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Tag: NiMSA

  • Aare Michael George congratulates new NIMSA president-elect, urges exemplary leadership

    Aare Michael George congratulates new NIMSA president-elect, urges exemplary leadership

    Aare Michael George has extended heartfelt congratulations to the newly elected 49th President of the Nigerian Medical Students’ Association (NIMSA), describing the victory as a testament to dedication, service, and commitment to the development of medical students across the country.

    In his congratulatory message, Aare Dr. George commended the President-Elect for earning the trust and mandate of medical students nationwide.

    He noted that the office comes with great responsibility and expressed confidence that the new leadership would usher in fresh ideas, improved collaboration, and innovative reforms that would positively shape the future of the association.

    He further encouraged the President-Elect to lead with integrity, humility, and a deep sense of purpose.

    According to him, NIMSA stands as an important platform for nurturing the next generation of medical professionals, and it requires a leader who can inspire, unify, and represent students with excellence.

    Aare Dr. George also emphasised the importance of continuity, accountability, and progressive initiatives that will enhance the welfare, academic growth, and global competitiveness of Nigerian medical students.

    He called on the President-Elect to build on past achievements while setting new standards for effective leadership.

    He concluded by wishing the new NIMSA President-Elect a successful tenure and reaffirmed his support for efforts aimed at strengthening medical education and student development in Nigeria.

  • NiMSA commences bi-annual games in UNILAG

    NiMSA commences bi-annual games in UNILAG

    The Nigerian Medical Student Association(NiMSA) has commenced the bi-annual games at the University of Lagos sports Centre. 

    The games, which began with an opening ceremony on Monday, saw a football match between University of Lagos and University of Benin (UNIBEN) with the visitors winning 4-0. 

    Local Organising Committee Chairman, Adeleke Adedeji Fathy, affirmed 16 universities present for this year’s edition. 

    Speaking on the importance of the games, the 55th President of the Association of Medical Students, University of Lagos, Chiedozie Obianyor noted that it was necessary to relax and increase the bond amongst medical students. 

    Moses Chukwujekwu Onwubuya, the national president for Nigerian Medical Student Association, NiMSA expressed gratitude to sponsor of the event, Lotus Bank, adding that this years edition surpassed the former. 

    Read Also: NIMSA holds 10th regional convention in LAUTECH

    Urging the competition schools to maintain spirit of sportsmanship, Vice President of NiMSA, Oreoluwa Odutoye said: “First of all, sportsmanship, everybody has to be fair, I know everybody wants to win, but there are limits to what you should do to get in the win, but nonetheless, give it your all and I’ll be rooting for Bowen University, but, of course, as the NiMSA Vice President, I’m a member of every medical school, so may the best team win.“ 

    The Nigerian Medical Students Association Games is a bi-annual competition to foster the spirit of sportsmanship and enhance relationships between medical students from different schools. 

    NiMSA
  • NIMSA holds 10th regional convention in LAUTECH

    NIMSA holds 10th regional convention in LAUTECH

    The Nigerian Medical Students Association (NIMSA) southwest region gathered for the 10th regional convention from 12th – 15th September at the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Ogbomoso, Oyo State. 

    The convention with the theme: “The 21st century medical student: The NEXUS” centered on treating students involvement in academics, entrepreneurship and politics. 

    The event saw doctors across different fields sensitise the participants on quality time management, political involvement and entrepreneurship, urging them not to be only focused on academics but engage in other relevant activities to keep them apprised of their day to day world. 

    Keynote speaker, Immediate past chairman of Medical Advisory UNIOSUN teaching hospital and President of Inward Emmanuel Health Care Ltd. Dr. Afolayan Babatunde urged the participants to imbibe the culture of time management and innovative mindsets. 

    “We must be able to multitask. As medical students, we are trained to put together all that we have to ensure that we display the God-given talents in us, I believe that you have to prioritize your time. Your resilience is so important. 

    “You must be full of innovation and you must be time-bound. I was talking about that you must have a goal, and that goal is to annex and bring a balance to your lifestyle, despite the cumbersome workload that you are doing. You should see it as a strength rather than seeing it as a disadvantage,” he said. 

    Consultant pediatrician and author, Dr. Kayode Olamide Simidele Valentine, spoke on the effects of brain drain in the medical sector, urging government to address basic needs like security, remuneration and employment for vast improvement in the medical system. 

    He said: “There’s what we call the pull factors and the push factors, the pull factors are enticing things that people abroad and the countries abroad what they do for their doctors to entice them. Those are the things that we call the pull factors. 

    “The push factors are things like in Nigeria that push, those things that push the doctors and the non-doctors, even the nurses and other paramedics out of the country. What push them out are things like insecurity, poor remuneration, poor mentorship. 

    “All these things make the doctor not stay. When they see that there is no good environment for them, there is insecurity, there is poor mentorship. Governments can address these basic things. When there is more insecurity of people are more recognized and defined, there is more to their remuneration given by the doctors that finishing school are actually able to get good payment and poverty level is reduced.”

    Chairman of Megida Charity foundation, Gbadamosi J O delivered a goodwill message on behalf of the foundation, sharing the innovations of the foundation and advised the students to continue being focused on their academics, focus on other beneficial activities like Entrepreneurship and Politics and above all urged them to build the country by keying into opportunities early in life. 

    Chairman Lead Organsing Committee of the convention Sidiq Taofeek Shola, a 500level student in LAUTECH appreciated the guest speakers, organising committee, attendees from various universities in the southwest region, and those who contributed to the success of the event. 

    He also advised that students should not just depend on the ABC of school work but also look outside the walls of academics. 

    “I encourage the medical students who work so hard and also they should be committed to their academics, they should read well because in life academics is just like a step forward for somebody to achieve a great success. 

    “But i would say for a medical student or for a medical doctor, you should navigate through entrepreneurship and politics, it will help you, even i personally, as the LOC chairman, and I do not base only on the academics, i have some extra works that I’m doing based on entrepreneurship and also politics as well,” he said. 

    Read Also: Unite to combat malaria – NiMSA urges Nigerians

    Sidiq pleaded with the government to introduce quality innovation to help students scale through the huddles of unemployment by imbibing in their curriculum entrepreneurial activities. 

    The event featured inter-school quiz and debate competitions, inter-school sport competitions, award giving, networking, educative and interactive sessions amongst others. 

    Alao Ayomide Omoshola an attendee praised the organizers of the event for their efforts to bring together medical students for the convention, stating it was an informative and engaging experience. 

    “I want to appreciate the organizers of the event, it’s been a wonderful experience, it was educative, informative, an avenue to meet new people, to network, to also learn things cutting across politics, entrepreneurship, academics, and so on” 

  • Unite to combat malaria – NiMSA urges Nigerians

    Unite to combat malaria – NiMSA urges Nigerians

    The Nigerian Medical Students’ Association (NiMSA), southwest region, has urged communities across the country to unite to combat the scourge of malaria and other diseases.

    The regional director of medical outreach of NiMSA, Edobor Faith stated this at the medical outreach organised by the group in partnership with the Medical Women’s Association of Nigeria (MWAN) in Lagos state, Mobihealth and Rotaract 9110.

    The programme held at the RCCG, Chapel of Solution, Lagos Province 8, Region 2, Mushin, Lagos, was organised to commemorate the year 2024 World Malaria Day, themed: Health, Equity, Gender and Human Rights.

    Speaking on the intervention, she said: “Through medical outreaches, we extend care to those most vulnerable, bridging gaps in healthcare access and knowledge.

    This medical outreach is carried out all over the southwest states. It cut across 15 medical schools participating in terms of carrying out enlightenment campaigns, tests including malaria, HIV, blood sugar tests and distribution of insecticide nets and menstrual pads to female participants.

    Every test administered, every bed net distributed, and every piece of advice imparted is a step towards a malaria-free world. Together, through collective action and compassion, we can turn the tide against malaria, ensuring healthier futures for generations to come.

    Read Also: Dangers of establishing state police in Nigeria under current governance conditions

    At this point, I must commend the interventions of our donors and partners. I commend the president of MWAN, our host, Pastor of RCCG, Pastor Foluso Oyesiku, NiMSA regional coordinator, Southwest, Damilola Oriji, Rotaract District 9110 and my colleagues and local officers of NiMSA across the Southwest. Without you, all this wouldn’t have been possible.“ 

    President of MWAN in Lagos, Dr Funmi Ige urged the government to make quality healthcare accessible to Nigerians.

    Every Nigerian regardless of gender and social status, according to her, deserves unhindered access to quality healthcare.

    Speaking on the significance of the programme, Ige said that Nigeria and indeed, Africa are malaria-endemic zones which is why the government at all levels should pay more attention to curbing the spread of the disease.

    She said: “To commemorate this year’s World Malaria Day, we are screening 300 patients for Malaria, HIV, HBP, and Blood sugar and also enlightening them on preventive measures and how to live a healthy lifestyle.

    A lot can be done to curb the spread of malaria and also reduce the number of casualties from the disease. As we know, we are in the malaria endemic zone in Nigeria and Africa. This means that malaria is peculiar to our areas therefore the fight against malaria is a continuous one.

    The government is trying its best to curb the spread of the disease. At MWAN, we are complementing this effort. We are interested in the well-being of the populace both women and children. So, we do health enlightenment and education concerning malaria and other diseases to let Nigerians know how to prevent it and when it thus happens, what they should do to get tested.

    She said: “In this outreach, we are testing and distributing drugs and insecticide-treated nets free of cost courtesy of our partnering pharmaceutical organisations. We are extending the test to Hepatitis B for interested participants. We are calling on well-meaning Nigerians to support this cause so that we can reach out to more Nigerians.  

    “We are saying that Nigerians have a right to access healthcare regardless of gender therefore we are calling on the State and federal Governments to prioritise the wellness of all Nigerians. Every Nigerian should have the right to quality healthcare.”

    The Medical Director of Rotaract District 9110, Bola Owate urged the government to operate a more sustainable healthcare system and prioritise the prevention of diseases.

    He said: “At Rotaract, we are contributing our quota to reducing the burden of malaria as well as providing relief care possible.

    We are not only focusing on malaria. Our focus is also on other diseases like cardiovascular diseases such as hypertension and diabetes. Today, we are screening for malaria with free drugs insecticide-treated net to be distributed to patients.

    Under this, my message to the government and Nigerians is to prioritise the prevention of disease. Using malaria as a prototype, the Nigerian government has invested a lot of resources in the prevention of malaria and even in healthcare, the burden of malaria is on the increase. There is a saying that an average Nigeria is one disease away from poverty thus we cannot continue to operate a health system that is not sustainable.

    We need to prioritise prevention, preventive practices and policies. Many communities across the countries have poor sanitary hygiene and environmental policies; this has increased the burden of malaria and other cardiovascular diseases. The government needs to invest in healthcare infrastructure to curb communicable and non-communicable diseases.”

    Representative of Mobihealth and medical laboratory scientist, Dennis Nima disclosed that several new cases of malaria and high blood pressure were discovered.

    According to him, many patients also tested positive for fasting blood sugar.

    He said: “There are many cases of these and prescriptions have been given to them. The government should provide quality healthcare for the people and also try as much as possible to eradicate poverty because poverty also plays a huge role in the spread of malaria.”

    He advised patients to keep their environment clean to prevent malaria.