The average Nigerian faces a far greater burden of disease compared to their counterpart in Europe and North America -------Dr. Ade -Conde Adetunji James
The average Nigerian faces a far greater burden of disease compared to their counterpart in Europe and North America -------Dr. Ade -Conde Adetunji James
Dr. Ade Conde Adetunji James)MBBS FRCOG FRCSC FACOG is a medical doctor and social critics cum economic commentator.
Dr. Ade-Conde spoke with Murphy Ajibade Alabi on many medical issues in Nigeria nay Africa and his submission was as interesting as ever
What is your or can I say how has your Professional Journey and Experience in Reproductive Health?
I began my training in reproductive health in Ireland in 2002. Upon graduation as a young doctor, I entered the role of a Non-Consultant Hospital Doctor (NCHD), which is a pathway where doctors gain experience and receive mentorship from senior consultants. My early career involved working as a Clinical Health Officer (CHO) or Senior Health Officer, during which I received essential instruction and developed hands-on experience under the guidance of consultants.
As part of this training pathway, I challenged the specialty exams with the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Successfully passing these rigorous exams indicated my readiness to pursue specialist training. Subsequently, I was accepted into a highly competitive higher specialist training program in Obstetrics and Gynecology in Ireland, which selects only 5 to 6 candidates across the country. Fortunately, due to fewer Irish-born candidates at the time, I had the privilege of being admitted. This program equipped me with the Certificate of Completion of Specialist Training (CCST), and I also completed a fellowship program specializing in Human Reproduction and Assisted Conception.
What has been your roles as a specialist and obstetrician and gynaecologist?
In my role as a specialist obstetrician and gynecologist, my focus extends across a woman’s reproductive lifespan—from conception through to post-reproductive years. My expertise includes preparing women for egg production and retrieval, fertilizing eggs with male gametes, and culturing the resulting embryos to the blastocyst stage. The blastocyst is then transferred to the intending mother, who will carry the baby to term.
While my practice does not extend to adolescent gynecology, it encompasses a broad spectrum of female reproductive healthcare, including treatment for menstrual disorders, management of pre-invasive diseases of the reproductive tract, treatment of prolapse and various gynecological surgeries. I also address pelvic tumors, particularly benign tumors, and bring experience in minimally invasive surgery—a field still developing in Nigeria.
Are you saying Nigeria is catch up ?
In Nigeria, centers in Lagos and Abuja are gradually adopting minimally invasive approaches, enabling women to undergo many benign surgeries laparoscopically or with minimal incisions. However, in many parts of the country, surgeries for conditions such as fibroids or uterine tumors continue to rely on the traditional open approach. There is great potential for advancing surgical methods to reduce morbidity, and as skill and confidence grow in the field, we can hope to deliver these services in a more modern and less invasive manner.
From your own perceptive point. What is a major challenge in Nigeria healthcare?
A major challenge in Nigerian healthcare is the lack of effective data management and record-keeping. Unlike international counterparts, many teaching hospitals and federal medical centers do not publish annual reports. As a result, we lack accurate records on deliveries, maternal morbidity, and mortality rates. Publishing these figures on an annual basis would allow for comparison with similar institutions worldwide, offering insights into performance and identifying areas for improvement.
This progress in transparency and data management, combined with advancements in minimally invasive techniques, could significantly elevate healthcare standards in Nigeria and provide measurable outcomes that align with international best practices.
