The State University of Zanzibar (SUZA) will start offering the Doctor of Medicine degree programme with effect from the forthcoming academic year commencing in October, 2013.
Prof. Idris A. Rai, the SUZA Vice Chancellor, accompanied by the Principal Secretary of the Ministry of Health and the Principal Secretary of the Ministry of Education and Vocational Training announced this during a recent stakeholders meeting held at Vuga Campus to work on Doctor of Medicine (MD) curriculum for SUZA.
This five year programme plus one for internship in reputable hospitals will start with between 20 and 30 students at its initial batch. The classes will be run by a team of newly employed medical staff at SUZA and with the help of Medical Professors from Cuba who are already in Zanzibar teaching at Zanzibar Medical School (ZMS). This initiative will however, bring no negative academic upshot to ZMS.
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In diversifying its programmes, the State University of Zanzibar has introduced a few new programmes to begin 2013/2014 academic year. These include, two postgraduate, four undergraduate and two non-degree programmes at diploma and certificate level.
Prof. Idris A. Rai, the SUZA Vice Chancellor, accompanied by the Principal Secretary of the Ministry of Health and the Principal Secretary of the Ministry of Education and Vocational Training announced this during a recent stakeholders meeting held at Vuga Campus to work on Doctor of Medicine (MD) curriculum for SUZA.
This five year programme plus one for internship in reputable hospitals will start with between 20 and 30 students at its initial batch. The classes will be run by a team of newly employed medical staff at SUZA and with the help of Medical Professors from Cuba who are already in Zanzibar teaching at Zanzibar Medical School (ZMS). This initiative will however, bring no negative academic upshot to ZMS.
Medical Science stakeholders meeting discussing the
establishment of Doctor of Medicine programme at SUZA
Regarding infrastructure and facilities required for the course, the Vice Chancellor informed that so far SUZA has adequate reference books in its libraries for the programme especially those of Biology and the budget for purchasing suitable resources including health science books is allocated. For clinical and practical work, the students will use the facilities at Mnazimmoja Hospital, which will also cater for teaching hospital. In addition, the programme emphases community based training whereby students will be exposed to medical cases facing the community starting their first year of studies.
The introduction of this programme is to large extent expected to minimize the scarcity of skilled health personnel in the isles. This new initiative is among the implementing measures of the State University of Zanzibar to the directive of Dr. Ali Mohamed Shein, the President of Zanzibar who is also the Chancellor of the University who urged SUZA to think of offering other useful disciplines beneficial to Zanzibar, Prof. Rai declared.
Source: Public Relations Unit
of the State University of Zanzibar