80% dentists in Abia are quacks, says NDA patron

The Nigerian Dental Association (NDA)has disclosed that 80 per cent of those practising as dentists in Abia State are quacks.

The shocking revelation was made by the patron of the association, Eze Dr Eugene Ndimele, during maiden inaugural ceremony of the association chapter held in Umuahia.

The traditional ruler, who is also a retired dentist while speaking to newsmen, blamed the existence of quacks in the state to government who should checkmate them through relevant agencies.

Eze Ndimele regretted that the association had no constitutional powers to put an end to the dangerous practices, saying only the Medical and Dentist Council of Nigeria as well as proper enlightenment programme could eliminate the ugly trend.

Speaking while inaugurating the state chapter, the national President, Dental Association, Dr Bode Ijarogbe, described noted activities of quacks in the profession as worrisome and called for urgent measures to stem the tide as quickly as possible.

Dr Ijarogbe, while congratulating the pioneer executive council in the state, charged them to be united to fish out those portraying dental profession in bad light.

In his remarks shortly after inauguration, the state chairman Dr Innocent Iwegbu, said since 1998, efforts to establish the state chapter could not come to fruition.

He decried the flourishing of quacks in dental practice in the state and assured that their activities would be stopped, just as he promised to collaborate with relevant authorities to achieve the desired goal.

Dr Iwegbu also said he would be looking forward to partnering with the state government through Ministry of Health in stamping out the activities of charlatans in dental practice and deliver Abians from the menace.

Among those honoured by NDA at the inauguration who spoke with Nigerian Tribune was the current State Chairman of Obafemi Awolowo University), Ile-Ife Alumni Association and deputy Chairman Peoples Democratic party (PDP) Abia State Chief P.C. Onyegbu who expressed delight that dental quackery was over in Abia.

The OAU Alumni chairman noted it was high time state government partnered with dental association in Abia considering the fact that the association had established its executive for the first time and gave assurance that the association had come to stay like others in medical profession and enjoined them to be focused and committed.