Its President, Dr. Akintayo Oguntona, said the treatment of rheumatic health conditions had become more expensive, including the drugs.Tagged: The Burden and Management of Rheumatic and Musculoskeletal Disease in low Resources Setting, he said: “The congress was an opportunity for rheumatologists to discuss topical issues affecting them.”
The Patron of Rheumatologists in Nigeria, Prof. Olufemi Adelowo, said the congress would have been held earlier but for COVID-19 pandemic. Adelowo said medical science has, however, risen to the management of these conditions, starting with the discovery of steroids, immunosuppressive and biologics. The Patron said NSR had grown from a single rheumatologist in the 80s, 90s, to about 60 presently. There is also a paediatric rheumatologist, the first in West Africa, however, many home-trained rheumatologists have also left to seek greener pastures in the United Kingdom, United States of America, Canada and Saudi Arabia.