Teaching Hospital to establish first Geriatrics Centre in the North
Geriatrics is a field of medicine which deals with advanced medical care of elderly patients and social interventions needed by the aged patients.
Prof. Abba Sheshe, the Chief Medical Director, Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital (AKTH), says the hospital will soon establish the first Geriatrics Service Centre in Northern Nigeria.
Sheshe said this on Tuesday while receiving members of a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), Elderly Care Support Initiative, who paid him a courtesy visit.
He explained that the hospital had five consultants for Family Medicine and Internal Medicine Departments, with sub-specialty in Geriatrics.
'The Centre is about eighty per cent accomplished.
"Geriatrics is a field of medicine which deals with advanced medical care of elderly patients and social interventions needed by the aged patients.
"The care given to the aged reduces stress effects like depression and idleness found among them."
Earlier, the founder of the NGO, Dr Anas Ibrahim, said the aim of the visit was to engage the hospital management and community on care for the aged and elderly.
Ibrahim said: "We are here concerning the main goal of promoting physical, social and psychological wellbeing of the neglected elderly.
"I solicit for synergy with the hospital in providing professional services required by the elderly and their care providers."
Also commenting, the Chairman, Medical Advisory Committee of the hospital, Prof. Auwal Gajida, assured the delegation that AKTH would ensure that the elderly received the professional care they needed.
He called on the organisation to create more awareness, as geriatrics is a new branch of study in the country.