The Provost of the Lagos State University College of Medicine, Ikeja, Prof. Abiodun Adewuya, on Tuesday, said the college planned to produce more health practitioners to fill the gap left in the health sector by personnel emigrating to seek greener pastures, a trend commonly called japa.
Adewuya, who spoke during a press briefing to usher in the College of Medicine 25th anniversary held at the Conference Room, TETFund Building, LASUCOM, Ikeja, said the plan was in line with Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s T.H.E.M.E.S.+ Agenda.
“Our plan is in line with the T.H.E.M.E.S.+ Agenda of Mr Governor which is to make sure that we produce more doctors, more nurses, more pharmacists, more dentists, not only for Lagos, but for the whole Nigeria, especially as we have the facility to do that.
“The number one thing we plan to do is to ramp up production of health workers in order to keep servicing our people. Yes, many people are leaving, but when they are leaving, we have to replace them. So, in order to keep replacing those that are leaving, we have to ramp up production and produce more health workers that we need,” the provost said.
While speaking of the achievements of LASUCOM since its establishment in February 1999, Adewuya said the college had grown from a single faculty and programme institution to one that offers five undergraduate programmes, with accreditation for more already secured.
“LASUCOM is set to commence PhD in Clinical Sciences, PhD in Dental Sciences, and PhD in Pathological Sciences.
“LASUCOM actually forms a think-tank team for the Ministry of Health. So, most of the programmes that you see that are rolled out, most of the policies, most of the regulations, most of the health laws that you have for the people of Lagos State, the core of it came from the Lagos State University College of Medicine,” he said.