The Partnership between Mount Kenya University and the Thika Level Five Hospital in research and student training has contributed to the institution’s School of Medicine top performance according to a recent survey.
The survey released last week ranked MKU’s School of Medicine first in medical and dental courses and also in compliance with the set standards and guidelines approved by the East African Community. It garnered 82 points out of 100.
The Maseno University came second with 81 points and Kisii University third with 80 points, while old guards like the University of Nairobi and Kenyatta University were placed at position eight and 10 with 58 and 54 points respectively.
The report was released last week by the Medical and Dental Practitioners Board and Medical regulatory councils across East Africa and was conducted by a team of Technical Health experts from the East African Community.
This came as a shock to many as the school is only seven years old and is expected to churn out its first lot of 29 Medical graduates in December.
The MKU’s School of Health Sciences Principal, Dr Josephat Njuguna said other than the partnership; they have equipped the school with modern equipment, laboratories, infrastructure and enough lecturers to meet student needs.
“The students have also gained practical skills by being able to work at the Level Five hospital through the tutorage of medics from the health facility,” he added.
They have also been able to use the General Kago Funeral Home Human Anatomy Laboratory that the university constructed at a cost of Sh.300 million in 2014 for training and research. The Funeral Home can hold 114 bodies unlike the older one that had 12 bodies capacity.
Njuguna at the same time disclosed that the University was working on a 10 years plan to relocate to its graduation square in Thika town to make its main campus a fully-fledged school of Medicine and Health sciences.
This, he said would strengthen the said school to meet the education regulations as well as increase the number of students pursuing the course.
The Thika Level 5 Hospital Medical Superintendent, Dr. Jesse Ngugi said the students have helped bridge the staffing challenge that the hospital has been facing.
He said students have been exposed to medical skills and would graduate into professionals in the field.
“We have both benefited through human resource as most of the lecturers at the University are our doctors. Also their students have helped address the hospital’s staffing challenge,” he said.
According to the pioneer students, the six years they have been in the school have been a rosy journey. “We wanted to pursue the course in renowned institutions like UoN but we soldiered on despite the challenges of being pioneers. We can without a doubt say that we are proud to be here,” said Peter Wambugu, a fifth year Medicine student.
By Muoki Charles
