Kano varsity hospital produces first batch of senior resident doctors

Ten medical doctors undertaking postgraduate training at Yusuf Maitama Sule University Teaching Hospital have become the first set to successfully write the Part 1 examinations qualifying them as senior resident doctors from the hospital.

The Chief Medical Director (CMD) of the hospital, Dr Mustapha Hikima, in an interview with Kano Chronicle said the success of the students was a good development for the state which, he noted, until recently, had less than 20 consultants in radiology.

He explained that the postgraduate training consists of three steps: the primaries exam, Part 1 exams and Part 2.

“The first step is the one that qualifies you to start the training, that is the primaries exam, and when you start, you take about two to three years and take the Part 1 exams and once you pass this exam, professionally you can work independently as you have achieved a reasonable knowledge and skills that you can, to a large extent, offer services as a senior resident or senior registrar and the college considers you as a member,” the CMD said.

He added that after about two years as a senior resident doctor, the Part 2 exams could be taken and when successful, such a person becomes a qualified consultant.

“Our programme started in 2017/2018, following its accreditation by the West African College of Surgeons. We have never had something like that in these two fields that we have produced.

“There have been a lot of doubts whether state government can do a thing like this because medical training is capital intensive but we have received a lot of goodwill and support from the government.

“The beauty of it is that we sent 10 of them for the exams and all of them passed at the first attempt. Eight of them are from Obstetrics and Gynaecology and they are now senior residents; the other two are from the Department of Radiology and are also senior residents. I do not think if you go round the country, you will see a result as good as this,” he said.

The CMD said the students’ success at the first attempt was a testament that the hospital is doing the right thing, as in some instances people took the exams two to three times before they succeed.

With the state having less than 20 consultants in Radiology, the CMD said, “It is a giant step forward that will ensure the availability of expert services. We have two on the way with seven more still in training that are waiting for their time to go and write the Part 1 exams.”