College of Medicine and Health Sciences has rolled out its 4th batch of 83 Doctors of Medicine, wherein 59 were male and 24 female, in a glittering ceremony held at New Hall, Main Campus on 16th December, 2017. Click here to see the pictures.
Of all 83 pass-outs, 38 of them could score over 3 CGPA, while remaining 45 tried their level best to break the jinx by crossing over 2 CGPA. Of three top-scorers, two were males and a female - Dr Ashraf Chumato Sulala bagged gold medal for notching up 3.60 CGPA followed by Dr Abel Andargie Berhane 3.45 and Dr Freweyni Fissihatsion Yhdego with 3.43 was also adjudged best among female graduates.
The ceremony got off to a flying start with Gamo Gofa Zone Cultural Band belting out ethnic numbers; Community School kids stole the limelight for their congratulatory number.
The guest of honor, South Nations, Nationalities and People’s Region Health Bureau Head, Dr Abreham Alano, officiating function, said, ‘‘Our government is paying huge attention on health sector with a well-planned policy along with appropriate strategies to have long-term results to meet the emerging health needs in the country and match up to changing global standard.
In the last 25 years, having 716 health Centres, 3,878 health-posts and 64 full-fledged hospitals across the nation, our government has made healthcare accessible for all. And with several private health institutes around health services in the region has almost reached to 95% that has further consequently increased life-expectancy from 25 to 64 years by the end of Growth and Transformation Plan-I,’’ he averred.
Similarly, mother-child mortality rate in the region, he said, has been reduced to 412/100,000 from 810/100,000 that is further expected to go down to 199/100,000. Even prevalence of malaria is declining and HIV cases are likely to be brought down to 0.54% from prevailing 1.2%.
AMU President, Dr Damtew Darza addressing doctors, said, higher educational institutions are laboratories, where applied research coupled with social dimension are potentially harnessed to sustainably trigger overall socio-economic development across the nation.
He further adds, to galvanize health sector, special attention is given to strengthen capacity of teachers. As of now, College of Medicine and Health Sciences has 112 teachers, of which 11 are pursuing PhD, 60 MSc and 41 acquiring specialization. Arba Minch University’s Teaching-cum-Referral Hospital has completed 40% of its construction; and once it’s done, it will be an asset for teaching-learning and healthcare as well in entire Gamo Gofa Zone and around, he quipped.
Dean of the college, Dr Tamiru Shibiru, introduced his graduates and honored three outstanding achievers. On the occasion, he also administered ‘Hippocratic Oath,’ to them that require new physicians to uphold professional ethical standards while dispensing their expertise in society.
Gamo Gofa Zone Chief Administrator, Mr Esayas Endrias, Arba Minch Town Mayor, Mr Ezo Emako, educational institutions’ heads, religious leaders, kin of graduates, well-wishers, entire AMU community and others graced the event. Corporate Communion Directorate Director, Mr Fissiha Bekele anchored the function.
(Corporate Communication Directorate)