College charges graduands on patients’ care

The National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria (NPMCN) has challenged the newly graduated diplomates of the college to kindly exhibit humane services to their patients while discharging their duties.

President of the college, Prof. Ademola Olaitan, who gave the charge while speaking at the joint graduation ceremonies of award of diploma in Anaesthesia and Family Medicine, said that reminded the doctors that the aim of the programme was to have physicians who would provide holistic, integrated care to patients irrespective of age, gender, race and type of diseases, adding that it is in line with the care practice of the primary care physician of promoting health, curing diseases, rehabilitating and focusing on the social and economic development of the community.

He said, “The identified need to improve the quality of care and services provided by the private sector, a critical group that handles about 70 per cent health services delivery, informed the initiation of the postgraduate diploma training programme in Family Medicine and later in Anaesthesia by the College. Your Diploma certificate is very valuable. It is not just to put meals on your table or to butter your bread, but it is a certificate and it provides opportunities for you to utilise it to wipe away sorrows and tears from as many patients as will come your way.

“I want to assure you of the college’s desires and commitment to continuously improve on the quality of these programmes in line with our national health needs and international best practices. Having stated these desires, it will be appropriate to reiterate your responsibilities to the college. You need to key in to the goals, developmental needs and aspirations of our college. Regular and constant communications with college to determine how best you could be of assistance will be in the right direction. Your promotion and support for the values and philosophy of your Faculties are also encouraged.”

Congratulating the new diplomates for completing the scheduled training and for their success in the prescribed examinations, he said, “This achievement marks a great milestone in your career and aspirations to improve on the quality of professional care you render to your patients. You have also moved forward in assisting with realisation of dreams of government, our college and the teeming populace for further improvement in the quality of health care services in Nigeria.”