Weill Bugando's first class of medical students graduates
We are proud to announce the graduation of Weill Bugando's inaugural class of nine medical students on November 22, 2008. The Touch Foundation and Weill Bugando were honored to hear from Tanzanian President Jakaya M. Kikwete at the ceremony.
These pioneering students were joined by 135 of their colleagues who graduated from Weill Bugando's six paramedical programs: Assistant Medical Officers (AMOs), nurses, laboratory technicians, pharmacy technicians, radiographers, nurse-anesthetists. In just four years, the number of medical students has increased from ten to 277, while total student enrolment across the university's medical, specialist, and six paramedical programs has grown to around 800.
Many of the graduating medical students have elected to stay at Weill Bugando to fulfill their internship year in the affiliated hospital, the Bugando Medical Centre (BMC). The students will decide this coming year if they would like to pursue a graduate degree in a specialty area such as obstetrics & gynecology, surgery, or pediatrics. As these graduates prepare to continue their training, we are working with Weill Bugando leadership to enhance the teaching capacity of the hospital. The Touch Foundation has expanded its investment at Weill Bugando to directly benefit BMC in addition to the university.
The Touch Foundation is raising funds for and executing phase one of a $15.3 million redevelopment plan to make the medical complex a best-in-class facility and a center of excellence in teaching and healthcare delivery. The redevelopment plan includes infrastructure renovation, new construction, critical equipment purchase and the establishment of adequate information technology infrastructure. While infrastructure renovations are critical to enhance hospital operations, information technology improvements will allow the university and hospital to better manage institutional processes and patient records, and take advantage of the wealth of valuable medical resources accessible via the Internet.