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| Dr. L.L. Kosipere |
EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH CMD,
HOSPITAL MANAGEMENT BOARD, MINISTRY OF HEALTH,
BAYELSA STATE.
In this issue, we were privileged to present to you a scholar
and clinician. From Nigeria to Zambia to
South Africa to Egypt and the East Africa; he has made exploits in orthopedics
and surgery. He is an erudite health administrator, renowned for his management
skills as former Medical Director of several hospitals including the
Directorate of Medical and Dental Services in Bayelsa State Ministry of Health.
Currently he is the CMD Bayelsa State Hospital Management Board. Meet Dr. L.L. Kosipere. MBBS, M.Med., M.Ch.,
F.C.S.(ECSA); Member association of surgeons of East Africa, Member World
Orthopedic Concern, UK, Member International Society of Orthopedic Surgery and
Traumatology, Member Pan African Association of Surgeons, Member East, Central
and Southern Africa Orthopedic Association, Member AO Spine International.
Physiolight: Good morning Sir!
CMD: Good morning, you
are welcome.
Physiolight: We are from Physiolight editorial crew, may we
meet you Sir?
CMD: I am Dr. Lishman Lee Kosipere, from Kilama in Biseni, Yenagoa LGA, Bayelsa
State. Currently, the Chief Medical Director (CMD), Bayelsa State Hospital
Management Board.
Physiolight: Can you tell us about your professional
background?
CMD: I graduated from
the college of Medicine, University of Lagos 1982. I did my internship at the
then General Hospital, Port Harcourt and NYSC in Kano State. I was reabsorbed
into the civil service as medical officer in 1984 from there I rose to the rank
of senior medical officer in 1992. I proceeded to Zambia in 1993 under Nigeria
Technical Aids Corps; there I was the District Medical Officer of Lundazi
District Hospital (1993-95)…also enrolled and graduated with Masters of
Medicine (orthopedic surgery)–M.Med.(Orth) degree 1999, University Teaching
Hospital, University of Zambia, Lusaka. Masters of orthopedic surgery–M.Ch.(Orth)
2010, University of Assuit, Egypt. (He
has many years of working experience in several hospitals in Nigeria, Zambia,
South Africa and Egypt).
Physiolight: As the CMD Bayelsa State Hospital Management
Board; what is your perception on the level of awareness of physiotherapy
services in the state?
CMD: The level of
awareness in the state is very low! As at 2002 there was basically no
physiotherapy in the state enrollment. Though the number has improved, there is
distinct low awareness in the populace; very few knew the role of
physiotherapists in the management of patients alongside physicians. They patronize
local masseurs. I have personally advised many to seek physiotherapy services
in the hospitals because of level of training, equipment and superior
intervention of physiotherapists. As the number of physiotherapists keeps
increasing, I believe that people will get to know more of their roles in
patient management.
Physiolight: Few months ago, UNIBEN became the first and only
University in South-south Nigeria that train Physiotherapists; how does this
affect the number of indigenous Physiotherapists in Bayelsa State?
CMD: It is good news that
UNIBEN has started the program and being a Federal University, it will
obviously have some catchment areas which I believe Bayelsa will be part of it,
due to proximity to Benin. This will increase the chances of our own people
being admitted to read physiotherapy.
Physiolight: Ijaw people accept massage as a traditional
means of treatment. Sir, don’t you think of the possibility of opening an
academic (physiotherapy) program in Niger Delta University (Teaching Hospital) in
furtherance of global recognition of this unique culture?
CMD: It is a nice idea
but you know that opening a department will require adequate staffing and
equipment as these are important criteria for accreditation. The Niger Delta
University as at now has a medical school and a teaching hospital attached to
it. The best option is for them to open a Physiotherapy Department and improve
on it from time to time, eventually it will come to world class standard were
people can come for medical tourism from all parts of the world.
Physiolight: We observed that no healthcare institution is
currently running Physiotherapy internship program in the state, what could be
the challenges?
CMD: Yes! The thing is
that Bayelsa State has only two Tertiary Healthcare Institution; FMC Yenagoa
and NDUTH. It is the duty of these tertiary institutions to pursue internship
program in physiotherapy and this boils down to having required staff and
equipment to work with. The moment they are able to do this, I believe the
accreditation will be granted.
Physiolight: (Cut in)
…I think FMC is run by Federal Government but NDUTH is under your board, if
this issue is tabled before you, are you going to support them to get more
staff and equipment for them to be able to run the program?…
CMD: Thank you! NDUTH
was formerly under the board but presently they have gained autonomy as such I
will not be able to speak for them (all
laughs). Nonetheless, if they can achieve it, it will be of benefit to the
people of the state.
Physiolight: The merging of the Directorate of Diagnostic and
Rehabilitation Services in the State Ministry of Health is a misnomer, any plan
to unbundle the directorate soonest?
CMD: I know ‘Physio’
is under that directorate…it is not feasible to create directorate for every
professions. However, professions with large number of staff have a directorate
of their own. For instance; Medical and Dental Services, Nursing
Services,…Pharmaceutical Services etc. The problem is that when you look at the
Health Sector, Physiotherapists constitute a small number same with Med Lab
Scientists, even optometrists are grouped in that directorate although they now
graduate as Doctors. I think with time when the number of Physiotherapists increase
they may get their separate directorate to work more efficiently. That is how I
see it.
Physiolight: Recently, Physiotherapist NYSC Corp members
complained that their state allowance is less than the other health personnel
in their cadre (letter attached), what is your take on that?
CMD: The allowances
and posting of NYSC Corp Members who are health personnel is usually handled by
the Ministry of Health. It is unfair to have discrepancy in allowances of Corp Members
in the same cadre and if it is a mistake, it has to be corrected on time. Thank
you for pointing it out. I think the Ministry should be able to sort out the
problem.
Physiolight: New healthcare facilities are coming up in
Bayelsa State. Kudos to restoration agenda of the State Governor! Is your board planning to employ
Physiotherapists to fill the relevant positions?
CMD: Yes! We thank God
that the Government is building new hospitals. I am aware that there is a
referral hospital being built for every Local Government Headquarters. The
problem is that there has been no employment in the state for quite some time.
When the embargo is lifted we will surely employ Physiotherapists. Again, why
we still have few Physiotherapists in Government employment is that ‘physio’ is
usually being practiced in the department. The ideal situation is that for
every busy hospital, there should be Physiotherapists assigned to the wards
(and specialties). This will increase the number of Physiotherapists in the
hospitals. But if people continue to see Physiotherapy just as an outpatient
care, they will only be employing a minimal number.
Physiolight: May we have your last words for our readers.
CMD: Yes, I am very
impressed with what Physiolight is
doing, trying to create awareness of physiotherapy in the state. I understood from
the last edition that NYSC Corp Members are pioneering this campaign; I thank
you for this noble idea. I wish you success in your stay in Bayelsa.
Physiolight: Thanks for your time.
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