The Medical Director, Kleinburg Medical Centre, Lagos, Dr. Akeem Anifowoshe, has said that Nigeria needs more primary health facilities to reduce its burden of infectious and non-communicable diseases. Anifowoshe, who spoke at the inauguration of the centre and Beacon Smile Clinic in Lagos, noted that the availability of more family health physicians would also ensure early detection and treatment of diseases. According to him, a family physician is the first line of doctor that takes care of the health challenges of individuals and has their medical history that will be helpful in emergencies. He said, “In developed countries, when you are sick, you do not have to go to a big hospital. You get a greater percentage of the care you need from the family physician at the primary health care centre in your neighbourhood or some streets away from your home.

“He/ she will check blood pressure, cholesterol and glucose levels and look after your overall health to ensure that you do not come down with diseases. “It saddens me when I hear of people dying of colon cancer. That should not happen because it can be detected early with a simple blood test if the patient had gone for routine medical check.” The Chief Executive Officer, Beaconhill Smile Clinic, Dr. Oluwaseum Akinbobola, lamented that many Nigerians do not prioritise2 their health. He said, “Many will not go for dental check-up until they have lost a tooth or they can no longer eat. However, that is not the right attitude. “One should go for dental check up at least twice a year so that oral problems can be picked up early. “ If you do the right thing, you do not need to lose any of your tooth. But the average 70-year-old man has lost two or three teeth because they did not take oral health seriously.”

Source:Punch Online