By Sam Kpenu
The Royal Society of Biology (RSB) in London has approved 22 academic programmes run by the University of Port Harcourt’s Africa Centre of Excellence in Public Health and Toxicological Research (ACE-PUTOR). This follows a thorough review of 23 programmes submitted by the Centre for international accreditation.
In a letter conveying the award to the Centre, RSB stated the numerous benefits of international accreditation to the university, its staff, and students.
Commending the university’s governing council, management, staff, students, and all stakeholders for the accreditation and recognition of the Centre’s programmes, the Centre Leader, Professor Daprim Ogaji, pledged the project team’s commitment to putting ACE-PUTOR on the global academic map.
The award of accreditation certificates were received by ACE-PUTOR at the RSB headquarters in London.
The Royal Society of Biology is an international accreditation agency with its headquarters in London, which evaluates programmes in biology, biosciences, life, and biological sciences.
All 22 accredited programmes are approved to run until March 2028 when they will be due for reassessment and they are Midwifery/Child Health Nursing (MSc), Pharmacology & Toxicology (MSc), Health Promotion and Communication (MSc), Public Health Nursing (MSc), and Environmental Health (MSc). Others are Public Health (MSc/MPH & DrPH), Epidemiology (MSc & PhD), Environmental & Petroleum Toxicology (MSc & PhD), Health Systems & Management (MSc & PhD), Biochemistry (MSc & PhD), Experimental Environmental Pollution Studies (MSc & PhD) Environmental Health (PhD), Midwifery (PhD), Child Health Nursing (PhD), Environmental Toxicology (PhD), and Experimental Pharmacology & Toxicology (PhD).
…Centre Partners Association of Public Health Physicians in Nigeria
As part of efforts to build strategic partnerships with relevant stakeholders, ACE-PUTOR, in collaboration with the Association of Public Health Physicians in Nigeria (APHPN), organised a scientific conference, with the theme, Public Health Practice: New Opportunities and New Challenges, at L.A. Kings Dome Event Centre, in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
Speaking at the event, Centre Leader of ACE-PUTOR and Chairman, Local Organising Committee, Professor Daprim Ogaji, said the 2023 Conference provided an excellent opportunity to work on bold ideas that would deepen APHPN’s impact by strengthening and diversifying the learning community, addressing new challenges and building resilient health care in Nigeria.
He noted that the conference provides a platform for public health enthusiasts to debate veritable approaches to driving digital innovations in healthcare delivery, supporting the reduction in the gap between evidence and action, empowering an inclusive community of health workforce and proffering public health solutions to the challenges of environmental pollution in Nigeria.
In his welcome address, the Chairman of the Rivers State chapter of APHPN, Dr Chukwunenye Timothy-Kanu, said the conference would expose participants to new challenges and opportunities in the field of medicine and urged participants to take advantage of the opportunities it offered.
National President of the Association, Professor Alphonsus Isara, assured that APHPN would continue to push for a better healthcare system in Nigeria. This, according to him, would be done through advocacy, stakeholder engagements and building the capacity of members.
The conference was attended by members of APHPN, staff of ACE-PUTOR, and other dignitaries from all walks of life.
