The Vice Chancellor of the University of The Gambia, Professor Muhammadou MO Kah in a statement said the ceremony bears testimony to the ongoing development and significant progress of ‘our young University- the University of The Gambia and our country’. “This swearing in ceremony presents a solemn yet joyous occasion for our graduating medical doctors to swear their professional oath and, thus, become properly inducted into the medical profession as qualified medical doctors by The Gambia Medical and Dental Council,” he added.
Professor Kah stated that it has always been a tradition that students of the medical profession have had to be specially sworn in as doctors by swearing what is popularly known as the “Hippocratic Oath.” He said this is an account of the sensitive nature of their profession.
He added: “It is as important now as it has ever been for our doctors to have an agreed statement of ethical principles. It is imperative after the completion of their program of study, for doctors to make a public commitment to the professional responsibilities they are assuming. These principles should provide guidance in the increasingly difficult, ethical, life and death decisions they will make throughout their professional lives. It is, therefore, important for all of you newly qualified doctors soon to be inducted to go through this ceremony to appreciate what society expects from you as well as have a full appreciation of all the ethical and moral dimensions of your professional practice.”
For his part, the Minister of Health and Social Welfare said the government has locally trained a total of 130 medical graduates all over the world, who are either doing their residency or practising medicine both in The Gambia and abroad. He stated that one of the critical components of the medical programme is that it has built the human resource base of the medical sector in the country. He said the government places great value and commitment to the healthcare sector.
“The Ministry of Health and Social Welfare has presently posted twenty medical doctors to the various parts of the country to serve communities. My ministry will do its best to make sure that they are well motivated in their job. I want to call on the graduating doctors to respect the ethics and code of conduct of their profession.”
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