From Ifeoma Ejiofor
The School of Health Information Management (SHIM) of Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital (NAUTH) Nnewi has held its 20th matriculation ceremony.
The event, held at Chief Gilbert Uzodike Auditorium of the hospital, attracted dignitaries from far and near.
The Chief Medical Director (CMD) of NAUTH, Prof Joseph Ugboaja (OON), was represented at the occasion by the Chairman Medical Advisory Committee (CMAC) of the hospital, Ass. Prof Ogochukwu Ezejiofor.
In his speech, the CMD of NAUTH admonished the matriculating students to embrace ICT as the world is ruled by information technology.
He noted that NAUTH is not left out of the digitalization process taking over the world, as the management is working tirelessly to computerize all the hospital’s activities at the permanent site.
The CMD said that the students are lucky to be in one of the colleges of NAUTH at a time when the management has keyed into the E-practice and digitalization process for consultations and clinical services.
“NAUTH is ready and prepared to offer a platform for the students of any of the colleges and schools in this hospital. The medical record of this institution is fully digitalized, and the management is equipping the hospital with digitalized infrastructure which is the current global practice.
“The management has put everything in place for our students to be outstanding and compete favourably with students worldwide.” Prof Ugboaja explained.
The CMD assured that the School of Health Information Management would soon move to the permanent site where there is enough space and it is getting fully digitalized.
The development, according to him, would boost teaching and learning in various colleges and schools in NAUTH.
The Head of the School of Health Information Management of NAUTH, Mrs. Uche Nwajagu, in her opening remarks, noted that the school had become a force to reckon with as a large number of professionals have been produced by the school.
She pointed out that many institution graduates are doing well in Nigeria and the diaspora because of the qualitative education they were exposed to at NAUTH.
“Due to the growing trend in ICT, the Board has developed a program with the revised curriculum to help the students achieve outstanding academic results.
“The school has been mobilizing graduates for NYSC since 2013, and I must state that our products are doing us proud. We expect that the matriculating students would borrow a leaf from them.” Mrs. Nwajagu stressed.
The theme for the Matriculation Ceremony is “Integrating ICD11 into electronic health records (E-HEALTH) System: A Catalyst for Advancing Quality Patient Care and Safety.”