PAMO Varsity’s Steady Contributions to Health Sector

PAMO University of Medical Sciences rolled out the drums recently to celebrate its fourth convocation ceremony, marking the graduation of new students and contributing further to the enrichment of the Nigerian health sector, Blessing Ibunge writes

With fanfare, PAMO University of Medical Sciences, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, recently marked its fourth convocation ceremony where it added 76 medical professionals to the fast-depleting Nigerian health sector.

Before the combined graduation ceremony, the institution had held various events where it inducted radiographers, medical doctors, nurses and medical laboratory scientists who graduated from their respective departments.

Others who joined the graduation ceremony were graduates from the Departments of Anatomy, Biochemistry, Pharmacology and Physiology.

At the event which had representatives of the Minister of Health, Minister of Education, Acting Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC), Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, Prof. Ngozi Odu, Speaker of the state House of Assembly, traditional rulers and other dignitaries, the Acting Vice Chancellor of the institution, Prof. Christie Mato, said all the graduates had been found worthy in learning and character. She urged them to be compassionate in their dealings with patients and people at large. She also commended the parents for their sacrifice and dedication in ensuring their children graduated from the school.

Prof. Mato further disclosed that the institution has full accreditations for all academic courses in the four faculties secured from the National Universities Commission (NUC) and other regulatory agencies.

She thanked the former Governor of Rivers State and Pro-chancellor of the university, Dr. Peter Odili, for his pragmatic and goal-oriented vision, “who rather than fight the vision he received to establish the institution, upheld and pursued it vigorously.”

Odili, also in attendance stated that soon, no state in Nigeria would produce health workers like Rivers State. He commended Governor Siminalayi Fubara for his developmental strides in the health sector in the state, and appreciated the partnership between PAMO University and the state government in growing human resources, especially in the specialised health sector.

“With what he (Fubara) is doing, Rivers State will not be threatened by the exodus of health workers in Nigeria, because as they leave, more is produced and a point will come when it will hit saturation point, and people will decide to stay back and make here that green pasture people are going out to look out for.”

The former governor noted the state government’s efforts at ensuring the grooming of young medical personnel in the state, especially those on scholarship who are graduating with character, knowledge and commitment aimed at positively impacting society.

He charged the graduates to remember the strict regulations that aimed not at punishing them, but at equipping and strengthening them to become proud ambassadors of the university.

“Your future is now in your hands. You have been given the tools, you’ve been told all you need to know, you’ve been taught all you need to know, what will change your future lies with you; your attitude, that’s what makes the difference.”

In his address, Governor Fubara tasked the graduates to use the specialised knowledge, skills and training they have been given to advance their professional careers, earn a decent living and contribute to human progress to the best of their capabilities. He commended Odili for his foresight in establishing the institution, which he said, stands as a testament to giving back to society while providing excellent medical education training to young Nigerians.

The governor promised that the state government would sustain the partnership with the institution to strengthen the quality of medical education that will further accelerate the transformation of the healthcare delivery system for the better life of the people and the nation.

“Reputed to be the first private medical university in Nigeria, PUMS’s acclaimed mission of providing ‘excellent medical training for the production of world-class medical and health science professionals characterised by the core values of knowledge, discipline and human service’ clearly resonates with that statement that PAMO is prepared, ready and is delivering to Nigeria and Rivers State in particular,” said Fubara.

“In this era where the standards of education in our universities are declining,” he added, “PUMS has established itself as an island of excellence in medical education and training in Nigeria. Indeed, only a few medical universities and colleges in this country can boast of the record-breaking progress PUMS has recorded in a few years.”

Also in attendance was the state Commissioner for Health, Dr. Adaeze Oreh, who noted that Governor Fubara is deeply committed to strengthening the healthcare system in the state. She announced an automatic internship for the graduates at the state medical facilities, saying “Nurses and medical laboratory sciences contribute substantially to the building blocks of any robust healthcare system.” 

She further stated that medical personnel play critical roles in health promotion, diagnostics, disease prevention, and quality healthcare across all levels, thereby complementing the achievements of universal health coverage.

Oreh added that achieving health for all today depends on having enough well-trained and educated, regulated and well-supported doctors, nurses, midwives, medical laboratory scientists and others, who receive pay and recognition that is commensurate with the services and the quality of care that they provide.

Also speaking at the event, the Chancellor of PUMS and former military Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar (rtd), advised the graduates to be ambassadors of positive change in the society, representing the institution in good conduct and the practice of their professional careers. He commended Governor Fubara for not only continuing with the scholarship scheme but increasing it from 100 to 150 students, saying that the government’s attention to healthcare delivery was inspiring.

Abubakar said the institution has been consistent in increasing physical structures that include lecture halls, libraries, hostels and other learning facilities that have made teaching and learning more conducive for both staff and students.

Highlights of the occasion were the conferment of honorary Doctor of Science (DSc Honoris Causa) on Governor Fubara, prizes for the overall best graduating student, Dr. Kpasa Tracy Mekelachi and many others who were given automatic employment and various cash prizes.  

PAMO University is Nigeria’s first private institution dedicated only to medical sciences. The institution is well-equipped and furnished to world standards and situated in a serene environment in Port Harcourt.

The university currently has three faculties namely: the Faculty of Clinical Sciences, the Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences and the Faculty of Allied Health Sciences.

Apart from the NUC accrediting all its courses, the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) also accredited the Faculty of Clinical Sciences of the university. The significance of the development is that students take their fourth-year exams in pathology and pharmacology and those who passed can proceed to the fifth year.

Indeed, this is a great milestone for the institution considering the fact that many other institutions, both public and private, spend years to achieve this feat.

Currently, the institution has courses such as anatomy, biochemistry, human nutrition and dietetics, pharmacology and physiology in the Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, as well as Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery (MBBS) and nursing in the Faculty of Clinical Sciences.

One of the greatest strengths of the university is that it has an existing teaching hospital established by its founder who is a renowned medical doctor established in the 1980s called PAMO Clinics and Hospitals Group. This is in addition to the memorandum of understanding it has with the Rivers State government and the state’s University Teaching Hospital where its students have their clinicals. 

The management of the school has recently completed a gigantic four-storey building on Aba Road that houses a comprehensive teaching hospital.