The Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) has inaugurated an ad hoc committee on Medical Simulation and Innovation Special Intervention.
The Chairman of the Board of Trustees of TETFund, Rt. Hon. Aminu Bello Masari performed the inauguration at the TETFund Headquarters in Abuja recently.
Speaking at the event, Rt. Hon. Masari stated that the intervention was part of the Fund’s initiatives to assist in repositioning Nigeria’s healthcare system to address safety and quality healthcare.
“Considering the state of our public healthcare system, investment in healthcare innovation is urgently needed in Nigeria’s healthcare system to leapfrog to world-class medical practice. Thus, two areas of healthcare innovation would make the biggest impact, namely medical simulation and digital health.
“Investment in these two critical areas of medical innovation simultaneously is essential for maximum benefits. Simulation-based learning is a state-of-the-art approach to the education and training of healthcare personnel across all fields of medicine.
“It offers a unique opportunity to create realistic scenarios where healthcare professionals can practice their skills in a safe and controlled environment,” he said.
Hon Masari stated that the committee was expected to conduct gap analysis of medical simulation and healthcare innovation in Nigeria, especially around telemedicine, virtual patient care and remote patient monitoring, as well as analyze identified gaps and propose ways to bridge the identified gaps in medical simulation and telemedicine among others.
He expressed appreciation to the committee chaired by world-renowned Neurosurgeon, Prof. Wale Sulaiman for accepting to serve the nation despite their busy schedule.
In his remarks, Executive Secretary of TETFund, Arc Sonny Echono also expressed appreciation to members of the committee for their service to the nation.
He stated that medical simulation would help in addressing the safety of patients as well as quality of healthcare thereby reducing morbidity or mortality rates in Nigerian medical facilities.
While stating that Medicine and Health Sciences remained the most sought after programmes in Nigerian universities based on JAMB records with currently less than 7% of those who qualify getting admitted, he expressed optimism that the simulation technology would assist regulatory bodies in the medical profession to increase intake of medical students in universities.
Speaking after the inauguration, the Chairman of the committee, Prof. Wale Suleiman expressed appreciation to the Fund and pledged to carry out the assignment diligently.
Members of the committee include Prof. Enoch Uche, Dr Kabir Mustapha, Prof. Hadiza Shehu Galandanci, Dr Lawrence Eziashi Appah, Prof. Babagana Bako and Dr Femi Owagbemi as Secretary.
