Musa Na Allah Sokoto
A consultant and Professor of Paediatrics Neurology with the Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital (UDUTH), Sokoto, Prof. Hamidu Ahmad has decried that the health system in Nigeria is relatively weak due to some of the avoidable challenges confronting the nation’s healthcare delivery.
He spoke Saturday at the College of Health Sciences Scientific Conference and maiden Alumni Annual General Meeting where he warned that building health facilities without adequate manpower is a waste of resources.
While delivering a keynote lecture on the ‘Challenges of Health Sciences Education In The 21st Century’ with sub-theme, ‘The Role of Alumni in the Development of Institutions’ the Prof. said: “Building expensive health facilities and procurement of medical consumables without the manpower to take charge is a waste of national resources.”
On the factors responsible for the country’s weak health system, he divulged that it stems from the areas of education, funding, employment, and deployment of the health workforce. He further advised that every member of the health workforce matters and should be treated with respect.
He also noted that Nigeria’s rising population has increased the country’s vulnerability to climate change.
Prof. Hamidu appealed to legislators in the nation to urgently make policies that will encourage the medical workforce to stay back and serve in Nigeria rather than move abroad.
He said the battle for Supremacy between medical doctors and other health professionals is a serious concern for attaining medical excellence in Nigeria’.
He appealed to all members of the alumni to be good ambassadors of their institutions and contribute to their growth and development.
Earlier in his address, the host and Provost of the College of Health Sciences (UDUTH) Sokoto, Professor Sule Ahmed Saidu divulged that UDUTH College of Health Sciences comprises 5 Faculties, 2 advanced research centers that are integral to the college, and 34 departments, 8 undergraduate and several post-graduate degree programs.
He said the hallmark of their relationship in UDUTH CHS is industrial harmony, mutual respect, and dignity of labour in spite of professional diversity, Prof Saidu said products of the school compete favourably with other famous and reputable medical schools the world over in character, learning, professional competence and compliance with ethics.
The chairman of the occasion, Dr Nasiru Sani Gwarzo who is the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management in his opening remarks said government alone cannot fund almost every project, hence the need to look into the alumni strategy of getting things done.
The Special Guest of Honour, Dr. Yusuf Tanko Sununu, who is the House of Representative Member for Yauri, Shanga, Ngaski Federal constituency, Kebbi State in his goodwill message said the health of Nigerians will continue to remain his priority as a Federal lawmaker in the National Assembly.
Hon Sununu appealed to electorates to encourage progressive-minded people to be at the National Assembly.
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.”
While thanking dignitaries in an emotion-laden goodwill message, the Chief Medical Director of UDUTH, Professor Anas Ahmad Sabir decried that doctors are massively leaving Nigeria.
“It’s a very big danger for our hospitals. We cannot sustain medical expertise without manpower. Virtually, everybody in our nuclear medicine has gone abroad,” he noted.
