NANS Hails Senate Over Bill Proposing Establishment Of Federal University Of Health And Medical Sciences
NANS Hails Senate Over Bill Proposing Establishment Of Federal University Of Health And Medical Sciences.
The National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS, Southwest Zone(Zone-D) has lauded the federal government over a bill proposing the establishment of Federal University of Medicine and Medical Sciences, Abeokuta.
This commendation was made in a statement signed by Comrade Oladimeji Uthman, Deputy Coordinator, NANS Southwest Zone.
This statement states, ”This proposition is actually long overdue for a nation like ours which suffers an untold deficit in the field of medicine. The highlight of the debate held during the second sponsorship of the said bill by Sen. Ibikunle Amosun at the 9th Assembly stresses the pertinence of the bill.
“A University of Medicine and Medical Sciences will, among others benefit, put the nation back on the path of growing it’s potential for medical prowess.
“From published research, Nigerian universities and medical institutes admit only 3000 out of over 160,000 students who apply to study medicine and other medical based courses across the country. This is barely two percent estimated number of applicants who are potential medical professionals that the country should be shunning out annually.
”Now more than ever, the demand for medical related supports in terms of manpower (professionals), medical research and specialized medical facilities have seriously heightened.
“The doctor-patients ratio in Nigeria is alarming if compare to the WHO standard ratio. This implies that the number of practicing and resident doctors in the country can hardly cater for 10% of the countrys population.
“The Nigeria health sector today is in a situation where it constitutes liability on the country’s economy more than its generated revenue.
“To this end, the Students association charges the Federal Government and all concerned stakes to throw their weight behind the actualization of the proposed establishment of the first medicine and medical sciences university.
“The economic advantage cannot be measured as such establishment will reduce significantly the humongous number of potential medical professionals found among admission seekers that are rejected and forced to pursue other medical endeavors on a yearly basis.
“This innovative bill will also drop drastically the rate of unemployment, espsecially in the science and medicine field. Various specialised medical fields that have been abandoned or rather extinct in our medical faculties will be revived and the level of medical tourism to other countries will reduce.
“Emigration of health professionals will also be checked as these professionals shall find worthy engagements in their own county.
“Most importantly, the investment in the medical and academic sector through the establishment of the said university will contribute greatly to the nation’s GDP as we shall also be on our path to becoming a medical tourist destination for neighbouring countries and the world as we grow.
NANS also charged the government to fast track the actualization of this dream thought timely approval of the bill and spontaneous initiation of the project.
”We want to encourage the government to also begin to work on revitalization and expansion of the capacity of existing medical faculties in our universities and medicine institutes to meet international standard and cater for the rising population demand for medical aids.
”We want to commend the Senator representing Ogun Central Senatorial District, Senator Olarenwaju Tejuoso of the 8th Senate who initiated the bill and Senator Ibikunle Amosun of the 9th Senate who ensured the continued pursuit of the bill”, the statement concluded.
