Some experts in Lagos, on Wednesday urged medical practitioners to prioritise their health and well-being, in a bid to function effectively.
They made this known at the 2025 Annual General Meeting and Scientific Conference organised by the Medical and Dental Consultants Association of Nigeria (MDCAN), Federal Medical Centre (FMC) Ebute-Metta Chapter.
The theme of the conference is “Your Body, Your Responsibility: A Personal Guide to Cancer Risk Reduction for Physicians”.
Speaking at the event, Chairman of the programme Dr. Kayode Akinlade, said that the conference was aimed at drawing the consciousness of medical practitioners, to the need for self-care.
Akinlade emphasised the need for physicians to undergo regular screening and test as part of efforts to put their health in check.
“As physicians, your body is your responsibility; you have to take care of your own health As you take care of your patients.
” Physicians must also do regular tests such as endoscopic procedures, Pap smears, PSA checks, breast examinations and other screening for preventive measures against cancer and other diseases.
“Some doctors can’t remember when last they have gone for preventive cancer test they always advised their patients to undergo,” he said
Akinlade, who was also a former Chairman of the Nigerian Medical Association, in Lagos, urged government to provide adequate welfare for doctors to improve their healthcare delivery.
“Government must look into welfare packages for physicians and respond to my the 19-point demand submitted by the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD),” he said.
Also speaking, the guest speaker at the conference, Dr Nwamaka Lasebikan, immediate past President of the Association of Radiation and Clinical Oncologists of Nigeria (ARCON), urged doctors to “beam the touchlight” on their health.
Lasebikan, noted that the the number of doctors in the country had reduced, following a mass relocation of medical practitioners abroad. .
“Doctors are often the ones who care for,people who come to them seeking advice, medical care and also offer compassion, but they don’t turn on the touchlight on themselves
“Many times, they are busy writing prescriptions for people, giving them advice, ensuring that they take their medication but everyone knows, doctors are the worst patients.
“It’s the same thing with cancer screening and risk reduction strategies with cancer and only less than 40 per cent of physicians in this conference has done the required cancer screening in the last five years,” she said
The clinical Oncology consequently, underscored the need for increase cancer care in the country.
In his remarks, Chairman of MDCAN, FMC Ebute-Metta Chapter, Dr. Lucky Okpetu, described the conference theme as timely and relevant.
Okpetu urged doctors to always reflect on a line in the physicians’ pledge, which states that “to render good health to patients, one must first maintain good health””
“This conference seeks to create awareness on the need for doctors to protect themselves,” he said.
He also commended the Chairman of the occasion, for offering 10 free colonoscopy and 10 free gastroscopy sessions for consultants to encourage participation in health screening.
