FG Plans Six Medical Simulation Centres, Targets 20,000 Annual Admissions

The Federal Government says it plans to establish six medical simulation centres across Nigeria’s geopolitical zones as part of a push to expand training capacity for health professionals.

Education Minister Tunji Alausa announced the plan while receiving the report of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund Medical Simulation Committee. The government is targeting 20,000 annual medical school admissions within three years, alongside wider training for dental, nursing, pharmacy and allied health students.

Alausa said the centres would give students controlled practical environments before they begin treating patients. He said enrolment in health-related programmes had risen sharply, with nursing enrolment moving from about 38,000 three years ago to more than 115,000.

The proposal comes amid continued concern over the migration of Nigerian-trained health workers. The government says expanding practical training is one way to increase the number of qualified workers while improving the quality of clinical preparation.

Source: Punch