NiSIR ACTIVITIES

NiSIR ACTIVITIES 

1. Statutory activities:

1. The organisation of annual congresses, scientific meetings and various educational activities;
2. The publication of a biannual journal;
3. The circulation of NiSIR official biannually journal, ‘Nigerian Journal of Interventional Radiology’ among all members and international scientific community via the online version;
4. The promotion of Interventional Radiology at appropriate forums especially in the West African Sub-region.

1. Long-Term Activities

In the pursuit of its objectives, NiSIR aimed not only to address but to also provide suggestions and solutions regarding the important issues which currently face Interventional Radiology by adopting more of an active role within the radiological industry and the government and its relevant agencies. In order to achieve its aim, the Society’s on-going long-term activities include:

1. The promotion of Interventional Radiology to young doctors;
2. The establishment of formal fellowship program, accredited by the National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria and the West African College of Surgeons
3. The encouragement of appropriate recognition for Interventional Radiology from the industry;
4. The communication to relevant authorities of problem areas within Interventional Radiology.
5. International recognition of interventional radiology fellowship/licensing form Nigeria.
6. Affiliation with more experienced sister organizations regionally and globally for the purpose of advancement of the science and practice of cardio-vascular and interventional radiology in Nigeria and beyond.

NISIR justify and advocate for the establishment of the at least six IR reference centers (one per each geo-political zone) in Nigeria.

NiSIR Advocacy to Minister of Health ( Recommendations)

1. The federal government to kindly consider equipping all teaching hospitals and federal medical centers with diagnostic Radiologic equipment of Computed Tomography (CT) and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), where they are unavailable.
2. To provide C-arm fluoroscopy machine with digital subtraction facilities to all the teaching hospitals and federal medical centers across the country. This will not only support interventional radiology services but also support the wide range of services offered by cario-thoracic surgeons, urologists, neuro-surgeons and orthopaedic surgeons.
3. To support creation of six reference interventional radiology centers, one in each of the six geo-political zones and at the National Hospital Abuja. These centers will be equipped with the following:

1. Full-fledge angiography/catheter laboratory machine with required accessories and continuous flow of consumables
2. Microwave tumor ablation machine and probes for minimally invasive tumors (benign and malignant).
3. Special intervention and other funding options through public-private partnerships can be explored for sustainability
4. The National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) to sponsor consider supporting angiopgraphy and other interventional Radiology services in tertiary health facilities. This will allow teaming enrollees, who have to pay out of pocket or succumb to irreversible complications such as limb loss, stroke or death.