SOGHIN decries non-availability of liver transplantation services in Nigeria

The Society for Gastroenterology and Hepatology in Nigeria (SOGHIN) has expressed concern over the non-availability of liver transplantation services in Nigeria, lamenting that when accessible outside the country, the cost was prohibitive for an average Nigerian.

SOGHIN’s President, Prof. Jesse Abiodun Otegbayo, and Secretary-General, Prof. Olusegun Alatishe, in a communiqué issued after the just concluded annual scientific conference of SOGHIN held in Kano, Kano State called for urgent intervention of the Federal Government so as to curb the worrisome trend.

It also called on the Federal Government to halt the exodus of highly skilled health professionals, including Gastroenterologists and Endoscopy Nurses, as well as trainees in the field of Hepatology.

Also, the society observed with dismay the dwindling state of priority given to the funding for the diagnosis, treatment and research on viral hepatitis in the country by respective Governments.

With the theme of the five-day scientific conference ‘Burden and Challenges of Managing Functional Gastrointestinal Disorder’, also resolved that the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and all public health authorities should continue to monitor the trend of COVID-19 cases in the country.

It called on the government to expedite action in the production of COVID-19 vaccines in Nigeria.

Furthermore, the society expressed worry over the worsening state of insecurity manifested by insurgency, banditry, kidnapping and other forms of armed attacks in the country.