From Noah Ocheni, Lokoja
The Federal University Lokoja (FUL) and the Federal Medical Centre, (FMC) now Federal Teaching Hospital Lokoja, (FTHL), on Tuesday set to collaborate towards the development of medical sciences and teaching in the state.
The Vice Chancellor, Federal University Lokoja (FUL), Prof. Olayemi Akinwumi disclosed this at a joint press conference between the management of the university and that of the Federal Medical Centre on the upgrade of the FMC to Federal Teaching Hospital, Lokoja (FTHL) held at the council chamber of the university college of health sciences.
Akinwumi pointed out that the upgrading of the Federal Medical Centre to Federal Teaching Hospital
Lokoja has given birth to ‘Federal University Lokoja college of sciences, (FULCOS)’ with Adankolo Campus as its base.
The VC who stressed that the Teaching Hospital will provide Laboratories, clinics and the training of medical and premedical students of the college, FUL will be responsible for the construction of hostels, Medical laboratory complex and lecture auditorium respectively.
“Consequent upon the above, the Governing Council ably led by the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman, Distinguished Senator Chris Adighije, Ph.D, aggressively ensured that this noble objective of establishing Medicine and Surgery in this University is attained.”
The University Management and Senate were constantly guided and supported by the Governing Council especially in the set realizable action plan; to bridge the gap of the potential candidates not succeeding in gaining admission to read Medicine and Surgery in the existing Universities in the catchment areas.
“Out of bout 80,000 registered Medical Practitioners on the Register of Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) as at May, 2022, about 40,000 Medical Doctors are actively practicing in Nigeria. By WHO standards, one Doctor is to 100 patients, but in Nigeria, it is one Doctor to more than 4,000 Patients. This is grossly inadequate and unacceptable especially in a developing country like Nigeria.”
“It is indeed most worrisome in the case of Kogi State. Research conducted in recent time shows that in the next 10 years, Kogi State Medical Centres and Hospitals will experience great inertia of Medical Doctors of Kogi State origin.”
Akinwumi pointed out that About 98% of students of Kogi State origin that applied for Medicine and Surgery with outstanding performance in JAMB and Post UTME in universities within the catchment areas of Kogi State are vehemently denied admissions to read Medicine and Surgery in those universities.
By this development, the VC said the University is expected to provide a conducive environment for the training of premedical Students in Medical and Allied Sciences before moving to the Teaching Hospital for Clinical Training.
Prof. Akinwumi further disclosed that a Bill for the conversion/upgrade of the Federal Medical Centre, tokoja to a Teaching Hospital was sponsored by Distinguished Senator Smart Adeyemi, representing Kogi West Senatorial District at the 9′” Senate.
“The Bill was passed into Law by the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on Tuesday, 21% June, 2022. On 10″ February, 2023, the President and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of Federal Republic of Nigeria, President” Muhammadu Buhari has accented to the bill.
He therefore commended Senator Smart Adeyemi for his efforts towards the upgrading at hallow chamber of the senate and the President of the Federal republic of Nigeria, Muhammad Buhari for the express approval.
In his reaction, the Chief Medical
Director of the Federal Medical Centre now Federal Teaching Hospital, Dr. Olatunji Alabi assured that efforts would be intensified by his management team to ensure that the objective of their collaboration towards building a greater sciences is achieved.
