A 3-Day Annual Scientific Conference and General Meeting of Nigerian Association of Dermatologists (NAD) has ended in Port Harcourt, with a call on members to show more commitment in tackling occupational skin diseases and other related ailments across the country.
The Conference which took place at Beverly Hills Hotel recently, attracted big names in the medical and allied professions involved in the health-care delivery of Nigerians.
In his address at the event, NAD, Local Organizing Committee (LOC) Chairman, Dr Dasetima Altraide said that the main theme of the conference “Quality of Life in Dermatology Practice in Nigeria”, was timely and has addressed issues relating to skin challenges and treatment. He observed that the skin is the mirror to the body, noting that the quality of life of patients will be determined by the quality of their individual skin.
Dr Altraide said that the 7th Annual Scientific Conference and General Meeting of NAD in Port Harcourt has discussed on how to improve the quality of lives of patients with peculiar skin challenges.
The choice of Port Harcourt as the hub of Oil and gas he said will help people with skin challenges as a result of oil exploration and drilling activities in Port Harcourt.
In her address, the National President of NAD, Dr Bola Ogunbiyi said the host Port Harcourt, Rivers State has long been an important city, noting that today it has become the centre of Nigeria’s Oil industry.
She described the pre-conference workshop before the 7th Annual Scientific Conference as a forerunner and one that was dedicated to infections in dermatology. She said that this accounts for a significant part of cases seen in their practice. “It will be beneficial to all of us, especially our family, physician colleagues”. Dr Ogunbiyi stated.
She also noted that this year’s Conference theme:, ‘Quality of Life in dermatology patients’ ‘is a global issue. She expressed hope that dermatologists, physicians, health workers and other participants will benefit from the lectures and discussions.
The President while commending the LOC Committee for job well done, added that there will be updates on the various aspects of procedural dermatology. She said that there will be sessions that focuses on phototherapy in skin of colour, residency training in dermatology etc, which she believes would benefit all.
In an interview, the LOC Chairman Dr Altraide expressed happiness with the success of the conference and thanked members for their mass participation.
Also speaking in an interview, the Secretary of the LOC, Dr. (Mrs.) Bolaji Otike-Odibi of UPTH attributed the success of the Conference to the Level of hard work put in by members of the committee.
She said the essence is to bring practitioners together to interact, exchange knowledge and experiences as a way to advance health care of those with skin cases.
Speaking further on the benefits of the conference, she said that the skin of a human being is like a window to peep into the individual, noting that the quality of skin will therefore determine the quality of life of such an individual.
Dr. Otike-Odibi said that the conference has further afforded doctors opportunity on how best to address the challenges of patients with varied dermatology cases. ###
