Dr. (Mrs.) O. A. EGBOKHARE
Director
BIOMEDICAL COMMUNICATION CENTRE
Biomedical Communication Centre was established initially as Medical Illustration Unit in 1957 just at the inception of the university College, Ibadan. Pioneer staff and Head of the unit were Messrs Diog Simmonds and Frank Speed. They were later joined by Nigerians including Mr. S. Obafemi Johnson who later started the second medical illustration unit in Nigeria at the University of Lagos Medical School.
Since the unit combines various elements related to Media and Technology programme; the name: “Biomedical Communication Centre” was accepted as appropriate and approved by the Court of Governor on the 29th September, 1976. Teaching and Academic support services in the centre include; planning, designing, developing, producing and provision of communication media in support of medical education, training, teaching and research. Thus, it is a teaching and research support based centre. The Centre has academic status with co-operation from the University of Pennsylvania, U.S.A.
Objectives of the Centre:
The overall objectives of the Centre include:
- Teaching and training of the Public Health postgraduate students and faculty staff in Audiovisual Communication Media and Technology in Health
- Provision of media support services for teaching and research activities of the College of Medicine, the University of Ibadan and the University College Hospital.
- Design and production of quality visual and audiovisual materials to support medical teaching and training.
- Dissemination of information through the provision of media equipment for public lectures, seminars, workshops, film shows, etc.
- Participation and consultancy in media and communication related research activities with faculties, institutes and centers in the College and the University at large.
Other activities which lead to the realization of the above objectives include:
- Consultation with the relevant college management and academic staff in identifying equipment for medical teaching and research.
- Assisting in determining resources that can be made available for the undergraduate and postgraduate medical instructional programmes.
- Development of clinical instructional formats for academic programmes.
- Identifying, designing and developing required specialized instructional media and materials.
- Installation and maintenance of communication media equipment to support medical education and medical research.
Units and Functions
The Centre has 6 service units including a teaching unit.
- Audiovisual Unit:
These unit took off inception, services available include:
- Provision of audiovisual services to all College departments, University College Hospital and other University departments.
- Provision of Public Address facilities for medical students’ lectures and social engagements.
- Provision of multimedia projection services including still and motion.
- Audio recording and duplication of lectures, seminars, conferences for documentation.
- Analog and digital video production of academic and non-academic programmes.
- Maintenance and Servicing Unit:
This unit provides:
- Professional advice, repairs and general servicing of electronic appliances.
- Repairs and servicing include items like, video sets, television sets, radio cassettes, car radio installation, and video camera.
- Medical Illustration and Graphics Unit:
- Provides consultations, design and development of Medical and non-medical related graphics e.g.; Charts, Graphics, Diagram, Poster Presentation, Illustrations, Book Cover Designs, Brochures, Bill Board, Sign Writing, Calendar Design, Greeting Cards, Creative Writing (Marriage Proposal), Lettering on Certificates, Photocopying.
- Typesetting and PowerPoint slides production.
- Medical Photographic Unit:
This unit is one of the oldest within the centre. Some of the services available include:
- Digital colour pictures of: surgical photography, clinical photography, photograph of gross specimens in Morbid Anatomy, ENT photographs, Copying and printing of x-rays films, dentals films etc.
- Mounting and framing of photographs. X-ray scanning for printing and PowerPoint presentation. Scanning and transfer of photographs for printing and PowerPoint presentation
- General Photography of events and academic activities within and outside the College.
- Television and Multimedia Production Unit:
The unit effectively took off in July 2010 after installation of non-linear digital editing equipment and accessories studios for both audio and video production. The unit provides:
- Video documentaries of various aspects of Medical Education.
- Design and development of CD based interactive media
- CD based courseware development and production.
- Video Production and documentation during Health Workshops, Seminars, Training.
- Video documentation of clinical and surgical procedures for teaching and research. Production of Jingles and Adverts Clips, etc
- Consultancy services in radio and television broadcasts, for teaching and learning in medicine and health sciences.
- Acquisition of Medical films and video for teaching and research.
- Consultations with departments to develop ideas for television. Streaming video production for teaching and for local and international conferences.
- Production of CD and DVD masters, labels and packaging design Multimedia presentations format.
- Instructional Development Unit:
Due to the increase in demand for manpower training and capacity building development in the allied medical and health services. The Centre has developed an academic curriculum to meet the growing need of health workers within the health media and communication industry, which includes the teaching hospitals, specialist hospitals, primary and secondary health institutions, Colleges of Medicine, pharmaceutical companies, public health organizations, government and non-governmental organizations.
The programme has been conceived to combine academic with professional training which intends to provide a broad-based curriculum of instruction in Communication Media with modern application of technology to medicine and health sciences. It shall prepare students to meet the challenges of operating in today's ever-changing technology-driven environment. The growing Health Information and Communication Systems Industry in Nigeria is expected to benefit from this programme.
The scope of the academic programme will develop from sub-degree to postgraduate status in the nearest future, and shall be delivered rough the University Distance Learning Centre. The curriculum is awaiting Senate approval. Meanwhile, the Centre undertakes short-term courses in form of seminars, workshop and conferences to prepare health workers in various its sector to meet up with new technological challenges of this age especially in the following themes:
- Effective presentation using electronic formats
- Design and development of e-learning and instructional materials for Medical and Health Training
- Digital photography and video production techniques
- Introduction to Medical Informatics and Health Information Systems
- Television broadcasts, for teaching and learning in medicine and health sciences.
- Acquisition of Medical films and video for teaching and research.
- Consultations with departments to develop ideas for television.
- Streaming video production for teaching and for local and international conferences.
- Production of CD and DVD masters, labels and packaging design
- Multimedia presentations format. Biomedical Staff Member of Staff