Minister of Health Professor, Isaac Adewole has disclosed the Federal Government’s intention to partner with West African College of Surgeons, WACS, to train efficient surgeons that would improve the healthcare service in the country.Adewole made this known recently while commissioning Permanent Secretariat of the College in Lagos.
“Federal Government is investing hugely on residency training especially on the salary and other incidental needs. I will like to appeal passionately to the West African College of Surgeons’ Leadership to reduce the training period of residents to 5-6 years, any further training should be post-fellowship diplomas”, he explained.
The minster further urged the College to include character assessment of individuals as criteria for the recruitment in to residency training programme, adding that enrolling only quality, focused and individuals with right attitude would reduce the incessant strike in the health sector.
The Minister commented that West African College of Surgeons is a professional body that trains specialists in surgical specialties, adding that the college had trained about 5000 specialists in various surgical discipline including Anesthesia, Dental Surgery, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Ophthalmology and Radiology. He added that the College had also trained about 800 Diplomates in Anesthesia, Ophthalmology and Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT).
The College had accredited 200 programmes in 88 tertiary institutions where specialists Stories by Joyce Remi- Babayeju are trained and examines about 2500 candidates every six months.
President, West African College of Surgeons, Mr. Akinyinka Omigbodun pledged to work closely with the ministry to improve surgical care for the teeming population of the nation.
Nigerian Pilot News
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