Abdulsalami Identifies Character, Integrity as Cornerstone of Health Profession

Wale Igbintade

Former military Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar (rtd), has identified character and integrity as the utmost quality of health professionals either as allied health professionals, doctors, nurses, or medical scientists.
Speaking at the recent third convocation ceremony of PAMO University of Medical Sciences, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Abdulsalami, who is also the Chancellor of the university, urged health professionals in the country to exhibit good behaviour and professionalism in all their conduct.
He added that these qualities would guide them through challenging times, and also enable them to connect with patients on a deeper level and make a lasting impact in their lives.

According to him, the medical field is not merely a profession, but a calling, and a vocation that demands a profound sense of responsibility.
The former military head of state stressed that medical professionals are entrusted with the lives and well-being of others, adding that it is a privilege that comes with immense responsibility.  

He added that their commitment to excellence would not only benefit their patients but also bring them personal and professional fulfillment, adding that they should strive to demonstrate the ideals and values that define PAMO University.
He said: “I wish to share with you some reflections on the essence of your achievements and offer insights that I believe are vital as you embark on this noble profession. Integrity is the cornerstone of a successful career, especially in the health sciences. It is the steadfast adherence to moral and ethical principles, the unwavering commitment to honesty, and dedication to putting the welfare of others above personal gain. In the medical field, trust between the patient and the caregiver is paramount. Throughout your stay at PAMO University, we have strived to instill in you a strong sense of ethical responsibility, teaching you not only the science of medicine and health care but also the essence of ethical conduct and decision-making.

“Character, too, is of utmost importance in the health profession either as an allied health professional, a doctor, nurse, or medical scientist. It encompasses the traits that define who you are as an individual.  It is your character that will guide you through challenging times, enable you to connect with patients on a deeper level, and make a lasting impact in their lives. We have endeavoured to nurture these qualities in you, knowing that they are just as vital as medical knowledge in delivering exceptional patient care.

“Strive for excellence in every aspect of your practice. Set high standards for yourselves, and continually seek ways to improve your skills and knowledge. This commitment to excellence will not only benefit your patients but also bring you personal and professional fulfillment.
“The medical field is not merely a profession. It is a calling, a vocation that demands a profound sense of responsibility. You are now entrusted with the lives and well-being of others, a privilege that comes with immense weight. Embrace it with humility, and let it be your guiding light,” the former military Head of State explained.

In his induction lecture, a Professor of Medicine and Consultant Gastroenterologist, at Bayero University, Kano, and Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Kano, Prof. Musa Muhammed Borodo decried the shortage of medical practitioners in the country, disclosing that Nigeria needs at least 300,000 additional qualified doctors to meet the standards set by the World Health Organisation (WHO).
He argued that it would take Nigeria over 40 years to produce enough doctors for the country to meet the WHO minimum doctor/population ratio, stating that only 30,000 practitioners were serving the over 230 million population of the country, representing a doctor/population ratio of only 1:7,700.
This he said was far short of the recommendation of the World Health Organisation (WHO) of 1:1000 ratio for developing countries.

He said: “The current rate of producing 5,000 doctors annually from our medical schools, assuming no brain drain or brain gain occurs and maintaining a zero-population growth it would take us over 40 years to produce enough doctors for the country to meet the WHO minimum doctor/population ratio”.
Borodo lamented that the low national doctors’ quota has led to inadequate care for the Nigerian population particularly in the rural areas where most Nigerians live with the least number of doctors in attendance.
This shortage, he said, encouraged the development of the concept of ‘task shifting’ where non-doctors with some training were assigned to undertake doctors’ tasks, particularly in the primary health care facilities.

He maintained that the production of quality medical doctors is the essence of any medical training program and must be well-guarded to make it worthwhile.
Highlighting factors affecting medical service in Nigeria, Borodo said teachers are now increasingly poorly motivated with low remuneration and poor working environment encouraging varying degrees of absenteeism in a number of them to the advantage of other competing interests.
To address the problem, Borodo recommended the availability of medical teachers to do their teaching tasks efficiently in producing high-quality doctors.

He also called on private proprietors of medical schools to as a matter of principle do the needful in their domains as recommended by the government.