Unilorin Students Enhance Healthcare in Kwara Communities
Students enrolled in the Master of Public Health (MPH) program at the University of Ilorin collaborated with community stakeholders to enhance healthcare in Kwara communities.
Chris Oyeoku Okafor 
Students enrolled in the Master of Public Health (MPH) program at the University of Ilorin have made significant contributions to healthcare in Kwara communities by providing essential drugs, health interventions, and electricity to Primary Healthcare Centers (PHCs). This initiative also involved the repair of abandoned boreholes and the renovation of health facilities across various communities in the state.
Professor Bolarinwa Akeem, the Supervisor of the MPH program, disclosed this during the presentation of the 2024 MPH Field Posting Reports at the Department of Epidemiology and Community Health of the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital. He explained that the program was part of the students' statutory posting, designed to expose them to community-based services and research.
The three-month Harmattan Semester Program provided students with hands-on experience in community diagnosis and identifying health challenges, enabling them to offer appropriate health interventions. Akeem highlighted the multidisciplinary nature of the MPH program, involving disciplines such as laboratory technology and medicine, among others.
Furthermore, Akeem emphasized the collaborative efforts between the students and community stakeholders, as well as non-governmental organizations, in addressing healthcare challenges in various communities and local government areas of the state. He commended the students for their outstanding performance, underscoring the competitive nature of their presentations.
Additionally, Akeem noted the university's rigorous admission criteria aimed at training individuals to contribute effectively to the country's healthcare system. The initiative reflects the university's commitment to producing skilled professionals capable of making tangible improvements in public health.
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The collaborative efforts between Unilorin students and community stakeholders exemplify the importance of community engagement in addressing healthcare challenges and improving health outcomes in Kwara State.
