Receives report on CUSTECH’s college of Medicine take-off
Kogi State governor, Yahaya Bello, has promised that his administration would mop out every available fund to ensure that it’s Health and education institutions gets the deserving attention it required to position them among the best in the country.
Governor Bello made this known on Monday while receiving a report on the take-off of the College of Medicine at the Confluence University of Technology, Osara and other related matters.
In a statement made available to the media by Mr Onogwu Muhammed the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, the Governor noted that the Committee’s estimated amount of over 2 billion naira as indicated in its report to facilitate the establishment of the College of Medicine would be sourced out and committed to the cause, which he opined was far important than Covid-19 expenditure
He added that such funds would be sourced out in multiples and committed to other education and health institutions in the state adding that although some of these task might seem huge, but were achievable with a strong will.
He noted that the Institution which had already commenced with three faculties had already gulped much more than 2 billion naira while he assured that the institution under the leadership of the Vice Chancellor and management have the full support of his administration to implement all the listed recommendations.
While thanking the committee for their service and contributions to the growth and development of the education sector in the state, he noted that the implementation committee would now transit to become a Standing and Advisory committee for CUSTECH as they would work together with the institutions management for the next one year.
The chairman of the now transited Standing, Advisory Committee, CUSTECH Prof. Mohammad Salihu Audu earlier while presenting the report expressed gratitude to the state government for the opportunity to serve, stating that the proposed commencement date for the College of Medicine would be the 2021/2022 Academic calendar.
He submitted that the estimated sum of above 2 billion naira would be needed for the establishment of the College of Medicine to meet academic requirements and standard functioning noting that although there were already existing infrastructures while some were still under construction he noted that the fund estimated would help to further put other needed structures in place to ease take off.
He advised that the implementation of the report should commence soonest noting that issue of Manpower recruitment should also be promptly looked into.
Recall the Kogi State University medical school was established on the 29th February, 2011, however, admission of students and academic activities commenced in October 2012.
It is unfortunate to state that up till this moment, the State hasn’t been able to get accreditation from the Medical and Dental council of Nigeria as well as the National Universities Commission for clinical training.
The State Executive council today, the 7th of December, 2016 constituted a high-powered 16-man committee to study the solutions submitted by the Hon. Commissioner for Health, Dr Saka Haruna Audu on the subject matter.
some of his recommendations include:
▪Need to retrieve a comprehensive checklist from NUC/MDCN on accreditation requirements for the establishment of the clinical wing/ teaching hospital for the training of Medical students up to 600 Level as this will assist the state government to make a holistic plan and budget.
▪That a Committee of Stakeholders be constituted to look into the various *options* available to provide clinical training for our medical students in line with NUC/MDCN regulations.
▪That the Committee examines the following options and recommend the *cheapest, quickest, most effective and sustainable solution* to the council for onward action:
*FIRST OPTION*
Renovating, remodelling and Upgrading KSUTH to a standard teaching hospital – the committee to brief the Council on the Cost implication including staffing & equipment in facts and figures.
*SECOND OPTION*
Completing the abandoned project at the permanent site of the teaching hospital Anyigba – the committee to brief the council on the Cost implication including staffing & equipment in facts and figures.
*THIRD OPTION*
Affiliation with existing standard Hospitals within the state particularly Federal Medical Center Lokoja – the committee to brief the council on the Cost implication including staffing & equipment in facts and figures.
*FOURTH OPTION*
Exploiting a PPP arrangement with a willing Private organisation. – the committee to brief the council on the Cost implication.
▪The report of this committee will help the State Government to make an informed Decision in the face of current economic recession.
The Hon. Commissioner wishes to categorically state that the State has no intention of abandoning the ongoing projects at the current location of the teaching hospital, as the teaching hospital will remain in Anyigba.
This resulted in the school having two batches of 200l students and an outright stagnation of the medical school.
This unfortunate comatose remains stagnated as Yahaya Bello who once promised to complete the projects imitated by Capt Idris Wada has found another new love in Osara university.
