By: Monday Danladi, Bauchi
Bauchi State Governor, Sen Bala Mohammed Abdulkadir has reiterated the commitment of his administration to ensuring that citizens have access to quality healthcare service delivery from primary to tertiary.
The Governor was speaking at the induction and swearing in of Fifty-four second set of MBBS graduates of the College of Medical Sciences of Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU), Bauchi held on Thursday.
Bala Mohammed who was represented by the Commissioner of Health, Dr Sani Mohammed Dambam stressed that the administration has invested much in the health sector in order to make it to the expected world standard.
According to him, “We have ensured that health facilities particularly at the primary level are closer to the people as we have provided the facilities in each of the 323 political wards in the State.”
He added that there has been huge investment in the secondary level as all of the General Hospitals across the state including the Specialist Hospital have been completely renovated and upgraded for effective and efficient healthcare service delivery.
The Governor while congratulating the newly inducted medical Doctors, urged them to exhibit professionalism and integrity in the conduct of their duties knowing that their first priority is how to save life of the patient not what to gain from rendering of the services.
In his induction address, the Vice Chancellor, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU), Prof Ibrahim Hassan Garba, stated that, “it is a heartwarming occasion as it marks a significant progress in the effort of the University to provide a world-class medical college that will stand as the best among peers. I am confident that this vision, with a determinied mission, will translate to reality in a short time to come.”
According to him,”The idea behind the establishment of a medical college in this University was initially greeted with stiff resistance from many quaters. They felt that a technology oriented University is not qualified to host the medical sciences programmes.”
Represented by the DVC Academics, Prof Sani Kunya, the VC stated that, “However, our determination to assist the North-Eastern part of the Country where we are situated, and the Country as a whole by producing the much needed doctors in our hospitals remained paramount in our dream. This dream has now become a reality.”
He added that, “The North-East records the highest number of maternal motality in the country. The Country in general is in dire need of medical practitioners to cater for our ever increasing population.”
According to him, “The deficit of medical doctors in Bauchi state, for instance, informed the decision of the present administration to announce its intention to source and recruit 100 doctors to work in its hospitals.”
Ibrahim Hassan Garba also stated that, “Indeed, every University in Nigeria should be encouraged to establish at least, a faculty of medicine in order to reduce the increasing inbalance of doctor-to-patient ration in the country.”
The VC declared that, “We are proud that the College has now attained a maturity status with a total of 116 Staff and a total of over 262 students. The College had so far received verification and accreditation teams which resulted in getting approvals for conducting examinations in Anatomy, Biochemistry and Physiology for pre-clinical courses and Paediatrics, Obstretrics and Gynaecology.”
He then expressed optimism stating that,”By the grace of God, the College will wax stronger and healthier with the caliber of staff and the resilience of our determined students. Let me assure you that the management of the University will mot falter in its avowed support to the continuity and grouth of this College.”
“It is with great delight that I announce to you that the University has received an approval to start the Bsc in Nursing which is a step forward in the growth and development of the College of Medical Sciences,” he added.
He used the opportunity to thank the Registrar of the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria, Dr Fatima Kyari, for the professional disposition she has always shown in the bid to maintain quality service from Nigerian Doctors.
According to him, “Your presence here today, like always, is an endorsement of the quality of graduands we have produced last year and this year as well. We want go assure you that the ATBU will not conpromise on quality. On behalf of the ATBU community, I wish to thank you and your team for the honouring of our invitation today.”
Ibrahim Hassan Garba,”To our today’s graduands, I want to implore you to remain steadfast and uphold the kind of training you have acquired in this University. We have not only trained you in character and learning, but we have given you the necessary tutorials in your onerous responsibilty of saving lives.”
He stressed that,”Your level of adherence to medical ethics is what will distinguish you as professionals and highly responsible personalities. It is your attitude to your work that will determine your position in the society. I am confident you will not disappoint us.”
