Baze, Veritas, Nile University Students to Receive Hands-On Training in FCT General Hospitals – Dr Tunji Alausa

The Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare has officially launched Phase 2 of the National Health Workforce Expansion Programme.

The programme, according to the State Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Tunji Alausa, is aimed at expanding the nation’s medical workforce and setting new standards for medical training.

The programme was launched at a meeting held with Dr. Dolapo Fashawe, FCT Mandate Secretary for Health & Environment, and the leadership of Veritas, Nile, and Baze Universities to kick off Phase 2 of the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare’s (FMOH&SW) groundbreaking programme.

Dr. Alausa noted that the initiative is in alignment with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s mission to aggressively enhance the healthcare workforce.

He said the programme will see a substantial increase in medical student enrollment and a strategic partnership between universities and general hospitals to bolster capacity and infrastructure in Nigeria’s healthcare system.

According to the minister, “Phase 1 of this pilot initiative, in collaboration with the Lagos State Government and LASUTH College of Medicine, will expand the school’s annual enrollment quota to approximately 2,000 medical students, along with several hundred students in pharmacy, dental, and biomedical engineering. This phase is set to begin in December 2024.”

“For Phase 2, approximately 800 students from Baze, Veritas, and Nile Universities will participate in the pilot program and receive training at selected FCT General Hospitals.

“To enhance capacity building at these general hospitals, the universities will contribute financially to infrastructure development, equipment provision, and other necessary resources to help the hospitals meet specific standards for training students.”

He noted that, with the development, applicants for medical school during this pilot will be admitted based on merit, and doctors at the selected general hospitals will receive honorariums for teaching the students, with potential opportunities for becoming professors.

“In addition to building capacity and addressing the ‘japa syndrome,’ this initiative will increase access to care, offer students a robust healthcare education, improve health indices, and create new career opportunities.

“We at the FMOH&SW are excited about Phase 2 and have already seen interest from other states eager to join the program,” he added.

On her part, Dr. Dolapo Fashawe, FCT Mandate Secretary for Health & Environment, described the launch of Phase 2 as a monumental step towards enhancing the quality of healthcare education in Nigeria.

“By working closely with leading universities, we are ensuring that our medical workforce is better equipped to meet the evolving health needs of our nation,” she said.