Scientists Call For Joint Research Collaboration

Clinical Scientists at the Faculty of Clinical Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Lagos, have called for joint collaboration in research and practice to reach the grassroots.

They made the call in Lagos on Tuesday during its 18th annual conference and gathering themed ‘A Sick Eye in a Sick Body: Multidisciplinary Team as a Research Tool’.

A Professor of Ophthalmology at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital and Head, Glaucoma Services, Adeola Onakoya, who is the guest speaker, said the conference was about the impact of collaboration.

She said that as clinicians, members look after the body of human beings, adding, “And what we’re trying to say is that no one can work in isolation”.

According to her, there are different specialties in medicine, hence the need to collaborate and work together to have an integrative system to improve the healthcare system.

In her speech, the Dean, Faculty Of Clinical Science, Professor Folasade Akinsola, UNILAG, pointed out that the guest speaker went through what could be called anatomical foundations.

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“She talked about the importance of different parts of the body, likening them to the field of clinical science and medicine in general. The brain is a very important organ in the body. Once there is no brain, there is no person.

“The eyes are the offshoots of the brain and vessels that are in the eyes are vessels, which could also affect the vessels all over the body.

“If you have issues with the vessels in the eyes, then you have issues all over your entire body,” she said.

Prof. Akinsola said the issue was about joint collaboration to reach the grassroots, noting that the government must also help the specialists.

Also, Vice-Chancellor, UNILAG, Professor Folasade Ogunsola, said that the public starts with the medical community, but that they must also collaborate with civil society organisations and NGOs.

She said NGOs and civil society organisations were doing a better job of reaching and engaging the grassroots.

The VC, noted that within the hospital setting and among doctors, they are beginning to realise that they must do a lot more in working with communities.

“I am aware that there has also been a lot of push to go into the communities,” she added.