The National Board for Technical Education has announced that it will collaborate with Environmental Health Council of Nigeria to combat quackery in health-care specialties.
Prof. Idris Bugaje, Executive Secretary of the Board, stated this at the National Curriculum Review Workshop on Tuesday in Kaduna.
The exercise is being organised to generate Higher National Diploma curricula alternatives in health specialties.
The health specialties include environmental health, public health, epidemiology, disease control, water sanitation, and food hygiene.
Mr Bugaje, who was represented by Cyril Idoemena, the board’s Director of Finance and Accounts, stated that such collaboration was critical in combating quackery in the healthcare profession.
“These days, you see a mechanic having a chemist shop or any other profession. It’s not proper and this is why we are reviewing the curriculum to meet the world standard,” he said.
Commending EHCON for the exercise, Mr Bugaje expressed optimism that the curriculum would meet the world standard, NBTE and the regulatory council.
Also, the Registrar of the EHCON, Dr Yakubu Baba, said the law empowered the council to regulate the practice in the specialties while the NBTE controlled the educational aspect.
Mr Baba, represented by his deputy, Dr Isah Adamu, said the council maintained long-standing relations with the NBTE to enhance its operations.
“Over the years, environmental health officers have been generalists, and the contemporary world has shown the need for skills set in specific areas in order to excel.
“The council sees the opportunity being provided by the NBTE as creating a platform for manpower skills development,” he said.
Mr Baba enjoined health practitioners to upscale and up-skill their practices to meet modern trends.
He also called for closer collaboration between the two agencies on manpower development to enhance disease prevention and control in the country.