JUNE 8, 2005 | A group of medical professionals and legislators from the African nation of Nigeria visited the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) in May to learn about health care education in the United States as well as diversity practices to improve the quality of care.

The nine-member delegation was in Arkansas for a five-day African Health Conference and Symposium, sponsored by the Little Rock-based African Women’s Health Project International. The time spent at UAMS focused on health education and an appeal for help from a Nigerian senator for more cooperation to improve health care in Nigeria.

“We’re here because we believe Nigerian society can benefit a lot from the U.S.,” said Nigerian Sen. Musilu Obanikoro of the Lagos Central Senatorial District. “What we have in Nigerian is nothing compared to this. Primary care essentially doesn’t exist and technology is not close at all.

“We hope this talk will yield something positive,” he said.

Billy Thomas, M.D., M.P.H., associate dean for diversity affairs at UAMS, hosted the group for a campus tour, followed by the luncheon and a panel discussion on health care education at UAMS. Representatives from the Colleges of Medicine, Nursing, Health Related Professions and Pharmacy discussed their programs and answered questions from the Nigerian delegation.

“This discussion is a good start,” Thomas told the Nigerians. “Every college is interested in what you are trying to do. Now we’ve got to try and figure out the best way to help.”

In addition to explaining the organizational structure and programs of each college, the UAMS faculty members discussed outreach programs and diversity efforts, including creation of the network of Arkansas Health Education Centers (AHECs) in the early 1970s.

The network has seven centers in El Dorado, Fayetteville, Fort Smith, Jonesboro, Pine Bluff, Texarkana, and Helena that serve as training sites for students in the fields of medicine, nursing, pharmacy, and various allied health professions, as well as for residents specializing in family medicine. The AHEC training approach emphasizes primary care, which covers general health education and basic medical care for the whole family.

The UAMS representatives also talked about Web-based and distance learning resources that could extend health education to rural areas.

Otis Tyler, assistant dean for diversity in the UAMS College of Pharmacy, noted that diversity – whether from minority or international students – is an increasingly important part of health care.

“Diversity is not only a good ingredient for success but also critical for the future,” he said. “We are beginning to see data that cultural competency can be a factor in patient outcome.”

Thomas said the College of Medicine is working to make sure that health care providers are culturally competent, meaning they are aware of societal or cultural factors that can impact a patient’s health. This is done through faculty development and reaching out to expand the pool of competitive students in health care from disadvantaged backgrounds.

Increasing diversity in the health care workforce will improve cultural competency and the overall delivery of quality health care, he said.

In reference to a statement made by the Sullivan Commission’s report on diversity in the health care work force Thomas said that, “In order to achieve true equality of high-quality care for the entire population, health care must be provided by a well-trained, qualified, and culturally competent health professions work force that mirrors the diversity of the population it serves”.

Obanikoro praised UAMS. “This is an impressive institution,” he said.

He appealed for consideration of sending used medical equipment to countries in need such as Nigeria, whenever an upgrade is received. “Your used equipment is new to us,” he said, adding there was not a single working mammogram machine in Nigeria.

“Our health care system is in total disarray.”

The five-day conference included a health fair and meetings with other health care and education organizations in central Arkansas. Also planned was a fund raiser for AWPHI, which seeks to improve health care access in impoverished West Africa, where Nigeria is located.

Links on This Page

African Women’s Health Project International: http://www.awhpi.com/

Nigerian Sen. Musilu Obanikoro: http://www.nigeriacongress.org/senate/senatordetails2003.asp?id=299

Arkansas Health Education Centers: http://rpweb.uams.edu/AHEC/

El Dorado AHEC: http://rpweb.uams.edu/AHEC/SA/

Fayetteville AHEC: http://rpweb.uams.edu/AHEC/NW/

Fort Smith AHEC: http://rpweb.uams.edu/AHEC/FS/

Jonesboro AHEC: http://rpweb.uams.edu/AHEC/NE/

Pine Bluff AHEC: http://rpweb.uams.edu/AHEC/pb/

Texarkana AHEC: http://rpweb.uams.edu/AHEC/SW/
Helena AHEC: http://rpweb.uams.edu/AHEC/DA/

AHEC residency program: http://rpweb.uams.edu/AHEC/medicine.asp

AHEC nursing program: http://rpweb.uams.edu/AHEC/nursing.asp

AHEC pharmacy program: http://rpweb.uams.edu/AHEC/pharmacy.asp

AHEC allied health professions program: http://rpweb.uams.edu/AHEC/HRP.asp

The Sullivan Commission on Diversity in the Healthcare Workforce: http://www.sullivancommission.org/

© 2004 University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS). A single copy of these materials may be reprinted for noncommercial personal use only. “UAMS,” “UAMS Medical Center,” “UAMS Online,” “UAMS Today,” “UAMS Update,” “uams.edu,” and “Here’s to Your Health” are marks of UAMS.