A Professor of Psychiatry, Prof. Femi Oyebode, on Thursday urged young psychiatry practitioners to be committed to research for development and advancement in mental health delivery.
Oyebode gave the advice at the 4th Edition of Annual Conference of the Federal Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital Yaba in Lagos.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the theme of the conference is: “Insecurity, Conflicts and the Pandemic: Impact on Mental Health”.
The don said the research was to change and influence other people’s way of thinking and perception
“What matters is the degree of commitment to the research subject. There are different case series to be researched upon by the psychiatry practitioners especially the young ones.
“The main purpose of research is to totally alter and influence other people’s way of thinking or doing things.
“You don’t have to wait until you have 500 patients or more before embarking on a research.
“Try and discover what people do not know and make them know it.
“I call on young psychiatry practitioners to venture into researches and findings; this is the only way you can contribute to the global health community and at a very high level.
“Otherwise, we will continue to remain where we are; doing things the same old way,” Oyebode said.
Prof. Akin Osibogun, Chairman of the occasion, said there was need to improve investment in health, enhance public health preparedness and response to pandemic, including health intelligence.
Osibogun also called for a strong political commitment to financing health at the federal level.
According to him, Nigeria is ranked 197 out of 201 countries in terms of quality health system; and one of the poorest countries among Africans.
Osibogun said the situation required urgent and drastic attention be paid to the nation’s health system for improvement.
He urged the local governments to take responsibility for the Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs) and invest more in them as the entry point of other health care system.
“The PHCs should be the baby of the health care system but it is now the orphan,” Osibogun said.
Earlier, the Medical Director of the hospital, Dr. Olugbenga Owoeye said that the COVID-19 pandemic heightened the risk factors generally associated with poor mental health and financial insecurity.
“It is, therefore, imperative to research into the link with mental health and effort geared toward evidence-based approach in solving the problem,” Owoeye said. (NAN)
