NUC INSPECTS COOUTH FACILITIES AS COOU SEEKS APPROVAL FOR FIVE NEW HEALTH PROGRAMMES
By Obianuju Azukaego
The National Universities Commission (NUC) Resource Verification Team has inspected facilities at the Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University Teaching Hospital (COOUTH), Amaku, Awka, as part of the process for assessing five proposed health science programmes at Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University (COOU).
The inspection, which took place on Aug. 27, focused on the hospital’s clinical facilities, equipment, personnel and other resources required to support the proposed programmes in Radiography, Optometry, Environmental Health, Public Health and Physiotherapy.
Receiving the NUC Resource Persons, the Chief Medical Director of COOUTH, Dr. Maureen Uche Umeakuewulu, said the exercise was an important step in strengthening the relationship between the university and its teaching hospital.
Representing the Chief Medical Director, the Deputy Chairman, Medical Advisory Committee, Dr. Ifeoma Njelita, welcomed the team and described COOU and COOUTH as “Siamese twins,” emphasising the close collaboration between both institutions in medical education, clinical training, research and healthcare delivery.
According to her, the verification exercise could further enhance the development of COOUTH and support Dr. Umeakuewulu’s vision of transforming the teaching hospital into a centre of global excellence.
The proposed programmes are expected to expand opportunities for students seeking careers in different areas of health sciences while strengthening the pool of skilled professionals available to contribute to healthcare delivery.
The university management has reaffirmed its commitment to providing the facilities, qualified personnel, strategic partnerships and conducive learning environment required for the programmes to meet NUC standards.
The NUC team explained that the exercise was designed to objectively assess existing resources and identify areas requiring improvement before the programmes are established.
The assessment is expected to ensure that the proposed programmes are built on a strong academic and clinical foundation and are capable of providing students with the facilities and practical experience required for quality professional training.
Also present during the inspection was the Provost of the College of Medicine, Professor Lawrence Ikeakor, while the NUC Resource Verification Team was led by the Director of Academic Planning, Prof. Nneka Nnorom.
The exercise underscores the importance of strong university-teaching hospital partnerships in producing competent healthcare professionals and improving the quality of healthcare delivery.
Obianuju Azukaego is of the Ministry of Information and Value Reformation, Anambra State
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