The president of the 1983/88 alumni set of the College of Medicine, University of Lagos, Dr Olayinka Ajayi, has said donations by the alumni were necessary to aid thorough dental care in the college community.

 

Olayinka, who spoke during the handing over of completed dental unit to the faculty of dentistry of the college, said the equipment in the unit was outdated.

 

She added that the new equipment would help in the teaching of students of the department, stating that only the government could not bring about the change Nigerians yearn for in the health sector.

 

“The donation is also to help to provide adequate dental care within the community and teach the students of the department. Patients come here and get treated at a minimal rate because it is a teaching hospital.

 

“When I came back here to visit a colleague, I saw the decay in infrastructure and I am aware that the government cannot handle all situations. So, we called ourselves as a set and decided to make an impact in our own little way. We paid next to nothing as students, now we need to give back,” Ajayi said.

 

The provost of the College, Prof. Afolabi Lesi, commended the alumni, nothing that the replacement of the equipment was long overdue.

 

He said, “Dental chair is very critical for dental accreditation. You cannot talk about dental care without a good functioning dental chair. And what they have done is to replace the aging dental chairs that we had. The dental chairs that were replaced are over 40 years old. And most dental chairs have between 10 to12 years life span. So, this gesture is timely and we are grateful for the support. We encourage all alumni to do that.”

 

Also, another member of the alumni, Prof. Olumiro Odusanya, who was a former Provost of the Lagos State University College of Medicine, said the donation was targeted at equipping students of the college to practice effectively and improve the health care delivery in the area.