Long-term effects of Covid-19 can cause lingering health problems, according to the Society of Family Physicians of Nigeria (SOFPON).
The president, SOFON, Prof. Musa Dankyau, speaking at the 25th annual general and scientific conference Wednesday in Abuja, said family physicians that were the first contact of care for most patients accessing private and public health facilities in Nigeria had been working tirelessly to reduce the scourge of the pandemic in Nigeria.
“As family physicians, we are primary care physicians, as we provide first contact care, comprehensive care, continued care and coordinated care for Nigerians. What this means is that Family Doctors help Nigerians to prevent diseases and if they need to see a surgeon or a gynaecologist, for instance, they coordinate that care. That is why we call ourselves unique,” he said.
Speaking on the theme of the conference, “The Family Physician and the Challenges of Transiting the Covid-19 Pandemic,” the president said at the early stage of the pandemic, the prevalence was high and as such many Nigerians were affected.
“As family physicians, being the first and last persons a patient sees, we tend to see the first cases as they come and when others have done their work, we are still there with the patient who may likely have a long-term complaint.
“We are not giving up on them. We will be with them until our patients are okay medically, because we are trained to provide comprehensive, continuing care and coordinated care to individuals and families within the context of their communities in Nigeria.”
