On January 4, 2010, lectures began tentatively in Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti. On May 7th, 2015 the Institution’s College of Engineering was rated the best in Nigeria by the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE). Recently, the Council for Legal Education and the National Universities Commission (NUC), rated its College of Law as the best in West Africa. The Medicine and other Health Sciences programmes commenced in 2011. Within three years (2014), they were fully accredited by the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) and the NUC – a feat which takes a minimum of 10 years for other universities to achieve. The Teaching Hospital (ABUADTH) is equipped with the state-of-the-art functional facilities, most of which, not found in any teaching hospital in the country. When commissioned, ABUAD will also be paraded as the best teaching hospital in Nigeria. Science writer, STANLEY CHIBUIHEM AMALAHA, after a tour of facilities at the hospital reports.
PROLEGOMENON
“If I seem to see further than others, it is because i stood on the shoulders of giants.” This coinage was made by Sir Isaac Newton (1642 -1727), English, mathematician, physicist and philosopher after inventing the Infinitesimal Calculus and other discoveries in science.
Likewise,If Afe Babalola University Teaching Hospital Ado-Ekiti(ABUADTH), seems to see further than others, it is because, it stands on the shoulders of giants.
The most impeccable of these giants is Aare Afe Babalola, SAN, one of Africa’s brightest hope for the future, a leader and Mentor and an astute frontline legal luminary. Taking a leaf from America’s Neil Armstrong’s iconic speech on his Lunar Landing (July 1969): “that’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind”.
The establishment of ABUAD Teaching Hospital is indeed one small step for Afe, one giant leap for Africans.
His footprints on the sands of time at the University of Lagos, University of Ibadan, Federal Polytechnic Ado-Ekiti, Federal Medical Centre Ido- Ekiti, just to mention but a few, are some living testaments that the legal luminary of international repute has been pioneering academic excellence in tertiary institutions in the country more than any Nigerian man or woman, living or dead.
ABUADTH
The establishment of ABUADTH, built at the speed of light, located contiguously with the university main campus with the state-of-the-art functional facilities comparable with what is obtainable anywhere in the world, is a novel testament that a Daniel has really come to judgement.
The hospital with its arrays of equipment, human resources, collaborations and its imposing magnificent main administrative building, regarded as the single, largest University Teaching Hospital building in Nigeria is envious, that anybody who studied medicine in another university, might be tempted to renounce his Alma-mata.
VICE CHANCELLOR
Prof Michael O. Ajisafe, Vice Chancellor, Afe Babalola University, who doubles as Nigeria’s first Professor of Sports Science, commended the Founder, Aare Afe Babalola (SAN), for establishing a world class teaching hospital.
When commissioned, will excel over and above any teaching hospital in Nigeria. We have already made collaborations with the best brains in the medical professions in the world which include: John Hopkins University Hospital USA, and four other internationally recognised hospitals in India,” he said.
PROVOST, COLLEGE OF MEDICINE
In another highlight, Prof Joseph O. Sanya, Provost College of Medicine & Health Sciences ABUADTH, “a teaching hospital is referred to as a tertiary hospital, but ABUADTH, is a quaternary hospital because of its State-of-the-art functional facilities, majority of which, are not found in any teaching hospital in Nigeria.
Some of them include but not limited to: Bone densitometer, for measuring the density of bones; Positron Emission Tomography (PET) Scan, for diagnosing very minute abnormal structures in the body such as cancer. Other facilities include: a helipad, where patients flown from different parts of the world will land via helicopter for medical attention.
A diagnostic centre, where referrals from all over the world will diagnose illnesses; pharmaceutical centre, where drugs will be produced, among others. The hospital is also a Centre of Excellence for the transplants of kidney, liver, heart, bone marrow and other related illnesses”, he said.
ACCREDITATION
The astute don, Sanya, further highlighted that all medical programmes in ABUADTH are accredited by the Medical & Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) and the National Universities Commission (NUC). Within three years of the establishment of Medicine in the university, it received full accreditation-a feat which usually takes a minimum of 10 years for other universities to achieve.
ABUAD AND ABUADTH SYMBIOSIS
The hospital and ABUAD, will function in excellent symbiosis.
For example, the Undergraduate Medical Programme (based in the College of Health Sciences), ABUAD, and the Teaching Hospital, ABUADTH; will provide facilities for Postgraduate Residency Training Programmes in all specialties of Internal Medicine, Surgery, Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Paediatrics, Community Medicine, General Medicine Practice, Radiology, Radiotherapy, Dentistry among others.
TRAINING SCHOOLS
When commissioned, ABUADTH, will also provide diploma/professional programmes in the schools of allied health professions. (Schools of Nursing, Midwifery, Medical Laboratory Sciences, Health Information & Statistics, Peri-Operative Nursing and Occupational Health Nursing).
The hospital will also embark on other administrative and managerial training programmes.
LAST LINE
Since the long years of Methuselah has nothing to do with the wisdom of Solomon, the six-year-old, Africa’s fastest developing University which parades the largest and best functional facilities in the country in her Colleges of Engineering, and Law, will soon incorporate her Teaching Hospital as the best in the country when commissioned on or before the first quarter of next year.
This write-up merely nibbles at the edge of the rare achievements of an ‘Octopus’, whose records of achievement will continue to dominate our national discourse for years that lie ahead.
Culled from New Telegraph