By Peter Egwuatu

The Canadian Association of Nigerian Physicians and Dentists (CANPAD) and Lagos State University College of Medicine, LASUCOM have agreed to collaborate in strengthening healthcare delivery, students and doctors training in the institution and the country in general.

This was disclosed during a press conference by CANPAD in Lagos, where the association highlighted its mission and milestones, and engaged in dialogue around diaspora-driven healthcare impact in Nigeria and Canada.

Speaking, Dr. Itua Godson Iriogbe, President of CANPAD, explained that they are a dynamic professional organization representing the interests of Nigerian physicians and dentists practicing in Canada, committed to building strong networks, fostering knowledge exchange, and contributing to healthcare development in Nigeria through strategic collaborations, knowledge transfer, medical missions, and policy advocacy.

“We are actively contributing to the improvement of healthcare, not only in Canada but also here in Nigeria, and we intend to deepen the relationship and inspire more impactful partnerships.

Healthcare Physician professionals can actually collaborate, network and try to better the life of everybody”.

He further said : “Before COVID, we used to come to Nigeria to do a lot of work in terms of missions. We have a lot of surgeons and physicians who come over to Nigeria to help those in underserved areas. Currently, what we are focused on is trying to educate the students, that is , the undergraduate as well as the post graduate students in the country. And there are some collaborations, where we provide monthly webinars for undergraduate class , post graduate students. So that’s our main focus. We also are quite interested in terms of community development too”.

Reacting to private sector collaboration, he said: “ Actually, we started collaborating with a private hospital about five years ago, just before COVID, we started doing webinars and that is still ongoing. And we currently have about 60 or 70 students at residence attending monthly webinars.

So we’re very happy to have that in place. We are currently working in collaboration with the College of Medicine, University of Lagos. We’re also working with the Lagos University Teaching Hospital LUTH. Also, there are also plans to look at Abuja as well as Ahmadu Bello University. So those collaborations are currently in discussions and going on, and as soon as those things become reality, I guess we’ll let the media know”.

On shaping healthcare policies in Nigeria, Dr. Iriogbe said : “Shaping healthcare policies could be a very difficult proposal for a diaspora organization that is not normally based in Nigeria, because we’re based in Canada. So to shape the policy will be difficult, but it doesn’t mean it’s not possible. And the reason why I say that is because we currently have a good working relationship with the Federal Minister of Education, Dr .Tunji Alausa, we have an open policy with him, and we’ve discussed ideas with him and all that, and so with the window of opportunities that we have, we hope to make some proposals in terms of policy, changes and more”.

In his remarks on the collaboration with CANPAD, Prof Omoniyi Kayode Yemitan, Dean, Faculty of Basic Clinical Sciences, Lagos State University College of Medicine (LASUCOM) said: “ We signed a Memorandum of Understanding ,MoU with them sometime last year to provide support for LASUCOM, and the students as well.”

In highlight of the event, CANPAD presented appreciation plaques to Professor Adeola Oremosu, Provost, College of Medicine,University of Lagos,(CMUL) and Prof Omoniyi Kayode Yemitan, Dean, Faculty of Basic Clinical Sciences, LASUCOM for their contributions to the success of CANPAD’s initiatives in Nigeria.