It is no secret that in the health sector, Bsc Anatomy/Physiology is the least lucrative amongst all other programs offered by the College of Health Sciences. Most often, students given admission to study any of the above courses immediately do a change of course to other departments and when not possible write another JAMB, while some would go through the agony of studying the above courses and immediately after the program obtain a direct entry form to other departments. That above is the current state of our basic medical sciences degree programs in Nigeria. The question now that would be on the mind of everyone is; “was it always like this” and if not “what when wrong”. But before I answer this question, I will like to share a historical perspective on how these programs came into existence in Nigeria with special focus on BSc Anatomy, which is my course of study and in which I have been a member of the Anatomical Society for about 12 years from my student days till date.
Historically, the BSc Anatomy/Physiology program was born out of the need to provide lecturers and instructors to medical students in our medical schools at that time when there was shortage of medical doctors and even fewer numbers desired to go back to medical schools to lecture the basic medical sciences, hence these programs (BSc Anatomy/Physiology) were born. As advances in science and research came, these programs became wider and broader hence covered not only teaching medical students but also other aspects of research and health.
Fast forward to about few years back, suddenly the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria came out with a circular to disengage all non medically qualified anatomist/physiologist (Anatomist/Physiologist that are not medical doctors) from teaching medical students in all medical schools in Nigeria, although they have been mulling the idea prior to then. The reason the MDCN gave was that non medically qualified anatomist/physiologist lacked the basic clinical skills to teach medical students since they aren't medical doctors and may emphasize on what the students may not need when they get to clinical class. Although the above may sound plausible, but it begs a lot of questions; 1) Can't the medical student syllabus be modified to accommodate these deficiencies? 2) Even if the medical syllabus has been modified, and was found out that the non medically qualified lecturers still don’t have the required skills, can’t the BSc anatomy/physiology syllabus be modified to correct the deficiencies? and Lastly when did the MDCN start realizing the above deficiencies, because the non medically qualified anatomist/physiologists I know have been producing very sound doctors for more than 30 years till date and our doctors are doing very well globally.
Now for the sake of argument, lets concede that only medically qualified basic medical sciences lecturers should teach medical students. No problem. Since constitutionally the law empowers the MDCN in conjunction with the NUC determine the standard of the courses medical students are to study and the lecturers who are to lecture such courses. But what was vexatious, was the attempt to completely disengage non medically qualified basic medical science lecturer from even becoming faculty members and even becoming HODs, it now a common sight to see in job vacancies for basic medical science lecturers, things like “Msc or PhD and the applicant must be medically qualified (must possess MBBS)”. This to us is injustice not forgetting the fact that its not only medical students that offer anatomy and physiology. Bsc Anatomy, Bsc Physiology, Bsc Pharmaclogy, Pharmacy, Medical Lab Science, Nursing, Radiography, Physiotherapy, Optometry also offer anatomy and physiology. Our question is? Do the above programs also require a medically qualified lecturers to teach those programs too? And moreover is it also the MDCN that would also determine their standard too? All these beg for answers.
In conclusion, we are appealing to the appropriate bodies and stakeholders to look into this issue fairly and sincerely and bring solutions that would be for the betterment of party involved. They should remember that all of us cannot be medical doctors hence should provide a niche where other professions can thrive. Currently the employability of these basic medical sciences programs are low due to the fact that Nigeria is not really a research oriented country and the only seeming hope is lecturing, attempting to take that away for no just reason, I believe would further exacerbate the current condition.

Infact you just said the truth although I chose med laboratory science reactions from the society is making me believe I made a mistake. Sincerely there must be a reformation to the teaching sector in order to accommodate the basic medical sciences.

Op, my friend just move on, if you continue lamenting this way, I guarantee you TIME will leave you behind. Start to look at solutions.

They are now trying to take away the remaining NICHE (lecturing) left.

Just look for a very good postgraduate school and do masters of public health using your B.sc anatomy/physiology degree

That post gives nice information
thanks Author

Zeeknow3245:
Infact you just said the truth although I chose med laboratory science reactions from the society is making me believe I made a mistake. Sincerely there must be a reformation to the teaching sector in order to accommodate the basic medical sciences.

You can say that again my brother, they should always remember that its not everyone that can be medical drs, others professions should be given space to reach their full potential

VeeVeeMyLuv:
Op, my friend just move on, if you continue lamenting this way, I guarantee you TIME will leave you behind. Start to look at solutions.

They are now trying to take away the remaining NICHE (lecturing) left.

God bless you my brother, I've moved on, I'm now a veterinarian and happy that my new profession has no squabbles with human Drs since we aren't in the same parastatal and there is limited interference from other professions based on the uniqueness of the veterinary profession. But remember what our elders say, that "a river which forgets its source would soon run dry". BSc Anatomy is my first profession and although I'm a veterinarian in body, a part of my heart still goes to my first profession which is Anatomy. That is why I still attend Anatomy conferences and from what I've seen so far, gradually efforts and progress are been made (I can't discuss the progresses made so far on a public domain except via inbox), and that was why I made this post so that the public can identify with our plight and create awareness

NyenwePHC:
Just look for a very good postgraduate school and do masters of public health using your B.sc anatomy/physiology degree

Thanks so much for the advice, even though I've moved on, the MPH alternative has also been blocked by the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria. Now its only medically qualified persons (Medical doctors and Dentist) can apply for MPH. The only alternative for other professions is a program called MSc PH (Master of Science in Public Health). Although some schools still do MPH for every professions, its gradually reducing.