25 January 2008
Lagos — Frances Omexiri, a renowned medical practitioner believes strongly that female doctors are usually more committed than their male counterparts. She spoke with ADAOBI AMAZU.
Female doctors are known to be core professionals, with ability to adapt to whatever circumstance they find themselves. Whether married or single, they are usually hardworking, even during pregnancy .
Mrs. Frances Omexiri, a medical practitioner and Deputy Medical Director of Rikky hospital and maternity, Suru Alaba Lagos State, is one of such dynamic female doctors. She told Daily Champion that her profession was a divine calling by God.
Omeziri disclosed that her seven years in medical school was glorious and wonderful years. The clinical was always an interesting day with lecturers and professors who are always anxious to infuse great knowledge in their students. One of such lecturers, she recalled, is Professor Makanjuola who later became the Vice Chancellor of Obafemi Awolowo University.
According to Omexiri, she graduated from Obafemi Awolowo University in 1982 where she studied general medicine. It is a courde that comprises all areas of medicine, like padeatric surgery, gyneacologist, optamologist - everything that has to do with human body.
"General medicine encompasses different areas of medicine, but later if you wish to futher or specialize on a particalar area, you can go for a specialist course. In my own case, I have done various training such as health programme in different communities, as well as sexuality education so as to improve more". She said.
This medical guru became an expert in her profession not only because of her medical training but because she was gingered and groomed while doing her internship and during her youths service where she was posted to a rural area in Niger state.
"The training we had was very handy when we where posted to various rural communities in Niger state where they have few doctors to attend to the patients. It was a little easier for us handling large number of patients. We had to deliver babies, work as administrators, back up doctors, and go round the wards, that was where I knew what it really means to be a doctor," she said.
As a single lady practicing medicine how was she coping with the stress in the field? Her answer was that while on training, they have been prepared to face the tough aspects and challenges of the profession.
She added that she developed a big heart for the job and doesn't feel the stress much while working as administrator or back - up doctor, it is always work and nothing else.
As a mother and wife, is it still work and no play? She responded that this time around she has to arrange whatever she have to do in the house and plan ahead of time so that she won't be chocked up.
"The training I got actually prepared me to face challenges ahead. I still remember while in the school we had pregnant students doing their work and studying at the same time but they still cope. Right now, once you plan on time, you won't find it difficult and hazardous. On several occassion , I bring my children along to office and interact with them often. I get back home immediately I finish my work though my living quarter is not far from my office. So, it's not too difficult to cope because this is what I've choosen to do". Omexiri explained
What is medicine all about? From her own perspective, "Medicine involves life, as a medical doctor you don't have time for yourself. It revolves around other people's life. You look at life from different perspective from the beginning to the end. In Christian perspective, it shows life as a part of God's creative force."
How does she feel working in the same hospital with her husband? She answered that it is not easy. Sometimes when there is a decision to be made, it is left in the husband's hand to decide.
Her words, "When it comes to making decisions in our hospital, I leave it for my husband and follow his decisions. Some times we have complex problems where a patient would prefer to see the male doctor. Most often, the female patients are always comfortable meeting me. But when there is emergency, the patient is not allowed to choose which doctor that will attend to him or her".
Speaking on general issues such as the high rate of maternal mortality in nigeria and escalating rate of caesarean operation, Omeziri stressed that the problem of maternal mortality sometimes have to do with people's ignorance and what they believe to be taboo.
As she puts it, "When we talk of ignorance of some people, It is largely responsible for the high rate of maternal mortality in this country.
Some women prefare visiting the church when they are sick and believe that they would be cured through prayers. Some take herbal medicine without going for antenatal care.When there is complication, many of them die in the process".
Omexiri said that taboo is one bad omen that is affecting Nigerian women. Some have this illusion that when you have a baby through cesarean operation it is a taboo. They hardly want to hear the mention of caesarean operation and most times they resort to other options and die in the process.
Omexiri explained the circumstances that necessitates cesarean operation, noting that she has always counselled women about cesarean operation and the conditions that can lead to it.
"As a woman I have never gone through C- section because there were no complications. But certain things could arise before that decision could be taken. Examples are pregenant women with small pelvic, long hours of labor pain, women who have terrible hypertension, when a woman is bleeding, when their is collapse of chord, a baby that is big or not well positioned in the womb, multiple pregenancy and a whole lots of them. These are the things that could lead to C- section", the medical expert narrated
Omexiri described Nigerian health system as nothing to write home about, adding that most of our hospitals are not in the best position. On the current state of the nations health system, she noted that in lagos state, government hospitals, the governor have tried in reshaping the hospitals but the only problem is the tools to work with.
She added that another problem in government hospitals is long queues and unavailability of doctors,with the result that there might be about 100 patients in a day but not more than 30 would be attended to.
Doctor Omeziri stressed that the good thing about goverment hospitals is that they have more qualified doctors but it takes them time to attend to patients. Contrarily, in private hospitals where you will be attended to but many of the doctors lack specialist experience and when their is complications they refer the patients back to government hospitals.
Omexiri's ambition over the next five years is to be a University lecturer or a professor and study in the University of London.
"I dream of being a lecturer or a professor and study in University of London. l am passionate about this dream and I believe that God will help me reach that height to explore the medical profession thoroughly".
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