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The College of Medicine (CMUL), University of Lagos (UNILAG), on Monday graduated 108 students/doctors in the Medical and Dental Profession, calling for increased capacity development in the nation’s healthcare system.
The Provost of the College, Prof. Ademola Oremosu, made the call at the 2023/2024 Medical & Dental Induction Ceremony held in Lagos.
In his welcome address, Oremosu said Nigeria needed to increase capacity development by investing more in the healthcare system, saying that capacity development was a major means to mitigate the “Japa” syndrome.
He explained that the university inducted 91 medical and 17 dental students.
He said there was the need to invest more in training of the doctors, stressing their importance to the healthcare manpower structure.
Oremosu urged the inductees to abide by the integrity and ethics of the profession whether practicing “in-country or out-country”.
He also advised them to focus on their career development and always ensure that patient’s care was upmost in their minds.
“One of the major means of mitigating the migration of doctors – ‘Japa syndrome’ – is to increase capacity.
“The doctors are key components of the healthcare manpower structure, hence the need for the country to invest more in their training to encourage the profession.
“And the lot funds has been released to the university to provide more facilities so that we can increase the numbers of students we admit.
“The more doctors we have, the more we are able to keep our people healthy and able to save a lot of money in terms of indirect costs to making healthcare and the economy stronger.
“So, we not are really against people going outside the country to practice.
“What we are saying is that when they travel, they should use the opportunity to improve themselves, to learn new skills, so that when they return back, they will give high level of manpower services even to our people in the country,” Oremosu said.
Speaking, the Keynote Speaker, Dr Omotayo Ojo, congratulated the graduating doctors/students for the successful completion of their various programmes, which would lasted not less than seven to nine years.
Ojo urged the inductees to avail themselves with every opportunity, as they continue to learn.
According to him, the degrees and certificates symbolise not only individual accomplishments but also the collective impact of the College’s commitment to advancing knowledge and fostering intellectual growth in healthcare profession.
He explained that healthcare job centered on humanity services, which require empathy and commitment.
Ojo, who emphasised the importance of perseverance, urged the inductees to remain steadfast in the face of challenges and setbacks.
According to him, the graduands in the course of practising their profession should treat patients/others with empathy, kindness and love.
“The fact that you are graduating today is the beginning and you must continue to learn because medicine practice changes on daily basis. So, always stay updated with new developments and contribute to humanity. More importantly, be intentional with all your decisions,” Ojo said.
The Chairman, Nigeria Medical Association, Lagos State, Dr Saheed Kehinde, urged the Federal Government to intensify efforts to address the challenge of Japa syndrome and retain the doctors to practice within the country.
Kehinde emphasised the need for the government to remove taxation on doctor’s call-duty allowance, to make doctor’s renumeration to increase such that they would be encouraged to stay in the country to practice.
“If the government can remove taxation on doctors call-duty allowance; it will make their renumeration to increase and doctors will stay in the country to practice,” he said.
The Registrar, Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN), Dr Fatima Kyari, performed the Oath-Taking and Affirmation of the inductees, urging them to contribute their quota to nation’s development.The best graduating student, Dr Stephanie Shaba, expressed excitement over her position, appreciating her parents, the government and the College Management for providing the opportunity for her education and training.
The event featured presentation of Awards to the Best Graduating Students from different fields of both the medical and dental profession of the college.
The roll call of dignitaries who turned out en-masse for the event included the Chairman, Medical Advisory Committee LUTH, Prof. Deji Oluwole; the Chairman, College of Medicine Alumni Association, Prof. Chris Okeafor among others.
