By Mohamed Foday Conteh
Over 150 pharmacists, nurses, midwives, physicians and surgeons have been inducted into the Inaugural school of Postgraduate Colleges of Health Specialties to become specialists in their respective disciplines.
The induction took place during the inauguration of the Postgraduate Colleges of Health Specialties at the Freetown International Conference Centre in Aberdeen, Freetown on the 29th May, 2021.
In his statement, the Chairman of the Council, Prof. (Dr) Sahr Moses Gevao, said that the inauguration of the College is timely as the country lacks specialist manpower to take care of its 7.9 million inhabitants.
He added that it came at a time when the country has only 2 ear, nose and throat surgeons, 1 local anaesthetist, 3 dental surgeons, 1 haematologist, 1 active histopathologist, 8 paediatricians, 6 obstetricians and gynaecologists for which, he said, all residing in the Western Area Urban District and of the bulk close to retiring age.
Speaking at the event, Professor Dr. Radcliffe D. Lisk, President of West Africa College of Physicians (WACP), said Sierra Leone is the fourth out of 5 Anglophone West Africa countries to have a specialist college in health. While assuring for the continuity of the bond between WACP and the Specialist College, he said that WACP is about to enact a sub-regional exam in their proposed strategic plan.
Addressing the gathering, President Julius Maada Bio said the formation of a specialist college in health is a step in the right direction.
“This is proud and momentous,” said President Bio. He continued that the college will serve as a major transformation in the health sector and that it is in tune with his foremost education project that is geared towards the development of the human capital of the country. “Nobody will change this country –we are going to change it,” he said. Bio acknowledged that, it is a shame for the nation to continue to fly patients out of the country for medical attention. Referencing data provided by the Council, the president noted that the current condition of the health system with regards to personnel is severe.
President Bio added that the College will produce specialists that will serve in all nook and crannies of the country and that scholarships and grant-in-aids will be provided for fellows of the college.
Professor Alpha Tejan Wurie, Minister of Tertiary and Technical Education commended the president for his zest bent on reducing the dearth in medical sector. He said that the government will transform part of the land at Kerry Town to establish a state of the art medical facility. He added that work has already begun as 25 acres of that land has been readied for the construction. The Minister, however, stressed that further engagement with the University of Sierra Leone and Tertiary Education Commission should be cognizant of.
The Specialist College according to officials is expected to in the next 5 years produce 50 consultants each in obstetrics and gynaecology, paediatrics, medical discipline and surgical discipline. In addition 50 postgraduate pharmacists, nurses and midwives each will be trained.
Both President Bio and Dr. Wurie were inducted as Honorary Foundation Fellows of Postgraduate College of Physicians and Surgeons and Reverend Kathleen Gloria Bett-Cole was inducted as Honorary Foundation Fellow of Postgraduate College of Nursing and Midwifery.
The Postgraduate Colleges of Health Specialties is a combination of the colleges of Nursing and Midwifery, Pharmacists and Physicians and Surgeons. The Council of Postgraduate Specialities came into existence through an act Parliament that enacted in 2016.
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