Dr. Folakemi Cole-Adeife, a Consultant Dermatologist at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, expressed concern over the lack of qualified dermatologists in Nigeria.
She pointed out that there is only one qualified dermatologist available to serve approximately one million people in the country.
These alarming statistics were shared by Dr. Cole-Adeife during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in honor of World Skin Day, which is observed yearly on July 8.
World Skin Day is a collaborative initiative between the International League of Dermatological Societies and the International Society of Dermatology.
Its primary aim is to raise awareness about various skin conditions and the existing challenges related to accessing adequate skin health care on a global scale. Dr. Cole-Adeife emphasized that this shortage of qualified dermatologists has significantly hindered the accessibility and quality of dermatological care in Nigeria.
She further highlighted the importance of skin care, underscoring that the skin serves as the body’s primary defense barrier and can provide crucial insights into one’s overall health.
The scarcity of dermatologists poses a significant obstacle to delivering effective skin healthcare services in the country, thereby affecting the well-being of the population.
She pointed out, “Every human being deserves access to dermatological care but it is unfortunate that most African countries, Nigeria inclusive, have fewer dermatologists catering to millions of people.
“In Nigeria today, we have one dermatologist to one million people and some countries are worse.
“So, we need more dermatologists, we need more people to go into dermatology training and we need more medical schools to include dermatology training.
“If you are a medical student who has an interest in dermatology, please do not give up, dermatology is a lucrative field.
“Choose dermatology as your specialty to increase access to dermatological care in the country and make a global impact with dermatological care.”
Cole-Adeife urged Nigerians to love their skin and its colour, stating, “Your skin represents you and be reminded that everybody deserves a healthy skin.”
