Prof. Hamidu Ahmad, a Lecturer and Consultant Paediatric Neurologist, has described positions rivalry and professional supremacy among healthcare practitioners as great threats to the growth and development of the sector.
Ahmad, a former Provost, College of Health Sciences, Usmanu Danfodio University, Sokoto (UDUS), stated this in a keynote address at maiden scientific conference and alumni meeting of UDUS College of Health Sciences in Sokoto.
In his paper, tagged: ”Challenges of Health Sciences Education”, the don called on government at all levels as well as stakeholders in the sector to urgently tackle the issues.
He attributed the challenges to greed, selfishness and lack of patriotism among some healthcare providers.
The retired expert lamented that in the past such attitudes were completely absent as all category of workers were working in harmony, teamwork and brotherhood without any rancour.
He stressed that such attitudes were detrimental to the growth and the development of the professions.
Ahmad advised practitioners to consider themselves as subordinates, who are interdependent to each other in order to contribute to the society.
He listed shortage of manpower, infrastructure, lack of advanced and relevant equipment, research actualization, needed educational requirement progressions and habitable environment as some other challenges in health science education.
The medical doctor advised professional bodies and accreditation agencies to ensure synergy and agree on curriculum to be used seamlessly as obtained in the other countries.
He cautioned bodies, ministries and departments against working independently as they were all pursuing the same goal of ensuring efficiency and desired professionalism.
In a second paper presentation, tagged: ”Role of Alumni in development of institutions”, Prof. Sama’ila Mungadi, said graduated students have relevant roles in contributing to infrastructural development, manpower and facility enhancements.
Mungadi, an International Urological Surgeon and also former Provost of the College, emphasized that through collective coordination on alumni activities more could be achieved.
He said the achievements comprised on professional development, supporting graduated fellows and students on learning, research as well as employment opportunities.
The Provost College of Health Sciences, Prof. Sule Sa’idu, urged professionals to support their indigenous institutions and cautioned them against leaving the country which always slowed down the system.
Sa’idu said alumni services are needed, stressing that the school is expanding with more departments and graduating professionals every year.
In his remark, Dr Sani Gwarzo, a college alumni and present Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management, said sacrifice and dedication of professionals who decided to stay at the college deserved to be acknowledged.
Gwarzo, assured more federal government support in terms of projects and other desirable encouragements, and called on other Alumni to use their respective positions and personal efforts in supporting the institution.
The Special Guest, Dr Tanko Sununu, an alumni and member representing Yawuri/Shanga/Ngaski federal constituency of Kebbi State, described the event as homecoming, a reunion for fellow graduates and students.
Sununu, who was the Chairman, House Committee on Health in the 9th Assembly, reassured to facilitate more siting of physical projects and other federal government supports to the college.
He described the college as a center of excellence.
Earlier, the UDUS Vice Chancellor, Prof. Lawal Bilbis, and Chief Medical Director of Usmanu Danfodio University Teaching Hospital (UDUTH), Prof. Anas Sabir, commended the organizers and assured respective managements support in all forms, noting that the efforts are serious assistance to the system.
The event witnessed presentation of lectures by professionals, award presentations, Annual General Meeting (AGM) of alumni and dinner.
The Alumni elected Prof. M.O. Oche as President; Prof. Anas Sabir, Vice President; while Associate Prof. Abdulgafar Jimoh was elected Secretary General, among other positions.
