On Wednesday, 4 August 2021, the Provost of the College of Medicine, University of Ibadan (CoMUI), Professor Olayinka O. Omigbodun made an official visit to the ongoing World Health Organization Action Trial Training for Site Principal Investigators (PIs) involved in Research studies within the Neonatal and Maternal Health areas, drawn from 5 sites across the Southwestern part of Nigeria. Professor Omigbodun was accompanied to the event that took place at the Chief Anthony Anenih Geriatric Centre of the University College Hospital (UCH) by Professor A.F. Adeniyi (Deputy Provost); Dr. Adesola O. Olumide (Coordinator, College Research and Innovation Management Unit, CRIM) and Mr. O.A. Adedayo (Senior Assistant Registrar, Provost Office).
Intimating the Provost and her delegation on the overall structure and objectives of the training programme, the Coordinating Principal Investigator (CPI), Dr. Adejumoke Ayede, said the aim of the workshop was to expose the Investigators to simple ways of assessing maternal and child health complications. The Site PIs will subsequently go ahead to lead this novel research work within their respective hospitals and healthcare facilities. According to her, the participants of this tutelage were primarily Pediatricians and Obstetricians co-assisted by Senior Registrars or Principal Medical Officers. There were also Site Coordinators (mainly Senior Medical Officers), who worked with the Principal Investigators; Data Managers and Trainers- whose roles were to train the Investigators on new ways of measuring maternal and newborn complications, including that of research outcomes.
Delivering her goodwill message, the Provost clearly attested to the overriding positive impacts of Dr. Adejumoke Ayede’s contributions in the area of Maternal and Neonatal health. According to the Provost, her research outputs have been of the best quality, commanding immense recognition all over Nigeria. On the strength of this therefore, she admonished the selected participants of the training programme to see it as a privilege of contributing to the reshaping of the Maternal and Neonatal Health landscape in the nation. She however charged Dr. Ayede to consider incorporating mental health into the training structures, as there is no health without health. Responding, Dr. Ayede glowingly expressed her gratitude to the Professor Olayinka Omigbodun-led CoMUI management for its unrelenting support, while promising to look into the suggestion of integrating mental health into the mainstream training schedule for the Site PIs going forward.
The following were the Site PIs who took in the part in the WHO Action Trial Training: Dr. Adesina Olubukola (Assistant Coordinating PI, UCH); Dr. Rosena Oluwafemi (Medical Director, Mother and Child Hospital, Akure); Dr. Eniowo Ireti (Head, Department of Pediatrics, Mother and Child Hospital, Akure); Dr. Omolayo Olubosede (University of Medical Sciences (UNIMED), Akure Chair, Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria, Ondo State); Dr. Erinyenikan Theresa (Head, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, UNIMED). Others were Dr. Temitope Adegboyega (Head, Pediatrics Department, Alimosho General Hospital, Lagos); Mrs. Abimbola Popoola (Senior Pediatric Nurse, Alimosho General Hospital, Lagos) and Dr. Olanike Olutekunbi (Head, Neonatal Unit, Island Maternity Clinic).
