Investment Needed in Pediatric Imaging for Child Health

Prof. Mojisola Atalabi, a radiologist at the University of Ibadan, has called for increased investment in pediatric imaging to enhance healthcare for children in Nigeria.

During her inaugural lecture titled "Spin: The Invisible Ray of Pediatric Imaging," she warned that inadequate imaging infrastructure and a shortage of trained specialists are compromising the quality of healthcare available to Nigerian children. Atalabi highlighted that the radiation doses administered to children during radiographic examinations and cranial CT scans in Nigeria are significantly higher than internationally accepted diagnostic reference levels.

She advocated for the wider use of safer imaging techniques such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and ultrasound, which do not expose children to unnecessary ionizing radiation. Atalabi also discussed innovative techniques that can reduce the need for surgery and anesthesia, allowing children to return home within 24 hours without surgical scars.

Her research has influenced patient management in various areas, including stroke diagnosis and childhood malaria.