By Ankeli Emmanuel (In Sokoto State)
The College of Health Sciences (CHS) of Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital (UDUTH) Sokoto, at the weekend, held it's maiden scientific conference and annual general meeting.
At the opening ceremony, the College Provost and Chairman Local Organizing Committee, Professor Ahmed Sule Saidu, disclosed his welcome address, that CHS has made tremendous progress from when it was a college by name to now that it runs a full fledged collegiate system.
"The College of Health Sciences has consequently grown from about 9 departments and only MBBS as the only programme the college started to 34 departments and 8 undergraduate as well as several post graduate degree programmes".
While noting that UDUTH CHS is one of the most sought after by prospective Medical and Allied Health students, Processor Saidu, affirmed that products of the college compare favourably with others from famous and reputable medical schools across the globe, both in character, learning, professional competence and compliance with ethics.
Continuing, Professor Saidu reminded the audience that tertiary education in Nigeria is currently at a crossroads, as government can no longer provide all the needs, hence the need for alumni, philanthropists, stakeholders and PTAs to contribute their own quota in advancing it.
Delivering his keynote lecture on the theme of the conference, "Challenges of Health Sciences Education In The 21st Century" with sub theme, "The Role of Alumni In The Development Of Institutions", a consultant and professor of Paediatrics Neurology, Processor Hamidu said, education funding, employment and deployment of health workforce constitutes major challenge to the Heath system.
Professor Hamidu who is a former Provost of UDUTH, Sokoto College of Health Sciences and has practiced medicine for 45 years, further decried that the health system in Nigeria is relatively weak. He added that, "building health facilities without adequate manpower is a waste of resources".
While noting that every member of the health workforce matters and should be treated with respect, Professor Hamidu also warned Nigerians about it's geometric population growth, saying that, "Nigeria's raising population has increased the country's vulnerability to climate change".
Chairman of the scientific conference, Dr Nasiru Sani Gwarzo who is the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, in his opening remarks, admitted that government alone cannot fund almost every project, hence the need to look into the alumni strategy of getting things done.
On his part, the Guest of Honour, Dr Yusuf Tanko Sununu, who is the House of Representative Member, Yauri, Shanga, Ngaski Federal Constituency of Kebbi State, in a goodwill message, said the health of Nigerians remain his priority as a Federal lawmaker.
Sununu further appealed to the electorates to encourage progressive minded people to be at the National Assembly.
Addressing the conference, the Chief Host and Vice Chancellor of Usmanu Danfodiyo University (UDUS) Sokoto, Professor Lawal Bilbis, represented by the Deputy Vice Chancellor (DVC) Research, Innovation and Development, Professor Yusuf Saidu, said, "'Our approach to practicing medicals must continually change and evolve to meet the challenges of the 21st century"'.
In his appreciation, the Chief Medical Director of UDUTH, Professor Anas Ahmad Sabir, lamented that doctors are massively leaving Nigeria.
"This is a very big danger for our hospitals. We cannot sustain medical expertise without manpower. Virtually, everybody in our nuclear medicine have gone abroad", he noted.
A statement by the National Secretary General, Associate Professor, Abdulgafar Jimoh, hinted that the college of health sciences maiden scientific conference and alumni AGM came to an end with the election of Processor Muhammed Oche as the new pioneer President, while UDUTH Vice Chancellor, Professor Anas Ahmad Sabir will serve as Vice President.
Other elected pioneer executives of UDUS CHS Alumni Association also include, Associate Professor Abdulgafar Jimoh as Secretary General; Dr Ahmad Shehu Muhammad (Deputy Secretary General), while Dr Asmau Wali is to serve as Assistant Secretary General.
Professor Mairo Hassan was elected Treasurer, Dr Abdul Baba Abdullahi (Financial Secretary); Dr Bello Kwatarkwashi as Public Relations Officer 1, Dr Aliyu Hamza Balarabe Public Relations Officer 2 and Dr Ibrahim Abubakar Umar, Internal Auditor.
Both Dr Sufyanu Omar Yabo, Professor Ismaila Arzika Mungadi and Professor Sahabi are to serve as organizing Secretary, Ex-officio 1 and Ex-officio 2 respectively. NNL.