Association tasks healthcare professionals on radiation safety

The Association of Radiographers of Nigeria (ARN), Lagos Chapter, has called on healthcare professionals, especially the radiographers to be conscious of patients’ safety in the dispensation of ionising radiation.

Mrs Opeoluwa Oduwole, ARN Chairman, made the call at a lecture organised by the association in commemoration of the 2023 World Radiography Day (WRD) in Lagos.

Oduwole said safety and interest of the patients should be the major priority of radiographers in the usage of radiant energies for the diagnosis and treatment of health conditions.

According to her, to get the accurate results without medical error, the dispensation of the ionising radiation should be done by certified, qualified and practicing radiographer.

She said: “Healthcare professionals should take the interest and safety of the patients into consideration in the course of dispensing ionising radiation .

“This is very necessary so that patients come into hospitals, enjoy services and get healed under safe practices, rather than incurring circumstances and challenges that will worsen their condition”.

Dr Livinu Abonyi, a medical imaging scientist, advised that the public should embrace radiography and never resist medical recommendations to undergo any radiological investigation.

Abonyi, also a Guest Lecturer at the event, said radiation was a very vital component of medicine in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases.

He explained that there was no chance under medical use where ionizing radiation could cause cancer as being insinuated.

He urged practicing radiographers to always be updated with the new technologies and methods in radiography practice.

“The benefits of using radiation far outweigh the chances of it causing cancer; which is in a every minor scale.

“In every thousand patients, the chance of one patient developing cancer because he/she is exposed to radiation is very rare.

“So, the public should feel free to go for radiological investigations.

“Meanwhile, safety is paramount in the dispensation of the radiant energies; as safety preserves life. Every healthcare professional should be safety conscious so that the patients get the best when they come to hospitals,” Abonyi said.

Dr Humphrey Ugwu, a consultant medical imaging scientist, called for increased education on the practice and importance of radiography.

Ugwu, also the Chairman Local Organising Committee WRD, said there was the need to take the education campaigns to the secondary school levels.

According to him, it will provide the students with the right information to be able to make right choice of choosing career in radiography profession.

The WRD is celebrated annually on Nov. 8 to mark the anniversary of the discovery of X-ray.

The 2023 WRD has the theme: “Celebrating Patients’ Safety In Radiography Practice”.

The lecture featured about 10 different secondary schools in attendance and the students were given opportunity make series of presentations regarding radiography practice.