By Stephen V. Lansana
The College of Medicine and Allied Health Sciences (COMAHS), one of the constituent colleges of the University of Sierra Leone, has on Wednesday January 10, 2024 conducted orientation ceremony for 3, 250 students who had been admitted for the 2023/2024 academic year, at the COMAHS compound, Jui in the Western Area Rural District.
The ceremony brought together senior administrative staff within the University of Sierra Leone.
In the Chairman’s opening remarks, the Dean of Faculty Clinical Sciences of COMAHS, Professor James B. W. Russell said that the students were about to begin a journey that would not only change their lives, but society and patients’ care as a whole.
“It can be challenging to master everything but they [lecturers and the administration] will be with them [students] right through their academic journey,” he promised.
He told the students that they could have the most supportive parents and lecturers but none of that would make any difference unless they [students] work diligently to achieve their goal, noting that the students should take ownership of their learning.
He called on them to put God first in everything they do. “Everything you see in me was achieved through God,” he inspired the students.
“Remember, education is not just about learning. Education is the key and to get any career path. Simply graduating from a medical school will not make you successful but you need to work hard,” he said.
He urged the students to take their education seriously because the future of the country is in their hands, noting that as medical students, they needed several skills like critical thinking skills, creativity and innovative thinking which would help them to be exceptional in their careers.
He disclosed that the standard of COMAHS is very high, adding that quitting medical school would not be the best option irrespective of the difficulties they would face during the course.
“When I was a medical student, I faced many challenges. My parents were retiring but my siblings supported me. I graduated as an average student. But after medical school, I was able to achieve all these,” he shared his experience with the students. “These experience thought me perseverance. Your background or financial situation should not be seen as an excuse to dropout from college.”
He emphasized that the current situation of the students does not determine where they would end, stating that no one has control over his or her destiny.
He encouraged the students to set their own goals, noting that they could set a simple goal.
Professor Russell advised the students to be careful with social clubs on campus, adding that as freshmen, they had no business being part of social clubs.
“Make sure you get enough sleep. Avoid drugs that are stimulants that will keep you awake. Eat healthy. Try as best as possible to resonate with the lectures,” he counseled. “No one is born with proficiency in all areas. Never hesitate to ask questions. Seek guidance and be willing to learn from others. Build good relationships whilst maintaining existing ones.”
The Deputy Vice Chancellor of COMAHS Prof (Dr.) Mohamed Samai explained that the institution has six faculties, and added that for medical students, they should move from the Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences and Faculty of Clinical Medicine within six years before they graduate. He explained that those pursuing medicine had not actually started studying.
He disclosed that Sierra Leone needs 5,000 doctors to serve a population of 8 million people, but added, “We currently have about 500 doctors”. “So, we are far behind,” he noted, and added that before now the college had been producing at least 50 doctors a year, noting that if they continued in that rate then Sierra Leone as a nation would need 100 years to get the number of doctors it requires provided none of them die.
“This year, we have the highest number of students (3, 250 students),” he said.
He disclosed that in the previous year, the Minister of Health brought a donor who had agreed to build basic faculty blocks which would house a number of lecture theatres, labs and other facilities, among others, adding that the same donor had opted to provide internet facility on campus.
He said that unlike other institutions, COMAHS is being regulated by Tertiary Education Commission (TEC) and the Medical and Dental Councils, adding that the medical council has the authority to close down any medical school that is not doing well.
He called on the students to dress well, pointing out that they college administration would not tolerate students wearing jeans and t-shirts to attend lectures.
In his welcome address, Deputy Registrar of COMAHS, Mr. Winston Webber said that ideally, every year the college organizes orientation ceremony for newly admitted students during which students will be told what to do and the expectations of the institution, adding that the students would have opportunity to ask questions and which the administration would answer respond to.