CORREA; THOMAS; QUENUM; DELEGATES; LUTWANA; POTOCKI.




Initials JH/VS/PW/SC



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Background: A CONFERENCE OF THE DEANS OF AFRICAN UNIVERSITY MEDICAL FACULTIES OPENED LAST MONDAY (25 NOVEMBER) IN THE CONFERENCE HALL OF THE REGIONAL HEADQUARTERS OF THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANISATION IN BRAZZAVILLE.

THE OPENING SPEECH WAS GIVEN BY DR. ALFRED QUENUM, REGIONAL DIRECTOR OF WHO FOR AFRICA. HE SAID THAT THE TRUE EDUCATIONAL AIMS OF THE TEACHING OF PUBLIC HEALTH MUST BE SERIOUSLY DEFINED AND SHOULD BE IN CONFORMITY WITH THE DUTIES WHICH THE PROFESSION DEMANDS.

REPRESENTED AT THE CONFERENCE ARE DEANS OF MEDICAL FACULTIES FROM UNIVERSITIES IN ZAMBIA, KENYA, UGANDA, TANZANIA, NIGERIA, THE IVORY COAST, SENEGAL, RWANDA, CONGO-KINSHASA AND CONGO-BRAZZAVILLE.

THE MAIN QUESTION OF THE AGENDA IS TO FIND MEANS FOR ACHIEVING CLOSE CO-OPERATION AMONG THE MEDICAL FACULTIES OF AFRICAN UNIVERSITIES.

BEFORE GOING ON TO THE BUSINESS OF THE CONFERENCE, THE DELEGATES ELECTED THEIR BOARD. THEY UNANIMOUSLY ELECTED DR. CORREA OF SENEGAL AS PRESIDENT; DR. THOMAS OF NIGERIA AS VICE-PRESIDENT; AND DR. LUTAWA OF UGANDA AND DR. POTOCKI OF THE IVORY COAST AS SECRETARIES.

THE CONFERENCE IS TO CONTINUE UNTIL TOMORROW (FRIDAY).