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Life expectancy on the rise in Nigeria, says UCH CMD

By Sam Oluwalana Ibadan Bureau Chief
07 March 2016   |   11:32 pm
Going by the new innovations introduced in geriatric medicine the country, Nigeria is expected to experience increase in the number of old people....
Professor Temitope Alonge

Prof. Temitope Alonge

Going by the new innovations introduced in geriatric medicine the country, Nigeria is expected to experience increase in the number of old people in some couple of years.

Chief Medical Director of the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, Prof. Temitope Alonge, made the disclosure yesterday in Ibadan, while declaring opened the maiden Basic Certificate Course in Geriatric Medicine.

The two-week long course with the theme “Introducing Doctors to Emerging Care in Geriatric Medicine organized by Chief Tony Anenih Geriatric Centre, UCH and African Society For Ageing Research and Development (ASARD), according to the Director of the centre, Dr. Adekunle Adebusoye, attracted over 80 participants across the country.

Alonge, who also doubles as ASARD President remarked that the discovery of various disease control drugs, establishment of state of the art centres like that of the Chief Tony Anenih Geriatric Center, more research in the care of the elderly ones, as well as new innovations and methods on the care of the aged has made life expectancy increase steadily across the globe, with Nigeria is not exempted.

The CMD, who spoke on his personal experience on what led to the death of his mother, informed the audience that his mother would not have died if it were now, with the discovery of disease-managed drugs and vaccines.

The CMD reiterated the commitment of the hospital to adopting indigent old citizens in the centre to ease their sufferings noting that the initiative is part of the corporate social responsibility of the hospital to meet the demands of the ever-increasing number of old people across the country.

Alonge, while highlighting the achievements of the centre maintained that the “impact of the centre on the health needs of over 8,000 clients that have enjoyed the services of the centre in just three years has made the outfit a reference centre for geriatric medical practice in Nigeria.

“In addition, medical experts in geriatric medicine who have visited the centre from various continents have entered into institutional relationship with the centre that will ultimately boost the profile of the centre.

Speaking to the participants, Adebusoye informed them that the course would not only involve lectures but clinical and practical sessions.

He noted that the care of the elderly ones popularly referred to as senior citizens entail physical, mental and social.

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