CONVERSATION 2: DENTIST and TECHNOLOGIST

Dentist: Mr John how are you?
Technologist: I am very fine and was just reminisce  on our discussions in the last meeting.
Dentist: What is it to talk about or deserving so much attention?
Technologists: Suggestions and discussions on forming a discussion group/forum to chart a new course for the future of dentistry. It was heated and interesting.
Dentist: That was a thoughtful reminder. I think we need to really discuss the future of dentistry. It cannot be done successfully except in a larger house.
Technologist: All hands must be on deck but one thing I observed is apathy towards meetings and it cut across. Sometimes I wondered what is the problem with dental professionals top to bottom
Dentist: I do agree with you but what do you think is the way out?
Technologist: Tenacity of purpose, focused leadership and mutual regard for every member of the team.
Dentist: Suggestions on a common regulatory body has been muted by some of us but how prepared are we to make this happen?
Technologist: Big question.
Dentist: In Britain a good example has been laid. Although there are dissenting voices but on average dentistry faired well. We cannot compare our dentistry with theirs in all ramifications. They have their own issues though but they were reduced to surmountable sizes.
Technologist: It will take a huge sacrifice and mutual respect. Honestly, the dental profession suppose to be the most lucrative profession given our population and the poor prevalence of oral hygiene in our population. Every human being has teeth and hence he is a potential patient.
Dentist: I am not sure we are prepared to leave Medical and dental Council. Feelers show that there are many benefits accruing to us and leaving for a general dental council might rob us of the those benefits.
Technologist: I said earlier that it will require a huge sacrifice by all. Other members of the profession already have regulatory body and if they have to merge to form a general dental council it is indeed a huge sacrifice.
Dentist: Leaders of thoughts in the dental profession would have to get the process started.
Technologist: Who then will bell the cat? I observed painfully that dental departments in our establishments nationwide are treated as second fiddle when compared with our medical counterparts. Our demands for facilities and things to work with generally are often placed behind the burner. This is obvious truth if we are prepared to face the truth. Sometimes I wonder what is the problem with the dental profession.
Dentist: Indeed we have an axe to grind.
Technologist: Let me suggest we approach some of our elders in the profession for advice. But if we eventually have a general dental council in Nigeria do we all have the right attitude and mutual respect for one another to foster a great future for dentistry?

NOISE POLLUTION

It is incredible the level of pollution we experience in our cities in Nigeria. Noise pollution is a global problem especially in cities around the world but it is annoying when noise from man made equipment which ought to be controlled is left uncontrolled.

Noise pollution from electric generators across Nigeria forms one menace that is common in knowledge to all Nigerians. Then noise from loud speakers in our bus stops from touts calling passengers' attention to various destinations is another avoidable noise that has not attracted the attention of our governments. It is apparent that no serious attention has been given to this by our governments for along time and that may be responsible for why anyone hardly talks about it. Although the previous governor of Lagos state made efforts at stopping noise from worship centres but little was achieved from this.

One important note is noise from commercial vehicles. This is indeed worrisome. I was returning home one day and the driver placed a big speaker under a seat beside me and the volume was at the highest. All entreaties to persuade the driver to reduce the volume fell on deaf ears. This is a common occurrence in Lagos. Noise from kiosk selling pirated CD of music and play from popular artistes at bus stop and various other places is no doubt a great concern to the city dwellers.

When shall we overcome this?

Another noise pollution concern that  seems unavoidable come from even homes of Nigerians who must own an electric generator as government have tried unsuccessfully to provide electricity for her teeming population.
The picture below shows some electric generators around a building where some computer operators do their businesses. The noise disturbance is better experienced than imagined.
Noise pollution seems to have become a normal thing to many Nigerians. This can be likened to a community near a refuse dump sites where stenches from the dump is no longer perceived by the inhabitants because they got used to it but were surprised when a newcomer closes his nostril when passing by. Anyone around in the community may probably wonder what is the problem with the passerby. Lagosians seem to be used to noise such that they are no longer disturbed by it. No wonder an average Lagosians are always judged as apprehensive, hypertensive and restless. A keen observer will notice this easily. Except the little attempt made by the government of Mr Raji Fashola no government has taken noise pollution serious if am not mistaken even around the country. To those who are not used to noise it is easy to be restless when in a noisy environment. The menace of noise pollution to human health and wellbeing is well established in the literature and that is why it is a huge surprise that the ministry of environment has not been doing anything about it. Do we even have a policy on noise pollution?
I attributed the aggressive behaviour of Lagos commercial bus drivers to a large extent to noise pollution. Can you imagine being exposed to noise every moment of the day? That is the life of motorists in Lagos specially bus drivers and commutters.