“UNIVERSITY HEALTH FACILITIES, ITS FUNCTIONALITY FOR STUDENTS AND STAFF AWARENESS: CHALLENGES AND WAYS FORWARD” BY DR OMONIYI O. P. DIRECTOR OF HEALTH SERVICES.

INTRODUCTION. The basic functions of a university are: -Research -Teaching -Community service

HEALTH IS WEALTH  Sound health : - Enables sound reasoning -Enables clear vision -Energizes body systems for optimal performance and output

FUNCTION OF HEALTH SERVICES  Health Services support academic activities of the university by scientifically removing or reducing or alleviating distractions by way of ill-health that could jeopardize optimal cerebral and physical functions of students and staff.

STRATEGIES -Pre-admission medical screening of fresh students -Pre- employment medical screening of newly employed staff -Out-patient consultation -In-patient care services -Preventive/Rehabilitative/Promotive health care sevices -Medical laboratory and Xray services

SWOT ANALYSIS Specific Issues (1), Registration of Students /staff in the Health Centre  Strategic objective. -to ascertain health status as at the time of admission/employment -to identify individual health problems/risks -to manage identified health problems -to plan/implement appropriate preventive/promotive/rehabilitative programmes.

 Strengths -Expertise, available -Dedicated staff, available -All needed services, available  Weakness -Underfunding, Understaffing -Allotted period for student registration is inadequate -Lack of electricity and ICT support -Shortage of office space and uncomfortable offices -Poor attitude of students to registration due to inadequate sensitization

 Recommendation -Improve funding -Fill staff vacancies -More time for sensitization of students/staff during orientation programme -Improve infrastructure -Improve electricity supply -Completion of the computerization of health records

(2), ENVIRONMENTAL SANITATION  Strategic objective/ goal -To keep the university free of refuse, hazards and pollutants  Strengths -Expertise, available. -Committed staff, available.

 Weakness -Lack of refuse van -Lack of incinerator -Lack of adequate functioning toilet facilities -Lack of running water

 Weakness contd. -Lack of adequate equipment -Poor attitude of students to the use of waste-bins -Wall defacing attitude of student and staff -Poor enforcement of sanitary rules -Itinerant hawking on campus -Lack of modern market facility

 Recommendation -Improved funding -Purchase of refuse van -Building of incinerators -Prohibition of itinerant hawking

Recommendation contd. -Establishment of a modern market on campus -Public health lecture on sanitation at least every semester -Speedy completion of water reticulation on campus -Enhancing the scope of pest control on campus.

(3), DELAYED RELEASE OF RESULTS AND ISSUANCE OF TRANSCRIPTS  Strategic Objective -To ensure student results are released and given to students {who are not owing fees} within two weeks of completing examination. -To ensure Transcripts are issued within 48hrs of demand  Weakness -Lack of enforcement of university rules -Inadequate funding -Lack of ICT support -Self-serving staff and inadequate supervision

 Strengths -Staff is available  Recommendation -Computerization of Academic records -Lecturers to mark and submit results within two weeks of completing an examination. -Re-introduction of Conference marking -Sanction of erring staff.

(4), PROLONGED DURATION OF POSTGRADUATE AND  PART-TIME DEGREE PROGRAMMES This anomaly should be looked into and solved speedily for EKSU programes to be relevant.  NEW PROGRAMMES FOR THE CONSIDERATION OFSENATE Introduction of the following relevant degree programmes should be considered as only few universities are running them in Nigeria: 1, Medical Laboratory Science 2, Health Information Management.

(5),PLANNED IGR FOR THE HEALTH CENTRE THROUGH ACADEMIC PROGRAMME.  Workshop / Seminar for Health Workers.  Strategic Objective/goal. -To update the knowledge and skill of Health Assistants and Technicians in Ekiti State hospitals/clinics and environs. -To generate revenue.  Weakness -Lack of take-off grant for logistics.

 Strengths -Skilled health professionals are available -EKSU Consult is available -Facilitators are available -Material and infrastructural resources are available -Health Assistants and Technicians are many and available -Very few self- improvement opportunities are available for these health professionals in Ekiti State.

 Recommendation -A proposal to be written for the consideration of the Vice chancellor  Conclussion For increased student enrollment, generated revenue and improved quality of academic programes issues of health care, delayed release of results and issuance of transcripts together with the pronlonged duration of academic programes should be addressed urgently.

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