MDCN to New GSU Doctors: Let Compassion, Integrity Guide Your Medical Career

By Auwal Ahmad

The Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) has urged newly qualified medical doctors from Gombe State University (GSU) to build their careers on compassion, professionalism, integrity and collaboration with other healthcare workers.

The advice was delivered during the university’s sixth induction ceremony for medical graduates and the third annual Prof. Idris Mohammed Lecture organised by the College of Medical Sciences in Gombe.

Representing the MDCN Registrar, Prof. Fatima Kyari, Assistant Registrar, Dr Ali Mandaka, described the induction as a major transition from academic training to the realities of professional medical practice.

He congratulated the graduates for reaching an important milestone but reminded them that qualifying as doctors marked the beginning of a lifelong commitment to learning and service.

“The journey into medicine truly begins after graduation. Beyond academic excellence, patients expect compassion, honesty and professionalism from every doctor,” he said.

He praised the College of Medical Sciences for maintaining high standards in medical education and acknowledged the contributions of the university management and academic staff in producing competent healthcare professionals.

Mandaka reaffirmed the council’s commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s healthcare system by supporting institutions responsible for training medical personnel.

Addressing the newly inducted doctors, he urged them to place patients’ welfare at the centre of their practice, stressing that every individual seeking medical attention deserved dignity, empathy and quality care.

He also reminded them that effective healthcare depends on cooperation among different professionals, including nurses, pharmacists, laboratory scientists, physiotherapists and other members of the medical team.

According to him, no healthcare professional can function effectively in isolation, adding that mutual respect among all hospital staff is essential for quality patient care.

He encouraged the graduates to value the experience of senior colleagues while extending courtesy and respect to every worker within the hospital environment, regardless of their role.

On the next phase of their professional development, Mandaka explained that the council would issue provisional registration certificates to the graduates, enabling them to enrol on the centralised housemanship placement portal where they would apply for hospitals to undertake the compulsory one-year internship.

He noted that the internship must be completed within two years of provisional registration, warning that graduates who fail to secure placement within the stipulated period may be required to undergo an assessment by the council before proceeding.

Delivering a lecture at the event, Chairman of the National Emergency Medical Treatment Committee, Prof. Ismail Jibrin, encouraged the young doctors to approach their profession with humility, discipline and a deep sense of responsibility.

He acknowledged that medicine can be physically and emotionally demanding but said the profession offers unique opportunities to save lives, restore hope and make lasting differences in people’s lives.

Jibrin advised the graduates to remain guided by empathy and ethical conduct, especially during difficult moments in their careers, saying the trust placed in doctors comes with enormous responsibility.

A total of 45 medical graduates were inducted during the ceremony, officially qualifying them to begin the process of undertaking their mandatory housemanship in accredited health institutions across Nigeria.

The Provost of the College of Medical Sciences, Prof. Abubakar Difa, congratulated the graduates for successfully completing the demanding academic and clinical training required for the medical profession.

He also commended the parents, lecturers and other stakeholders whose support contributed to the successful training of the new doctors, expressing confidence in their ability to uphold the values of the medical profession

MDCN to New GSU Doctors: Let Compassion, Integrity Guide Your Medical Career

By Auwal Ahmad

The Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) has urged newly qualified medical doctors from Gombe State University (GSU) to build their careers on compassion, professionalism, integrity and collaboration with other healthcare workers.

The advice was delivered during the university’s sixth induction ceremony for medical graduates and the third annual Prof. Idris Mohammed Lecture organised by the College of Medical Sciences in Gombe.

Representing the MDCN Registrar, Prof. Fatima Kyari, Assistant Registrar, Dr Ali Mandaka, described the induction as a major transition from academic training to the realities of professional medical practice.

He congratulated the graduates for reaching an important milestone but reminded them that qualifying as doctors marked the beginning of a lifelong commitment to learning and service.

“The journey into medicine truly begins after graduation. Beyond academic excellence, patients expect compassion, honesty and professionalism from every doctor,” he said.

He praised the College of Medical Sciences for maintaining high standards in medical education and acknowledged the contributions of the university management and academic staff in producing competent healthcare professionals.

Mandaka reaffirmed the council’s commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s healthcare system by supporting institutions responsible for training medical personnel.

Addressing the newly inducted doctors, he urged them to place patients’ welfare at the centre of their practice, stressing that every individual seeking medical attention deserved dignity, empathy and quality care.

He also reminded them that effective healthcare depends on cooperation among different professionals, including nurses, pharmacists, laboratory scientists, physiotherapists and other members of the medical team.

According to him, no healthcare professional can function effectively in isolation, adding that mutual respect among all hospital staff is essential for quality patient care.

He encouraged the graduates to value the experience of senior colleagues while extending courtesy and respect to every worker within the hospital environment, regardless of their role.

On the next phase of their professional development, Mandaka explained that the council would issue provisional registration certificates to the graduates, enabling them to enrol on the centralised housemanship placement portal where they would apply for hospitals to undertake the compulsory one-year internship.

He noted that the internship must be completed within two years of provisional registration, warning that graduates who fail to secure placement within the stipulated period may be required to undergo an assessment by the council before proceeding.

Delivering a lecture at the event, Chairman of the National Emergency Medical Treatment Committee, Prof. Ismail Jibrin, encouraged the young doctors to approach their profession with humility, discipline and a deep sense of responsibility.

He acknowledged that medicine can be physically and emotionally demanding but said the profession offers unique opportunities to save lives, restore hope and make lasting differences in people’s lives.

Jibrin advised the graduates to remain guided by empathy and ethical conduct, especially during difficult moments in their careers, saying the trust placed in doctors comes with enormous responsibility.

A total of 45 medical graduates were inducted during the ceremony, officially qualifying them to begin the process of undertaking their mandatory housemanship in accredited health institutions across Nigeria.

The Provost of the College of Medical Sciences, Prof. Abubakar Difa, congratulated the graduates for successfully completing the demanding academic and clinical training required for the medical profession.

He also commended the parents, lecturers and other stakeholders whose support contributed to the successful training of the new doctors, expressing confidence in their ability to uphold the values of the medical profession.

UNICEF, Gombe Launch Initiative to Combat Child Malnutrition, Call for Greater Investment in First 1,000 Days

By Auwal Ahmad Umar

The Gombe State Government, in partnership with UNICEF and the Latter-day Saints Charities (LDSC), has launched a new nutrition project aimed at preventing malnutrition among mothers and children during the first 1,000 days of life, describing the period as the foundation for a child’s lifelong health, learning and productivity.

The project, unveiled during a stakeholders’ meeting at Travel View Hotel in Gombe, seeks to strengthen maternal and child nutrition services, improve infant and young child feeding practices, and reduce child malnutrition across the state.

Speaking at the event, the UNICEF Chief of Field Office praised the Gombe State Government for its sustained commitment to improving the welfare of women and children through strategic investments and collaboration with development partners.

> **”Today represents another important milestone in our collective commitment to ensuring that every mother and every child in Gombe State have the opportunity not only to survive but to thrive,”** the UNICEF official said.

The official noted that the first 1,000 days—from conception until a child’s second birthday—are the most critical period for brain development, physical growth, immunity and lifelong health, stressing that investments made during this period produce some of the highest returns in human capital development.

> **”The first 1,000 days happen only once. If we get it right, children will survive, learn better, grow stronger and become healthier, more productive citizens who contribute to the development of Gombe State,”** the official added.

UNICEF expressed concern over the persistent burden of malnutrition in Nigeria, citing findings from the **2023–2024 National Demographic and Health Survey**, which show that malnutrition remains a significant threat to children’s wellbeing in Gombe State.

The organisation explained that the new initiative is aligned with the Federal Government’s **Nutrition 774 (N-774) Initiative**, the Health Sector-Wide Approach (SWAp), and the National Food and Nutrition Policy. It is expected to strengthen nutrition planning, accountability, financing and service delivery at both state and local government levels.

According to UNICEF, the project will focus on strengthening evidence-based planning and coordination, improving maternal and child nutrition services, reinforcing health, food and social protection systems, and promoting social and behaviour change interventions to encourage healthy nutrition practices among families.

> **”These investments will help improve maternal nutrition, increase exclusive breastfeeding, promote appropriate complementary feeding, prevent micronutrient deficiencies, strengthen community-based nutrition services and ultimately reduce child malnutrition and mortality,”** the UNICEF representative said.

The organisation emphasised that no single institution can solve the challenge of malnutrition alone, calling for stronger collaboration among government ministries, traditional and religious institutions, civil society organisations, development partners and communities.

> **”The success of this initiative will require strong political commitment, sustained domestic investment and effective collaboration across sectors including health, agriculture, education, water, sanitation, social protection, traditional institutions, religious leaders, civil society and development partners,”** the official said.

UNICEF also urged stakeholders to prioritise nutrition as a key development investment by increasing domestic funding, strengthening coordination across sectors, using reliable data for planning and accountability, and mobilising communities to adopt optimal maternal, infant and young child feeding practices.

Representing Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya at the launch, the Executive Secretary of the Gombe State Primary Health Care Development Agency, **Dr Abdulrahman Shuaibu**, reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to improving maternal and child nutrition through sustained investments in primary healthcare and strategic partnerships with development organisations.

**”The administration of Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya recognises that good nutrition is fundamental to the survival, growth and development of every child. That is why we have continued to prioritise interventions that strengthen primary healthcare, improve nutrition services and expand access to quality healthcare for women and children across the state,”** Dr Shuaibu said.

He commended UNICEF and the Latter-day Saints Charities for supporting the initiative, describing the partnership as timely and critical to the state’s efforts to reduce child malnutrition. He assured stakeholders that the government would provide the necessary leadership, coordination and resources required for the successful implementation of the project.

Dr Shuaibu further called on traditional and religious leaders, civil society organisations, development partners and community members to support the campaign by promoting exclusive breastfeeding, proper complementary feeding and other healthy nutrition practices. According to him, collective action remains essential to ensuring that every child in Gombe has the opportunity to survive, grow and realise his or her full potential.

The launch marks another step in Gombe State’s efforts to tackle malnutrition and improve child survival, with stakeholders expressing optimism that the initiative will contribute to healthier families and better development outcomes across the state.

Gombe, UNICEF Targets Child Malnutrition with N1bn Lifeline

By Auwal Umar, Gombe

The Gombe State Government and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) have unveiled a N1 billion intervention aimed at combating acute malnutrition among children, as alarming nutrition indicators continue to threaten the well-being of thousands of young children across the state.

The intervention, funded through a counterpart arrangement in which the state government and UNICEF contributed N500 million each, will provide Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF) for the treatment of children suffering from severe acute malnutrition.

Speaking during a monitoring exercise of the nutrition commodities, the executive secretary of the Gombe State Primary Health Care Development Agency, Dr Abdulrahman Shuaibu, described malnutrition as one of the most serious public health challenges confronting the state.

According to him, the therapeutic food products will be distributed across all local government areas to ensure that affected children receive timely treatment and nutritional support.

“These emergency foods, known as ready-to-use therapeutic food, are meant for the management of children with acute malnutrition. The Gombe State Government has provided N500 million as matching funds, while UNICEF also contributed N500 million, bringing the total investment to N1 billion,” he said.

Dr Shuaibu noted that the government was taking proactive measures because of the growing burden of child malnutrition in the state.

Recent findings from the Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS) 2023-24 show that malnutrition remains a major concern in Gombe and across the North-East. The survey revealed that children in the region continue to face high levels of stunting, wasting and underweight conditions, indicators that reflect chronic and acute undernutrition.

The agency head said the intervention aims to save lives and get the supplies to the kids who need them most.

“Gombe has a high number of malnourished children, and this situation has compelled the government to take decisive action. We are monitoring the distribution process closely to ensure transparency and accountability so that these commodities reach the intended beneficiaries,” he stated.

Also speaking, UNICEF’s Vaccine Security and Logistics Representative in Gombe State, Pharmacist Abubakar Muhammad, said the intervention was informed by nutrition data that identified a significant number of children requiring urgent nutritional support.

“Based on available data, we observed that many children are suffering from malnutrition and require these nutritional supplements. That is why UNICEF intervened by providing ready-to-use therapeutic food for the management of malnourished children,” he explained.

Muhammad noted that UNICEF has maintained a strong partnership with Gombe State over the past seven years, supporting various health and nutrition programmes aimed at improving child survival and development.

“UNICEF has been supporting Gombe State for the past seven years, and we remain committed to sustaining this intervention and other programmes that improve the health and nutrition of children,” he added.

Health experts say severe acute malnutrition remains one of the leading causes of illness and death among children under five, especially in vulnerable communities where access to nutritious food is limited.

With the new N1 billion investment, thousands of children are expected to benefit from life-saving treatment, offering renewed hope to families struggling to protect their children from the devastating effects of hunger and malnutrition.

For many parents across Gombe, the intervention represents more than a government programme, it is a chance for their children to survive, recover and grow into healthy adults.