No one would ever dispute the importance of paramedics in any part of the world. They give basic first aid, splint fractures, give 02 and others if necessary, take vital signs, and still get basic history and quick general examination to the emergency doctors at the tertiary care...

as a doctor, i respect paramedics.....

Half of deaths in hospitals in Nigeria would be averted if there's a functional paramedical system.

But how can the paramedical system even function when the medical system barely exits in Nigeria?

U go first get land before u go begin build house na.

The Nigerian health system/structure needs a total overhaul.

The health sector itself is a missing link

We can never have a functional paramedic without an emergency response system. Apart from Lagos state, which other state has an EMT?

Did you read this part in the right up "It is pertinent to note that a close look at the history of paramedics professionals, shows that every other health professional like doctors, nurses, pharmacists, radiographers can function perfectly well as a paramedic, EXCEPT the MEDICAL LABORATORY SCIENTIST". [quote author=seXytOhbAd post=52458079]The write up was looking intelligent initially, till you brought up the NMA and her allies. That was where you started sounding myopic and quite silly. The paramedic health sector has not been fully established and you are already becoming polarized. Anyway, I'd like to ask you some questions. What is the guarantee that someday, the paramedic or emergency health workers won't go on strike when needed the most? Who is responsible for the initial training, regulation and discipline of paramedical workers? Because if they are to relieve SOME of the physician work load, and all medical doctors are expected to be able to do ALL emergency health protocols, what is the guarantee that we will not hear silly headlines later on about paramedics acting as doctors? There is a reason why there are A&E (Casualty) doctors. This is because no matter how advanced your life support training is, a paramedic CANNOT replace a doctor. If you don't believe, when on a flight, you hear the call for a doctor, stand up as a paramedic and watch your pride get dashed. I am not castigating or demeaning any profession, and I believe In teamwork, but doctors often get bashed for caring too much about patient health safety in Naija.
There is a reason why our health sector has not been diverse enough to create new jobs, and that is not because of the NMA. It is simply because our leaders are too busy spending 600M on Christmas lighting and such spending cannot sustain growth. Couple that with our bad roads, traffic holdups, and bad guys who may want to help you people "hold" the van in rough neighborhoods, you start to see why it is not working. Nice write up though.

The Nigerian factor and the battle for supremacy between all the health workers will be an issue.

It will be a miracle if the Nigerian health care system can actually work in synergy but with all these bickering and "I own the patient you don't ". accusations and counter accusations by each of the health workers It may not last. Before you know what's happening it now be doctors vs paramedics, nurses vs paramedics ,pharmacists vs paramedics.

Nigerian health care system is in shambles already.

If all of them can put their ego aside and actually do their job it will work.

It seems only Lagos has an emergency medical system, and a lot of lives will be saved in emergency situations if this is replicated all over Nigeria.

The Lagos system also needs more coverage and improvement I think. One should be able to call if someone has an emergency situation at home and the ambulance will come over, but it seems it's only for road accidents.

How does the laboratory scientist that takes and analyses body samples under the direction and supervision of a doctor come into this issue biko nu?

OP you've done well by talking of the need of para medics but bringing in the lab science man into this play is a no no!

ability19:
MEDICATIONS ADMINISTERED BY PARAMEDICS.
Paramedics in most jurisdictions administer a variety of emergency medications. The specific medications they are permitted to administer vary widely, based on local standards of care and legal restrictions, and physician or medical director preferences. For an accurate description of permitted drugs or procedures in a given location, it is necessary to contact that jurisdiction directly. A representative list of medications may commonly include: Analgesic medications such as aspirin, ketorolac and paracetamol, used to relieve pain or decrease nausea and vomiting. Narcotics like morphine, pethidine, fentanyl, and dilaudid, used to treat severe pain, such as with burns and fractures. Adenosine, calcium channel blockers Diltiazem and Verapamil used to slow down excessively high heart rates. Parasympatholytic drug such as Atropine, used to speed up slow bradycardia heart rates. Sympathomimetics[6] such as dopamine, dobutamine, norepinephrine, and epinephrine used for severe hypotension (low blood pressure), cardiogenic shock and septicemia. D50W (a solution of 50% dextrose in water), used to treat hypoglycemia (low blood sugar). Sedatives like midazolam, lorazepam, and etomidate, used to reduce the irritability or agitation of patients. Paralytics such as succinylcholine, rocuronium, and vecuronium, used when an emergency procedure such as rapid sequence intubation (RSI) is required. Antipsychotics like haloperidol or ziprasidone, used to sedate combative patients. Respiratory medications such as salbutamol, Ipratropium bromide and methylprednisolone, used to treat conditions such as asthma and acute bronchitis. Cardiac medications such as nitroglycerin, aspirin, and morphine, fentanyl used to treat cardiac ailments such as angina and heart attacks. Antiarrhythmics such as amiodarone, lidocaine and magnesium sulfate used to treat cardiac arrhythmias such as ventricular tachycardia and ventricular fibrillation. Antiemetics such as promethazine or ondansetron used for nausea and vomiting. Naloxone used to treat opioid drug overdose and flumazenil..

In the Nigerian health system, the fight for superiority, and the fear for the sudden emergence of the Medical Laboratory Scientist has evolved into unbridled calumny and the use of such words as mediocrity, paramedicas as a weapon of PROFESSIONAL WARFARE by the NMA and her allies to attack other noble professions in the health sector in Nigeria. It is pertinent to note that a close look at the history of paramedics professionals, shows that every other health professional like doctors, nurses, pharmacists, radiographers can function perfectly well as a paramedic, EXCEPT the MEDICAL LABORATORY SCIENTIST. The evidence is clear as stated above based on the duration of training, certificate obtained, general skills as well as medications administered by paramedics. So in Nigeria, the term PARAMEDICS is misinterpreted and misapplied because of selfishness and arrogance. In Nigeria today, based on what happens in the UK, US, Canada, Australia, I cannot see any form of paramedics activity established by law through the act of legislation in our hospitals. It is very important to mention that NEMA is in the fore front of coordinating paramedics activities in the case of emergency responses. In which have been tested over time that the so called coordinator general of NEMA is nt even a PARAMEDIC.#the_NIGERIAN_FACTOR.

For clarity’s sake, based on history and on the realities on ground in Nigeria:
Paramedics are pre-hospital in function, they are community, district or state based. They perform some procedures that physicians are supposed to do if their workload allows. According to the Britannica, “these paramedic workers perform routine diagnostic procedures such as the taking of blood samples and therapeutic procedures such as administering injections, or suturing wounds; they also relieve physicians of making routine health assessments and taking medical histories”.

Finally, I call on all comrades across the nation to stand their ground, on the paramedic profession, to improve and modernize medical practice and not to be subdued by it while we also inform and educate the people. I won't end this article without mentioning the BODY who has strive so well to keep the paramedic dream ALIVE in Nigeria
(The fountain of living waters). An NGO who has actually. Trained paramedics both home and abroad.
For more information about this THE PARAMEDIC and ME. Follow us on facebook. Prevention medicine ( the paramedic and me)
website:http://www.paramedicstudentng.com
Email: info@paramedicstudentng.com
Phone number:+234 706 509 4985

How does the laboratory scientist that takes and analyses body samples under the direction and supervision of a doctor come into this issue biko nu?

OP you've done well by talking of the need of para medics but bringing in the lab science man into this play is a no no!

Besides I don't understand this issue of fight over superiority. Who is fighting who abeg?

lookingfly:
Did you read this part in the right up "It is pertinent to note that a close look at the history of paramedics professionals, shows that every other health professional like doctors, nurses, pharmacists, radiographers can function perfectly well as a paramedic, EXCEPT the MEDICAL LABORATORY SCIENTIST".

You're quite silly. Did the holidays wipe your brain? The op wants a separate sector for paramedics and you're there asking stupid questions. BTW, no doctor, or certified nurse will want to work as a paramedic. Stop quoting me if you have stupid questions to ask.

ehn....a medical lab scientists cn nt act as a paramedic because we ar above DAT.....pple ar jst so ignorant abt d medical lab....dey blve we ar jst to collect blood....stupid fellows

I never knew we had paramedics in Nigeria,
tnx for this enlightenment

Not only paramedics are missing. Lots more missing........

Compliment of the season guys. The tread wasn't target to any body just clearing the air and informing people that's all.... I love the critics though I expected a lot of them. but once again the information as already been passed across Thanks

zhyzhy:
How does the laboratory scientist that takes and analyses body samples under the direction and supervision of a doctor come into this issue biko nu?

OP you've done well by talking of the need of para medics but bringing in the lab science man into this play is a no no!






How does the laboratory scientist that takes and analyses body samples under the direction and supervision of a doctor come into this issue biko nu?

OP you've done well by talking of the need of para medics but bringing in the lab science man into this play is a no no!

Besides I don't understand this issue of fight over superiority. Who is fighting who abeg?

Miss- type man!

Too long post. FYI if it's not medicine, it is a paramedic. Nobody should quote me.

Nice write up Mr OP (ability19), I really love this write up this is a key area we must key into in the health sector. But I'd like to call you out on some of the points you raised.

1. If an accident victim is having profuse blood loss as a result of the accident sustained, who determines his blood type, percentage and if need for a transfusion who does the matching with other available blood?

2. How do you come by the aetiology of the chest pain if proper investigation isn't done to differentiate Angina from MI?

3. During trauma, who checks the electrolyte level of the victim to be the there isn't any compromise in the body's physiology?

You still don't believe a Medical Laboratory Scientist is there for specific reasons do you?

4. By training, do you know the duration of training a MEDICAL LABORATORY SCIENTIST and their certification?

In the Nigerian health system, the fight for superiority, and the fear for the sudden emergence of the Medical Laboratory Scientist has evolved into unbridled calumny and the use of such words as mediocrity, paramedicas as a weapon of PROFESSIONAL WARFARE by the NMA and her allies to attack other noble professions in the health sector in Nigeria. It is pertinent to note that a close look at the history of paramedics professionals, shows that every other health professional like doctors, nurses, pharmacists, radiographers can function perfectly well as a paramedic, EXCEPT the MEDICAL LABORATORY SCIENTIST. The evidence is clear as stated above based on the duration of training, certificate obtained, general skills as well as medications administered by paramedics

ayodiya:
do you think Nigerian doctors and their arrogance willl allow paramedics to function optimally?

What's the business of Nigerian doctors with paramedics?
Paramedics are the first responders who take patients from where ever, attend to them while taking them to the hospital at the same time. Paramedics most times don't work inside the ward/emergency room in a hospital. Nothing usually joins them together.
We expect paramedics to be well trained to respond to emergency situations, read and understand ecgs, etc knowing what to do, and when to do it. Its not just anyone that can pass through the proper training a paramedic undergoes. They are usually very intelligent folks. Their importance cannot be overemphasised. If you're good at your job, no one can look down on you. There are some Drs their colleagues, nurses, even health care assistants look down on because they don't know what they're doing.
For certain emergencies, the first responders usually include the paramedic, a trained emergency nurse and also a traumatologist- a Dr who's specialised in trauma mgt.
They all work together.
I think what Nigerians need are trained personnel. Whether Dr, nurse, paramedic,health care assistant. They all have defined roles.
Training and retraining of all of them, as they are the first point of contact with patients especially in emergency situations.

Can a free paramedic system be possible in our present day Nigeria?

Will Nigerians be willing to pay little for home paramedic responders?

Wow. Great

@op the real fact is the nigeria health sector needs a total restructuring. Imagine basic medical sciences like (physiology,anatomy,biochemistry) are so relegated..and even the nobel price award is shared between medicine and physiology worldwide..but the ego is just there for the doctors they will never support what will favour the masses because they will always continue to feel insecure and afraid someday you might compete with them..thanks for the enlightenment though but write from now till next year the NMA is still a determinant factor if paramedics has come to stay in Nigeria in which i am sure it is dead on arrival..

Mindsets need to change first , few know that pharmacists offer medical advice too. So as move on forward the whole health mentality has to change.

Every health care system needs them.

seXytOhbAd:
what is the guarantee that we will not hear silly headlines later on about paramedics acting as doctors? There is a reason why there are A&E (Casualty) doctors. This is because no matter how advanced your life support training is, a paramedic CANNOT replace a doctor. If you don't believe, when on a flight, you hear the call for a doctor, stand up as a paramedic and watch your pride get dashed. I am not castigating or demeaning any profession, and I believe In teamwork, but doctors often get bashed for caring too much about patient health safety in Naija.
There is a reason why our health sector has not been diverse enough to create new jobs, and that is not because of the NMA. It is simply because our leaders are too busy spending 600M on Christmas lighting and such spending cannot sustain growth. Couple that with our bad roads, traffic holdups, and bad guys who may want to help you people "hold" the van in rough neighborhoods, you start to see why it is not working. Nice write up though.

If the doctors will solely face their field and leave every other health sector alone to function and survive as they should, there won't be any need for the "first quoted question" and yes a paramedic CANNOT replace a doctor.


Also, part of the reason why our health sector has not diverse enough is because doctors don't want any other health sectors to.... The fight between doctors and lab scientist, doctors and nurses ( to mention but a few) is unending. I don't expect you to understand if you are not in health sector but believe me the struggle is real.

A body called Mobile paramedic initiative of Nigeria was started by Basic medical students of Anambra State university.

http://www.mobileparamedicsng.com

ayodiya:
do you think Nigerian doctors and their arrogance willl allow paramedics to function optimally?

I think u shud read d 1st comment. If u still don't understand then good luck 2 u

frenchwine:
@ability19, you have done well to enlighten us as to the role of paramedics in health care delivery. Of a truth, they're indispensable and they would be helpful in meeting the MDGs especially considering our set up as a nation with lots of rural dwellers. Sadly, putting the Nigerian factor into consideration, this isn't the case, ironically, they contribute more to mortality and morbidity , notably maternal and child mortality. Let's take a few instances :
> CHEWS could also qualify as paramedics, who are supposed to bridge the gap and render first aid. Sadly with the decadence in our health sector and greed and wickedness which characterises our lifestyle, you have these guys managing cases which should have been promptly referred to the next level of care. It's at the point they have tried all the tricks known to them and the patient is deteriorating that they then refer. At which point they would have already drained patient's resources.
Sometimes it's when patient is gasping at the middle of the night that they hurriedly send them to general hospital.

> The most painful is women in labor. A woman who has been in labor for 2days(obstructed labour), already with oedematous cervix, these guys keep pumping oxytoxin to "force the labour". Inadvertently, they rupture that uterus. Countless instances in which they attempt vaginal delivery in an USS diagnosed abruptio or placenta previa. That's a short cut to death.
Soo many atrocities, but let me give the poster below a chance to say something

Concur, 100%.
For 9ja, wey P. hD holder dey claim Dr, tear pipu belle anyhow!
I've seen it all. Most painful thing is d fact dat they wuddav sucked dem dry b4 they send dem away.
They sure av a place, buh not until d regulatory bodies wakeup 2 their responsibilities.

This isn't something new and not pertaining to the health sector alone. Even in Agriculture sector, There is fight for superiority between the Vet doctors and Animal health technologist and this has also lead to clash of duties..

All I know is Nigeria will be great soon..
God bless Nigeria

Paramedics will be a good addition to healthcare services in Nigeria.

However, after stabilizing the patient. which hospital will they carry the patient to?

Hospitals that don't have equipment or gloves or beds?

Nigeria is a very complex country where we try to fix problems upside down. I don't blame the people trying to do what they can, because when the things are bad at the top, you can only expect chaos at the bottom.

The whole health care sector, just like every other sector is underfunded. Doctors are leaving the country and the gap is being filled by quacks.

Medical training has also declined.

PhoenixReal:



If the doctors will solely face their field and leave every other health sector alone to function and survive as they should, there won't be any need for the "first quoted question" and yes a paramedic CANNOT replace a doctor.


Also, part of the reason why our health sector has not diverse enough is because doctors don't want any other health sectors to.... The fight between doctors and lab scientist, doctors and nurses ( to mention but a few) is unending. I don't expect you to understand if you are not in health sector but believe me the struggle is real.

A body called Mobile paramedic initiative of Nigeria was started by Basic medical students of Anambra State university.

http://www.mobileparamedicsng.com

Another idiot who rushes into an argument without reading and processing.

Teamwork among health workers in Nigeria has failed. Instead of a symbiosis where everyone works together towards achieving a goal, we have disunity. If the paramedics see medical Drs as their challenge to widespread acceptance, instead of jumping into baseless conclusion and going against them, why not try to unite with them and get acceptance? Most medical doctors know about the importance of emergency medical technicians or paramedics and will welcome them if properly certified. By the way, your website sucks.

seXytOhbAd:


Another idiot who rushes into an argument without reading and processing.

Teamwork among health workers in Nigeria has failed. Instead of a symbiosis where everyone works together towards achieving a goal, we have disunity. If the paramedics see medical Drs as their challenge to widespread acceptance, instead of jumping into baseless conclusion and going against them, why not try to unite with them and get acceptance? Most medical doctors know about the importance of emergency medical technicians or paramedics and will welcome them if properly certified. By the way, your website sucks.

Man can u stop been so insultive is nt worth it. He spoke his mind you speaking for ur self alone nt the crowd every one is entitled to his own opinion sir. There is no cause for alarm. Talking about team work. We all must. Strive for the betterment of the medical profession nt castigating any body. Every one speaks base on what he encountered. And the present situation of this I didn't create this topic for quarrel sir is actually to enlighten people. And also to let them know the barriers. The profession tends to face! Thanks sir for ur understanding PEACE

this is why Nigerian Red Cross Society need to be equipped. NRC members are well trained in paramedics aspect in which I can boost off.
#proudly_red_crosser
#i_am_a_firstaider

Red_cross per say can't do everyting that's. A voluntary organisation in develop countries there are red cross. And yet there is Emergency management service. With. Well mounted paramedics at each location should in case emergency arises. Am nt against red cross they are doing grate but nigerian government must do something concerning this situation year in year out. FRSC takes record of death cases and. Actually do nt also tell them the need of emerency management agency just. Last year. ASUU UNIBEN chapter lost 3 of their lecturer all. Becos of no emergency medical service. Which is nt suppose to be so we can't nt actually avert. Accident from happening but rather reduce it occurrence and let say it happens we reduce mortality rate Stabilising and transporting. Them as appropriate. All hands must be on deck for the advocacy. Of emergency management agency in every state and. Not just a single state #lagos.