National Wire About Nigerians, Nigerian Business and Other Stories
Olabode Adaramola
The Chairman, Niger state branch of Diabetes Association of Nigeria and President of Podiatry Foundation of Nigeria, Dr. Yahaya Nau’zo has explained that podiatric medicine can save 6 million limbs and 3 million lives in Nigeria.
Nau’zo, who is a United States trained podiatric medicine specialist, stated this during an interactive session with Journalists on Sunday in Minna the state capital .
According to him, Podiatry or podiatric medicine is a branch devoted to the study, diagnosis, medical and surgical treatment of disorders of the foot, ankle and leg in the United States of America, alongside orthopedic doctors.
Nau’zo explained further that diabetes is the major cause of people having their legs,arms amputated, adding that about 65percent of diabetes patients get their legs amputated while 25 percent death were attributed to diabetes and due for amputation.
“Diabetes is a disease of having excessive sugar in the blood, that is if the sugar level is not regulated, it becomes a problem by gradually damaging some organs in the body.
“You are 25 percent more likely to die in Nigeria today if you are living with diabetes while some end up having their legs and arms amputated and 50 percent eventually die within 3 years after,” he said.
He said orthopedic doctors come to see patients living with diabetes at the time of amputation but podiatrist when available could prevent the damage that would lead to amputation of lower limbs in diabetics.
He noted that endocrinologists were doctors trained to manage blood sugar levels in diabetic patients in Nigeria, but cannot manage other problems associated with diabetes such as amputation and blindness.
According to him, diabetes care in Nigeria today involves not only managing of sugar level, but involves podiatry care which is caring for the feet and detecting other symptoms such as amputation problem, level of damage to the heart, kidney, and eyes.
He pointed out that it is unfortunate that podiatry care is not recognized in Nigeria due to low exposure in the field as medical schools don’t train doctors in podiatry specialty.
He added that podiatric medicine is a field that prevents, diagnose and treat ailments of the feet and ankle, adding that podiatry doctors help to prevent ailment that could start showing evidence in the foot of people living with diabetes.
He said podiatry medicine helps to reduce amputation rates in diabetic patients, but it’s not recognized in Nigeria due to lack of exposure in the field, hilighting that a group of podiatry doctors from Nigeria trained in the United States were ready to expose the country to podiatry medicine.
Nau’zo said the podiatry doctors had written to the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) seeking for recognition of podiatry medicine and was waiting for MDCN to make it legal to bring life-saving specialty in Nigerian.
He said podiatry medicine if recognized would benefit the country by introducing podiatry in medical schools and training healthcare workers on how to screen and attend to diabetic patients.
He, however, advised people living with diabetes to always examine their feet daily and visit healthcare facilities once they notice any sores on their skin.
