It was the first time they met and they resolved to tackle the problems of outdated medical curriculum and inadequate funding of medical schools which, they claimed negatively impact their clinical training.
The student doctors also expressed their determination to turn around the fortunes of their association this year.
The students took the decisions at the maiden edition of the National Executive Council meeting of the Nigerian Medical Students’ Association (NiMSA), which was held recently at the Lagos State University College of Medicine (LASUCOM), Ikeja, Lagos.
The four-day event was attended by no fewer than 40 presidents and general secretaries of the Medical Students’ Association (MSA) from various universities.
In his welcome address, the national president of NiMSA, Seriki Muritala, appealed to the student leaders to always remember that the future of medical practice lies in their hands and those of other medical students.
The General Assembly meeting, which was held on the second day of the programme, lasted over seven hours, where the leaders deliberated on issues affecting the association and medical schools in Nigeria.
It was at this assembly that it was raised that various schools’ presidents should bridge the gap between the association’s national body and the medical students in their various institutions, through participation in the ‘Illuminate NiMSA Project.’
They also adopted that henceforth NiMSA would begin to work with the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) to ascertain the true status of welfare available to medical students.
Lamenting the inadequate funding and obsolete medical curriculum which they noted was affecting their clinical trainings in medical schools, the leaders resolved that a letter be immediately sent to the MDCN with a view to visiting the curriculum.
“Worldwide, medical curriculum is changing. This is as a result of the technological advancement and discoveries in medical sciences. So, it is high time we had strong tele-medicine in our curriculum. We want conference teaching, better equipment to learn with, good accommodation and effective international exchange programmes,” Seriki said.
Observing that international exchange programme was a modern way of training medical students, the leaders said inadequate funding of the programme and irregularities in academic calendar, coupled with persistent Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) strike was hindering the programme.
They, however, commended the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) and the Federal Government for effectively combating the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) late last year, while also encouraging NMA to continue in its quest towards ensuring a better health sector.
On the challenges ravaging the health sector, the students called on concerned parties to intervene, noting that there is a need for the Federal Government to increase funding of the health sector, with a view of increasing job opportunities for the growing population.
While speaking on the upcoming general elections, the students pleaded with politicians and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct a free and fair election, while also calling on medical students and Nigerians in general to go out en masse and vote.
The Provost of LASUCOM, Professor G.O.G. Awosanya, in his remark, encouraged the leaders to create a niche for themselves.
“Consider yourself lucky. In our days, we never had technology at our disposal. Make good use of it. Do not be a local medical student. Be global,” he said.
Highlights of the meeting included a cocktail party, visit to Elegushi Beach, press briefing, a football match between the host institution and the delegates, which ended three goals to none in favour of the delegates.
Speaking with Campusbeats, Ogechukwu Nwaobi, president, University of Benin’s Medical Students’ Association (UBEMSA), commended the Lagos State University (LASU) for hosting the congress.
“This has been a wonderful experience and I appreciate LASU for the warm welcome. However, I feel it is high time Federal Government got serious with implementation of policies. A lot of resolutions have been made; we are calling on government to implement them speedily.”
Eddy Uwoghiren
(300-Level, Medicine & Surgery, University of Benin)