KEY NOTE ADDRESS DELIVERED BY THE REGISTRAR, MEDICAL AND DENTAL COUNCIL OF NIGERIA (MDCN) ON EVOLVING CONCEPTS IN MANAGING MEDICAL AND DENTAL HEALTH AT THE GUEST HOUSE, COVENANT UNIVERSITY, CANAANLAND, OTA, OGUN STATE ON 16TH DECEMBER, 2010.

PROTOCOLS ;
The Chairman, Dr. Kufeji, President NPMC, Guest of honor, Dr. oluyombo Awojobi MD, Awojobi Clinic, Eruwa, other invited guests, my distinguished collegues.

INTRODUCTION.
It is my sincere pleasure and honour to be invited to give the key note address to this August gathering of distinguished Medical and Dental Practitioners who have taken time out of their ever busy hospital environment to be here today to learn and share on their experiences in the evolving concepts in managing medical and dental health.

Special thanks and appreciation goes to the organisers of this Continuing Medical Education programme as it is a laudable way forward to improving the skills and knowledge of the practitioners for the overall benefit of the public. I must stress that the programme is well in line with the mandate and vision of the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria and also coming at a time when the Council, in spite of all exciting challenges, has decided that it would start enforcing the mandatory CPD programme from year 2011.  This implies that the issuance of practicing License beginning from year 2012 would no longer be automatic but doctors would have to satisfy the Council that they have updated their knowledge and skills in the various disciplines and have acquired 20 credit units from a recognised CPD provider.

Doctors all over the world today (21st Century) cannot afford not to update their skills and knowledge in this ever dynamic world of ours and increasing interest and awareness of our patient to their medical and dental problems. Indeed the health care delivery and practices in the world is moving at a fast pace and Nigeria cannot afford to lag behind any longer.

It is true that the Nigerian environment is a very challenging and peculiar one, but we as doctors must always be reminded of the Hippocratic oath we took as doctors to ensure that we sacrifice our lives to the service of humanity.

EVOLVING CONCEPTS IN MANAGING MEDICAL AND DENTAL HEALTH

The question a lay man might ask is; why should the concept of Medicine/Dentistry change when the human body is the same, but as doctors and scientists we do know that all living things have life and lifespan. Our job as healthcare providers is to ensure that the lives entrusted into our care are not only improved in quality but are protected, even though we all know that death is inevitable. As doctors we must strive to improve and overcome all the challenges that might make the life of our patients uncomfortable.

Research into various forms of management of health challenges of our patient is very imperative and Government at all levels must be at the fore front of medical research. Carrying out research works is quite expensive and could be frustrating if adequate support is not given to the researcher. Most form of management undertaken by doctors all evolved from continued research by our fathers and senior colleges in the profession.

Today the world has grown into a village where interactions and information have become very easy to obtain by just a click of a button. Medicine and Dentistry can now be studied and practiced on line, via telemedicine. Medical tourism has come to stay providing both patients and doctors the opportunity to get expert care and experiences. The MDCN in the area of tourism has continued to encourage medical Missions and encouraging Nigerian doctors in the diasporas to come home and give a little back to their communities.

Today there have been remarkable advances in patient care in all the major discipline of Medicine and Dentistry, with much other progress in the subspecialties of the profession. Major organ transplant is being practiced by specialist today across the globe with Nigeria not an exception.

CONCLUSION

It is my sincere hope and belief that all who have taken time out of their busy schedules would find this CPD programme being put together by the organizers beneficial to themselves and their patients. It is hoped that it would further increase our awareness of change/advances in the various discipline of medicine and Dentistry and also remind us that we can not be left behind, hence the need for all practitioners to ensure that on a continuous basis they take personal intrest to update their skills and knowledge in the profession for the good and benefit of mankind.

Thank you.

Dr. Abdulmumini Ibrahim
Registrar, MDCN