The Federal Government has unveiled an ambitious plan to boost medical training across Nigeria, with a target of increasing annual admission into medical schools to 20,000 students within the next three years.
As part of the plan, the government will establish world-class medical simulation centres across the country’s six geopolitical zones to give students hands-on training before they enter hospitals and other healthcare facilities.
The initiative is aimed at expanding Nigeria’s health workforce and improving the quality of training for doctors, dentists, nurses, pharmacists and other health professionals.
Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, disclosed the plan while receiving the report of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) Medical Simulation Committee.
A statement issued by the minister’s Special Adviser on Media and Communications, Ikharo Attah, said the proposed centres would provide modern practical training facilities for students in various healthcare disciplines.
Alausa said the government was determined to ensure that the growing number of students being admitted into health-related programmes had access to adequate practical training.
He said the plan was particularly important as Nigeria continues to grapple with the mass migration of medical professionals abroad in search of better pay, improved working conditions and career opportunities.
According to him, the number of students entering nursing programmes has exploded in recent years.
He disclosed that nursing enrolment, which was about 38,000 three years ago, had jumped to more than 120,000 students across nursing schools nationwide.
The minister also revealed that annual admission into medical schools had risen sharply since President Bola Tinubu assumed office.
He said the figure had increased from about 5,000 students annually to almost 12,000 currently.
Alausa said the government was now setting its sights even higher, targeting about 20,000 medical students admitted annually within the next three years.
The minister said enrolment into pharmacy and dental programmes had also recorded significant growth.
He explained that the expansion in admissions made it necessary for government to increase investment in practical training facilities so that the quality of medical education would not suffer.
The six proposed simulation centres are expected to provide students with opportunities to practise medical procedures in controlled environments before dealing with real patients.
The centres are also expected to ease pressure on existing teaching hospitals and other clinical training facilities as the number of healthcare students continues to rise.
The development comes amid growing anxiety over Nigeria’s “Japa” crisis, which has seen thousands of doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals leave the country for jobs overseas.
The continued exodus has triggered concerns about manpower shortages in Nigerian hospitals and the ability of the country’s health system to cope with growing demand.
The government is therefore betting on increased training capacity to produce more healthcare professionals while also improving the quality of their practical education.
Alausa commended the Chairman of the Medical Simulation Committee, Dr Wale Suleiman, and other members for preparing the report and advancing the project.
He said the initiative was another indication of the Tinubu administration’s determination to strengthen Nigeria’s education system and build the manpower needed for the country’s future.
According to the minister, President Tinubu remains committed to providing quality education and preparing Nigerian youths for the challenges ahead.
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