Expert Advocates Preventive Healthcare Policy

A Professor of Neuro Science at the Rivers State University College of Medicine, Prof. Blessing Jaja, has stressed the need for a preventive healthcare policy rather than the current cure system.
In an exclusive chat with The Tide, Prof. Jaja said that any health care system aimed at preventing disease is more efficient and will reduce pressure on the sector.
The university don opined that currently the healthcare system has more challenges caused by poor facility and manpower hence efforts should be made to engage the citizens on disease prevention.
“We should start thinking of  preventative services- the whole healthcare system should be geared towards disease prevention,” he declared.
Against this backdrop, he suggested that non governmental organisations have key role to play in this regard by engaging the populace through education and enlightenment.
Prof. Jaja emphasised, “ We have not harnessed the capacity of the private sector to contribute to health care. I think there is need for a kind of entrepreneurial synergy between government agencies and those in the private practice.”
Explaining further on disease prevention, Prof Jaja stated that it is much cheaper to manage disease prevention than cure, while explaining that enlightenment is key in disease prevention.
He added that most ailments such as high blood pressure, diabetes,arthritis and stress could be handled properly with effective education of the patients as this will arm them with knowledge on how to manage themselves.

By: Kevin Nengia