I. HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

The Faculty of Medical Sciences was started in 1975 and a year later, one hundred students were admitted to courses leading to the first professional examination in medicine with Professor A.C. Ikeme, a professor of medicine as the foundation dean of the faculty. The teaching of courses leading to the 2nd professional examinations commenced in October 1977 under very difficult circumstances - teaching staff were few, buildings were incomplete and equipments were very inadequate. The 1978/79 session saw the rapid growth of the faculty as staff strength doubled in the preclinical departments and additional staff were recruited in the clinical areas. In 1979 the Nigerian Medical Council approved the courses and facilities for the preclinical school while provisional approval for the then Murtala Mohammed Hospital to be used as a temporary Teaching Hospital, was given in 1980 by the Council.

From its inception, the founding fathers of the Medical School at the University of Jos, formulated its policies based on a Collegiate System. When the School of Laboratory and Health Technology gets affiliated to the university, the stage will be set for the creation of the nucleus of a College of Medicine. The Faculty of Medicine graduated its first set of doctors in 1982.

The Faculty of Medical Sciences through its teaching hospital participates actively in the promotion of health care in its locality, and also does so through Primary Health Care Centres in Zamko and Gindiri. Medical personnel from the faculty actively participate in Comprehensive Health Centres and Primary Health Clinics in collaboration with the State Ministry of Health. As an aid to developing skills in the application of knowledge the faculty places considerable reliance on a Medical Unit of Instructional Technology (MITU) whose chief function is to design instructional materials and advise on the use of economical and efficient learning aids and techniques. Continuing education of members of the health professions is achieved through the Continuous Education Unit of the Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH) which regularly organises workshops, seminars, other continuing education programmes and management courses for medical and paramedical staff. The present dean of the faculty is the Zonal Co-ordinator for Continuing Education in Surgery for the entire North East Zone under the auspices of the National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria. These yearly staff development programmes reach out not only to the faculty staff but also to the practicing doctors in the field throughout the states in the North East Zone. The faculty also encourages continuing education through the Jos Medical Society. The Faculty caters for the social welfare of staff through a standing committee and social interaction between staff and students is maintained through the vibrant Jos University Medical Students Association (JUMSA) which has a Journal for the dissemination of knowledge.

II. THE FACULTY MISSION STATEMENT

The primary aim of the Faculty of Medical Sciences of the University of Jos, is to participate in meeting the national objectives on Medical Education and Health Care Delivery and it does so through:

* the evolution of a system based on the production of a health care team, which emphasises the key role of the doctor working in close collaboration with other health personnel in health care delivery.

* the production of doctors with the appropriate knowledge , skills and understanding to meet the needs of the community; doctors who will further their education through the practice of medicine all life-long.

* the exposure of students to health problems manifested in the general population, through participation in health care at rural and district hospital levels.

* the emphasis of community aspects of the diseases of man and his environment to facilitate the prevention of diseases.

* the systematic development of scholarship and research.

III. THE FACULTY OF MEDICAL SCIENCES TODAY

In its 23 years of existence, the Faculty of Medical Sciences is yet to realise the dreams of being part of a College of Medicine and moving to the Permanent Site of the Teaching Hospital. Nevertheless it has made giant strides and achievements in the areas of training, research and services. The Faculty of Medical Sciences has interim accreditation status as approved by the NUC and the Medical School has been accredited and reaccredited by the Nigerian Medical Council. The National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria and the West African College of Physicians and Surgeons have approved the faculties’ postgraduate medical programmes. The Medical School is listed by the World Health Organisation (W.H.O). and has turned out hundreds of graduates whose quality and skill are second to none. They are fruitfully employed in Nigeria, in Europe, the Americas and many other parts of Africa. JUTH has been active in postgraduate professional training through the West African College of Physicians and Surgeons and the National Postgraduate Medical College, thus enabling young doctors acquire specialist experience and expertise for all-round clinical competence. In these examinations University of Jos, students have many times produced best candidates and the universities’ reputation remains high in the postgraduate colleges.

JUTH has a complement of about 530 beds with one of the highest bed turnovers in the country with surgical operations alone, amounting to over 3000 patients annually. Its catchment, extends up to the federal capital territory and valuable 24 hourly clinical services are rendered to the community. It is one of the few centres in the country with a full complement of general practice departments engaged in the postgraduate training of staff. The hospital is responsible for the general practice services to the hinterland in Zamko and Gindiri and all the various sub-specialties in Medicine, Obstetrics and Gyneacology (O & G), Surgery and Paediatrics, are provided for. Staff engage in community services such as Radio-Doctor Programmes, Non Governmental Organisation (NGO) Workshops on radio and television and various other forms of dissemination of medical knowledge. Staff are involved in hospital, laboratory and community based research and their findings are presented in local and international conferences. Research areas include: HIV and TB studies, Alcohol and the liver (Work is going on in Echocardiography and Renal Medicine), Dyspepsiasy, Splenic rate in endemic malaria zones in Plateau State, Hirschsprungs’ disease and Predeposit autologous blood transfusion.

Through JUTH, the faculty is affiliated to other Nigerian University Teaching Hospitals for the training of postgraduate doctors. The Faculty of Medical Sciences and The Teaching Hospital are affiliated to Duke University, New Mexico, USA and the Medical School of the University of Utah, Salt Lake City, USA. while a new affiliation is being developed with. John Hopkins Hospital Baltimore, USA. The Chemical Pathology Department is a reference centre on Micronutrients, for UNICEF.

There is, still an acute shortage of staff, office accommodation and equipment, in the clinical areas: Microscopes and computers are in short supply while communication between the teaching hospital and the preclinical departments is poor. There is need for improved telephone and transportation services .

The course credit system remains problematic for the faculty. The Committee of Deans of Faculties of Medical Sciences and Provosts of Colleges of Medicine in Nigeria, holds the view that, the integrated system of tutelage in the Medical Schools does not favour the implementation of course credit system. Nonetheless with the curriculum in use, courses are taught as required by the NUC. The faculty is working out a modus operandi that will help it marry the course credit system with the traditional medical school programme without compromising standards.

Current faculty areas of strength and emerging centres of excellence are in Gastroenterology and Gerontology which are both multidisciplinary. In the long term, Community Health will be added. There is already a well trained complement of gastroenterologists both surgical, and medical, adult and paediatric surgical, who will work together to develop a centre of excellence. There are equipments on ground including gastroduodenoscopes and colonoscope and pioneer research work has been undertaken in this area both in surgery, medicine and paediatric surgery. A gastroenterology laboratory is a sine qua non for building up the unit. Globally, geriatric medicine has developed into a relevant functional department in the medical field. This has not been so in the third world countries principally due to low life expectancy in these regions. However with improved medical services and a rise in the living standards of the populace, the next millennium will witness the citizenry surviving to a reasonably advanced age bracket. Geriatric medicine will thereafter come to focus. Jos and its environs, with its semi-temperate climate will readily provide a natural, salubrious atmosphere for the study of gerontology (the treatment and rehabilitation of geriatric patients), not only for Nigeria but for the West African Subregion.

IV. THE VISION OF THE FACULTY OF MEDICAL SCIENCES

In the next five years we envisage the emergence of a Faculty of Medicine within a College of Medical Sciences , that ranks among the first three in the entire country and one of the best in Black Africa. The college of medical sciences will be organised into the Faculties of Medicine, Dentistry, Nursing and Pharmacy as well as other such faculties that may be required to produce the leadership cadre in the various health disciplines.

V. GOALS AND STRATEGIES:

FS = Faculty Strategy

Goal 1: Comprehensive strength in undergraduate programmes

FS1.1 Foster the recruitment of more staff, within and particularly outside the institution.

FS1.2 Complete the construction of the new laboratory for medical students and reactivate the multipurpose diagnostic laboratory.

FS1.3 Expedite all round expansion of facilities by establishing structures on the Permanent Site of The University Teaching Hospital.

FS1.4 Foster the training of community physicians, middle and lower level manpower for Federal and State Ministries of Health, in the local government areas, through the Department of Community Health and Health Systems Research Unit

FS1.5 Introduce training programmes for a Diploma in Psychiatry and a B.Sc. Degree in Behavioural Sciences.

FS1.6 Support the local production of text books.

FS1.7 Support the earliest location of student hostels for clinical students, in the teaching hospital.

Goal 2: First class postgraduate and professional programmes in a significant number of areas.

FS2.1 Resuscitate the Diploma in Anaesthesia for doctors.

FS2.1 Foster improved professional and research activity in the area of Gastroenterology in Surgery and Medicine.

FS2.2 Improve facilities and activities in the area of Gerontology .

FS2.3 Reactivate the Jos Medical Society Journal.

FS2.4 Reactivate collaborative research between the Department of Biochemistry and JICA. (The Japanese International Agency (JICA) is a governmental organisation which provided research materials, training and personnel to the department up to 1986 ).

FS2.5 Support efforts to compound nutritionally rich supplements from locally produced foods.

Goal 3: A quality academic and conducive working environment.

FS 3.1 Limit annual student headcount enrolment, in line with existing facilities.

FS 3.2 Improve library facilities and provide more office space in JUTH.

FS 3.3 Support the Department of Psychiatry to mount workshops and seminars on the role of stress in the work place, within and outside the University.

FS 3.4 Support efforts of the University Computer Centre to train all staff in the use of computers.

FS 3.5 Foster the provision of vital incentives such as a good salary package.

Goal 4: Academic and Administrative Staff of National and International Distinction:

FS 4.1 Source for external funding to support ongoing studies in goitre and dental fluorosis.

FS 4.2 Provide increased support for attendance at conferences.

Goal 5: Effective and efficient utilisation of limited resources.

FS 5.1 Reactivate the atomic absorption spectrophotometer, gas chromatograph, ion chromatographic analyser, UV/visible spectrophotometer, stable centrifuge and pH meter ( all vital facilities in the department of biochemistry) for university-wide use.

FS 5.2 Participate actively in the Long Vacation Programme to be run by the Centre for Continuing Education in order to exploit the advantages of the course credit unit system.

FS5.3 Share a college bus (run in a self funding way) for field work by staff and students, with other faculties in the same college.

Goal 6: Increased provision and use of information technology

FS 6.1 Establish a faculty computer laboratory and provide access to the University Network and The Internet.

Goal 7: Decentralisation and Transparency in Administration

FS 7.1 Support the installation of the collegiate system to include a College of Medical Sciences.

Goal 8: Increased Participation of a diverse range of stakeholders

FS 8.1 Offer commercial services in the areas of:

Environmental pollution with respect to heavy metals and organic complex concentrations in water and soil;

Industrial pollution and quality control services to industries on products that require biochemical assays;

Training services to companies, industries and ministries in exchange for funds and equipment. (Some Jos based industries (JIB, NASCO) have already shown interest).

FS8.2 Introduce a Fee Paying, Certificate Course for Anaesthetic Assistants (training to look after equipment and assist anaesthetists during surgical operations).

FS 8.3 Mount diploma programmes in various areas of the medical sciences to generate revenue for the University.

FS 8.4 Liaise with the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Pharmaceutical Companies to introduce a programme on Controlled Drug Trials.

FS 8.6 Introduce commercialisation of laboratory services in the areas of Electrocardiography; Electroencephalography; Respiratory function tests and Haematological investigations in the Department of Physiology.

FS 8.7 Introduce commercial embalming and clinical X-ray services.

FS 8.8 Commerrcialise the functional Histochemistry Laboratory for Research and Diagnosis of Diseases.

FS 8.9 Commercialise functional Genetics Laboratory for Research and Karyotyping and diagnosis of Genetic disorders, both prenatal and postnatal diagnosis.

FS 8.10 Commercialise electron microscopic unit for research and diagnosis of diseases.

FS 8.11 Commercialise Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) Services in collaboration with the

Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology.

FS 8.12 Commercialise Maceration Unit for skeleton production.

FS 8.13 Offer Forensic Biochemistry Services to Law Enforcement Arms of Government.

FS 8.14 Offer services in the area of Laboratory Assays, through the conduct of various endocrine, hormonal and metabolic tests, and in the area of determination of Micronutrient in the plasma (e.g. Vit A, Iodine, Ferritin), through the Department of Chemical Pathology

FS 8.15 Set up laboratory service for clinical electroencephalography as well as for electroconvulsive therapy and effect minimal charges.

FS 8.16 Support MITU to evolve as a self funding commercial unit.

VI. ACTION PLAN

1998 to 1999:

Correct all deficiencies in the faculty to bring it to full accreditation status.

Improve the Central Campus Library facilities and set up Departmental Libraries.

Commence the installation of the Collegiate System.

1999 to 2000:

Reactivate the atomic absorption spectrophotometer, gas chromatograph, ion chromatographic analyser, UV/visible spectrophotometer, stable centrifuge and pH meter ( all vital facilities in the department of biochemistry) for university-wide use.

Complete the construction of the new laboratory for medical students and reactivate the multipurpose diagnostic laboratory.

Expedite all round expansion of facilities by establishing structures on the Permanent Site of The University Teaching Hospital.

Provide hostel accommodation in the Teaching Hospital for all clinical students.

2000 to 2001:

Establish a Faculty Computer Laboratory and provide Internet Access.

Share a college bus (run in a self funding way) with other faculties in the same college, for staff and students to go for clinical ward rounds and field trips.

Mount certificate and diploma programmes to generate revenue for the university.

2001 to 2002:

Set up  more revenue generating programmes.

Support the provision of recreational facilities for staff and students through collaboration with the private sector.

2002 to 2003:

Conclude action on all revenue generating programmes.

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