The National Board for Technical Education has said that it will partner with the Environmental Health Council of Nigeria to address quackery in health-related specialties.

The Executive Secretary of the Board, Prof. Idris Bugaje, said this during the National Curriculum Review Workshop on Tuesday in Kaduna.

The exercise is being organised for the development of Higher National Diploma curricula options in the health specialties.

The health specialties are: environmental health; public health; epidemiology; disease control; water sanitation; and food hygiene.

Represented by Cyril Idoemena, the Director of Finance and Accounts of the board, Mr Bugaje said that such collaboration was imperative to address quackery in the health 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. 

(NAN)