LASUCOM seeks to cover-up  demands for doctors with 1,000 professionals in 2024 — Provost

By Moses Adeniyi

The Provost of Lagos State University College of Medicine (LASUCOM), Professor Abiodun Adewuya has said the College is on a mission to produce world class doctors and other health professionals in a bid to cover up the deficits of professionals locally in Nigeria and globally.

He mentioned the College plans for the year 2024 to  produce about 1,000 health workers in line with the plans of the government to meet the demands for more health professionals of standard quality to service the needs of the masses.

According to him, the College is now the only state owned institution in Nigeria with a fully accredited version of medical surgery programme, mentioning it  is now recognized as one of the topmost medical schools in Nigeria.

“The exponential growth of LASUCOM over the years to meet the demand for well-trained medical and allied medical personnel has necessitated the planned expansion of the current facilities; including Lecture/Seminar Halls, Laboratories, hostel accommodations as well as critical human resource in terms of quality and quantity.

“The need to produce a larger number of doctors and other healthcare workers to meet the healthcare needs of the populace has not only been underscored by the Lagos State and the Federal Government. It has attracted global attention.

“The Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria recently addressed a letter on the issue to the Committee of vice-Chancellors highlighting this need and conveying approval of 100 percent increment in the quota previously approved for all Medical Schools.

“This would enable the College to have a quota of 200 intakes for its medicine and Surgery programme and 20 intakes for Dentistry programme.

“This is in addition to taking initiatives on creative ways of collaborating with government and other stakeholders in expanding its facilities to meet the challenge of producing more Doctors and other healthcare personnel to meet the healthcare needs of the global community,” the Provost said, at a press briefing held in Ikeja, the State Capital,  in commemoration of LASUCOM’s 25th anniversary Celebration.

At the briefing to herald the ongoing events, the provost said the anniversary which was themed, “CELEBRATING EXCELLENCE IN MEDICAL EDUCATION” exuded that the milestone is a testament of the commitment of LASUCOM to excellence in medical education, research and a lasting mission to produce world class graduates in the field of Health Sciences.

He reminiscenced that LASUCOM which was formerly a Monoprogram educational institution offering only Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) degree programme, and one faculty; the Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, has grown to become a college producing world class graduates in the field of Health Sciences.

“Since then, LASUCOM has transformed and is now regarded as one of the topmost medical schools in terms of quality of its personnel, researches, academic contents, graduate output and alumni ratings as well as infrastructure in line with the vision of the founding fathers of LASUCOM.

“The aim of the college is to produce medical doctors and health professionals who are of acceptable national and International standards and in  high quality and in such a number that is required to meet the health care needs of Lagos State and the nation at the primary, secondary and tertiary levels  among others,” he said.

“LASUCOM under the umbrella of the Lagos State University is the only state owned institution with a fully accredited version of medical surgery programme,” he stressed.

Mentioning that it is the best state owned medical college in Nigeria, he stated the college now has 170 academic staff spread across six faculties, 300 non academic staff comprising administrative and technical staff.

According to him, the college currently has six faculties; Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, Faculty of Basic Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Dentistry and the two faculties which have just been added are Faculty of Allied Health Sciences and Faculty of Pharmacy.

“There were 1,019 graduates, 44 dental surgeons, 76 nurses, 99 Physiologists, 22 pharmacologists and 1,112 students presently,” he said. .

He disclosed that LASUCOM has secured the NUC’s approval to run four new programmes which include the Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D) under the Faculty of Pharmacy, Doctor of Physiotherapy (DPT), Radiography and Radiation Science and Medical Laboratory Science (BMLS) which falls under the Faculty of Allied Health Sciences.

He disclosed that a number of college staff have won grants totalling more than N3 billion Naira.

Events lined up to celebrate the 25th anniversary which started last Friday Feb 2, include Novelty March by LASUCOM Alumni and Students at LASUCOM Sports, Thanksgiving Service, an interfaculty debate at the  FBCS/FBMS auditorium, Monday.

On Wednesday, Feb 7th, a community engagement, health awareness drive and free medical treatment will be held at the LASUCOM Sports Complex.

Also are Alumni engagement with students at the FBCS/FBMS  Auditorium on Thursday, Feb 8th and in conclusion, Founders’ Day Anniversary Lecture and Awards Ceremony at MRC Building by Friday, 9th February, 2024.

The provost acknowledged President Bola Tinubu, Governor Babajide Olushola Sanwo-Olu and other past leaders of the State for their contribution  to the development of the College.