Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT) has introduced the Master of Science (MSc.) degree in Biomedical Technology.
The programme is domiciled at the Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences but would be jointly handled by the Faculty of Engineering and College of Medicine of the university.
In an inauguration and orientation ceremony held at the auditorium of the ESUT College of Medicine, the Vice Chancellor of ESUT, Prof Luke Anike explained that the Biomedical Technology programme was born out of zeal to offer solution being observed in areas of health diagnosis and treatment of diseases due to constant breakdown of medical devices and equipment.
The vice chancellor who represented by his deputy, Prof Samuel Eze said with the paucity of qualified biomedical technologists, the repair, maintenance and rehabilitation of these equipment become difficult and impossible.
According to the vice chancellor, with the introduction of the programme, “the peculiar nature of our environment exemplified by shortage in power supply, will increase necessitate the design and development of medical devices and equipment that will perform effectively under our environmental condition.”
Anime was of the view that the new programme would bring ESUT into limelight because it will showcase what the university actually stands for as shown in the university motto, Technology for Service.
He disclosed that for the vision and mission of the programme to be achieved, there was an international collaboration in March 2017 where a memorandum of understanding was reached and signed with Anglia Ruskin University, United Kingdom where the coordinator of the programme, Dr Harmony Nwobodo Nzeribe was certified.
“This programme is indeed a welcome development and giant stride for our university. As I congratulate the pioneer students of this programme, I also encourage you to make good use of this rare opportunity. Humbly tap from the wealth of knowledge of the facilitators and become e perts not just in repair of biomedical equipment but also in design and development of reliable and affordable medical devices and equipment,” he admonished.
The dean Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, Prof Chike Anibeze in his address said that the new programme as conceptualised in the university was not different from its worldwide goals which is the application of engineering principles and design concepts to medicine and biology for health care system either through through diagnostic or therapeutic procedures.
“This field seeks to close the gap between engineering and medicine, combining the design and problem solving skills of engineering with biomedical sciences to advance health care treatment and diagnosis,” he enlightened.
He explained that as a discipline which anchors on interdisciplinary specialisation among already established fields, much of the goals of biomedical technology was geared towards problem solving, research oriented goals.
“In our medical environment, emphasis will be on the design and production of simple medical tools, biomechanics, basic concepts for the production of biocompatible prosthesis and the repair of existing medical equipment,” Anibueze further explained.
The programme took off with 12 pioneer students drawn from computer engineering, anatomy, electronics telecommunications engineering, pharmacy, medicine and surgery.
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