The Kano State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Abubakar Labaran, has disclosed that the state lacks a speech physiotherapist, leaving patients in need of specialized rehabilitation services with no choice but to seek treatment in other locations. This shortage has prompted the state government to take steps to address the gap by sponsoring physiotherapists for specialized training. The goal is to ensure that residents can access these services locally, reducing the need for them to travel to other states.
Dr. Labaran made this announcement at the 66th Annual Scientific Conference and 67th Annual General Meeting of the Nigeria Society of Physiotherapy held in Kano. The conference featured discussions on strategic advocacy and policy engagement for integrating physiotherapy into Nigeria's public health system. The event also focused on rehabilitation across the lifespan, covering disabilities arising from non-communicable diseases, trauma, and infectious diseases. These themes highlight the critical role physiotherapy plays in healthcare delivery.
To address the shortage of physiotherapists, the Kano State government has expanded physiotherapy units across four of its hospitals. Additionally, plans are underway to establish a centre of excellence in physiotherapy at the Murtala Muhammad Specialist Hospital, Kano. This centre aims to provide advanced rehabilitation services to patients. By investing in physiotherapy, the state government acknowledges the vital role the profession plays in healthcare delivery.
According to Dr. Labaran, the state government has realized that it lacks a single speech physiotherapist in Kano and possibly the entire North. As a result, patients in need of specialized services have to travel to other states, such as Ibadan, to receive treatment. To address this gap, the government has decided to sponsor physiotherapists to specialize in this area, ensuring that the services will be available locally.
The Registrar of the Medical Rehabilitation Therapists Board of Nigeria, Professor Rufai Ahmed, emphasized the importance of training physiotherapists in specialized fields where services are unavailable. He represented the Minister of State for Health, Dr. Isaac Salako, at the conference. Professor Ahmed announced that the board would send a team to assist state-owned hospitals in securing the necessary accreditation for physiotherapy services.
The President of the Nigeria Society of Physiotherapy, Dr. Felix Oyinlola Odusanya, noted that the conference theme reflects a renewed commitment to advancing the profession and expanding its contribution to healthcare delivery. He expressed hope that the association's efforts would lead to the approval of a national rehabilitation policy and the release of the Doctor of Physiotherapy scheme of service in the health sector.
The conference also featured a presentation by Senator Bello Hayatu Gwarzo, who shared his rehabilitation experience following surgery in Germany. He emphasized the importance of physiotherapy in public health and encouraged stakeholders to recognize the profession as an integral component of comprehensive healthcare services. The event provided a platform for discussions on reducing disability and pain while highlighting the role of physiotherapy.
Key points
- The Kano State government is taking steps to address the shortage of speech physiotherapists by sponsoring physiotherapists for specialized training.
- The state government has expanded physiotherapy units across four of its hospitals and plans to establish a centre of excellence in physiotherapy.
- The Nigeria Society of Physiotherapy is advocating for the approval of a national rehabilitation policy and the release of the Doctor of Physiotherapy scheme of service in the health sector.
