An expert from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Dr Terez Sera, has pinpointed deficiencies within Nigeria's nuclear medicine practices that necessitate identification and resolution to elevate the standard of patient care across the nation.
Dr Sera, who holds the title of Associate Professor of Nuclear Medicine and Radiology, delivered these remarks on Monday in Abuja. Her comments came during the inauguration of a regional training course focused on the Quality Assurance Programme in Nuclear Medicine (QUANUM). This crucial initiative was orchestrated by the National Institute for Cancer Research and Treatment (NICRAT) in collaboration with the IAEA.
She elucidated that the training programme is designed to empower Nigerian medical professionals to meticulously evaluate their current practices, discern existing gaps, and pinpoint specific areas where improvements can be implemented.
“This training basically is a train the trainers meeting. So Nigerian colleagues are going to learn how to evaluate their practice, how to identify those gaps and those tasks where they can improve the practice,” Dr Sera explained.
Dr Sera further elaborated that the IAEA's involvement stems from a direct request by Nigeria for an expert mission. Through this collaboration, the agency aims to share its extensive experience with both Nigerian participants and other delegates from various African nations.
Moreover, she added that the IAEA also anticipates gaining valuable insights from the experiences of the participating countries, which will then be integrated into the development of future training programmes.
The Director General of NICRAT underscored the critical need for highly competent professionals and robust quality systems within the field of nuclear medicine. These elements, he stressed, are paramount to guaranteeing both safe and effective patient care.
He revealed that NICRAT has already provided training to over 2,000 healthcare workers, covering diverse facets of cancer care. He highlighted that this specific quality assurance training would furnish participants with essential tools for auditing, comprehensive quality management, and the thorough assessment of nuclear medicine services.
“The success of this programme should ultimately be measured not by the training itself, but by the improvements in quality, safety and patient care that follow from it,” the Director General affirmed.