting.
“It is both scientific/clinical and moral, ethical necessity for me to draw everybody’s attention to the misuse and abuse of antimicrobials through irrational, unnecessary prescribing, as a dangerous behaviour whose outcome is mostly obvious in the mortuaries and graveyards.
“The messages and lessons from the mortuaries need to be taken seriously by all stakeholders for the prevention and control of infections, especially in our context. A general perspective and sentiment that patients can’t afford vital laboratory investigations like culture sensitivity despite being made to spend huge sums on different antibiotics, in the beginning, need to be discarded.”
Manga added, “For economic, socio-cultural and other reasons particularly in northern Nigeria most patients/clients with STIs and genital tract infections prefer to present at traditional/unorthodox outlets with more grievous consequences.
The proliferation and ignorant claims on many infectious agents, which are even wrongly pronounced as being STIs require concerted efforts by governments and relevant professionals to ensure the safety of our people. The actual data on STIs and genital tract infections particularly in our setting is difficult to determine.”
While making his recommendations on the way out, Manga, suggested that health insurance should recognise infection treatment, urging the government to have a regional Sexually Transmitted Infections clinic where such cases will be prioritised.
Manga added, “Health insurance scheme that recognises the ideal way of managing infections and the importance of culture/other investigations should be made universally available to all those that need it.
“Nigeria as a country should have regional STI clinics with state-of-the-art diagnostic capacities for optimum patient care and research outputs. All tertiary hospitals in the country should prioritise and ensure the comfort and convenience of STI patients in obtaining specialist/expert care whenever needed.
“The menace of quackery and unfounded claims on STIs should be tackled by relevant agencies to minimise related complications that include female infertility.”
Also speaking, Vice Chancellor of Gombe State University Professor Aliyu El-Nafaty, lauded Manga for distinguishing himself as a reputable academic.
