– By Chinedu Nwaduru
UCH, IBADAN – After what seemed like an endless silence with a bleak future in sight, all hope may yet not be lost for the University of Ibadan Medical Students’ Association (UIMSA) and her annual health week.
Although initial plans for the health week had been crippled by the two-month strike involving students of the College of Medicine, Ibadan and the administration over the increase in the school fees and the addition of a new levy – Health Professional Training Levy; the association has decided to forge ahead with plans to celebrate the health week.
Speaking with a member of the Central Planning Committee, the association has decided to lay off some of the activities of the health week, on the grounds of inadequate funds in order to focus on some of the other plans. Focusing on the theme: Health Insurance, Health For All; the event will kick off with the Community Health Awareness Programme on Thursday, August 9, at Kuti and Queen Elizabeth Halls of residence on the main campus by 3 p. m.
Next, on August 10, will be the Bonfire Night at the Alexander Brown Hall Quadrangle by 7p. m. The launching of the annual magazine of the association: MedScion has been scheduled for August 11 together with the finals of the B.O Osuntokun inter-level Quiz Competition, and finally the dinner that same day by 7pm.
Missing from the regular line-up of events are the Symposium, Variety night and Talent Hunt, Rally and the Cicero Oratory Competition. Though many have raised a brow as to the untimely cancelation of the Symposium, information from the Executive Council has it that many of the intending relationships geared towards securing favorable sponsorship for the event were severed due to the strike action, making fundraising more difficult.
Things are starting to take shape as publicity for the events have been popping up in their numbers of various social media platforms, especially with regards to the dinner themed : The Great Gatsby: A Masked Affair.
It certainly could not have been easy trying to put these events together despite the struggle, however notable UIMSAites have not failed to decry what seems to have been a lack of priority on the part of the executives, claiming that the entire event should have been canceled rather than canceling pivotal aspects of the event.
“Why still advertise the banner for a theme, when the Symposium has been cancelled? ” one of the students lamented.
Many however, have applauded the bravery of the administration and are indeed excited to participate in the coming events, especially members of the 2014 medical class.
