By Fatima Mohammed-Lawal
Students of Master of Public Health (MPH) of the University of Ilorin have provided drugs, health intervention and electricity to a Primary Healthcare Center (PHC) across various Kwara communities.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the students disclosed that they also repaired abandoned boreholes, and renovated some health facilities.
Prof Bolarinwa Akeem, the MPH Supervisor, who spoke on the sidelines of MPH Field Posting Reports Presentation, 2024, explained that this is part of the Statutory Posting for the MPH students of the Department of Epidemiology and Community Health of the University of Ilorin.
He stated that the Field posting expose students to community based service and research.
According to him, the three month Harmattan Semester programme also exposes the students on community diagnosis and how to identify health challenges.
“By identifying such challenges, they will ultimately provide health intervention to these communities. It is also opportunity to collaborate with both communities based stakeholders and non governmental organization,” he said.
Akeem also pointed out that the MPH programme is multidisciplinary, cutting across all discipline including lab scientist, doctors and nurses among others.
He noted that such collaboration help them to work as team and assist PHC facilities in various communities and Local Government Areas in solving health challenges.
The MPH supervisor commended the efforts of the students, saying thier presentation is very competitive.
Similarly, Akeem observed that the University has stringent admission pattern, so as to train people who will benefit the healthcare system in the country.
Akeem who also spoke on Japa syndrome, lamented that “we are teaching these doctors and they are leaving for foreign countries”.
He observed that years back Nigeria was a fovourite destination of foreign teachers and lecturers who were happy to teach in the country.
The don therefore advised the government at all tiers to make the country conducive for healthcare workers to remain.
He said that it has to come with commensurate manpower to motivate the already depleted workforce.
In his goodwill message, Prof Wahab Egbewole, the Vice Chancellor of the University of Ilorin represented by Prof Olubunmi Omotesho, the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic) deacribed the MPH students as important to the University.
Egbewole stated that this is an important responsibility giving to them and also a privilege.
He enjoined them to be committed in order to uplift and develop the nation through their humanitarian career.
Speaking also, Miss Mariam Okeniyi, the MPH Class Governor, said that though the field posting was very crucial and exposed them to community based service, it was however stressful.
She added that most of the communities lack water supply, employ open defecation and have lost faith in the PHCs due to lack of drugs.
Okeniyi said they contributed their personal funds, with some contribution from other stakeholders for the various community intervention.
“We were able to provide drugs, sphygmomanometer device and repair of boreholes among others,” she said.
NAN reports that some of the Field posting communities are in Moro, Asa, Ifelodun amd Ilorin South LGAs.
