Roles of Islamic Medical Organizations in modeling Mini-Med Schools: A periodic analysis of public lectures of the Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital Chapter of the Islamic Medical Association of Nigeria

Abstract

Introduction:Mini-Med Schools serve as an outreach medical education program of some American medical colleges anduniversities to their host community. The schools provide medical lectures to willing members of the community insimple, everyday language over a course of few days or weeks. This idea of Mini—Med schools is rare here inNigeria, as neither the conventional medical schools nor related professional bodies have any such programs. Thisstudy thematically analyzes the periodic public lectures of a chapter of a faith-based professional body in modelingand providing Mini-Med school programs to its host community.

Methodology: Public lectures organized by the Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital Chapter of the Islamic Medical Association ofNigeria were qualitatively analyzed over a 5-year period (2008-2012). Non- medical lectures too were included andanalyzed.

Results: Half of all the 18 public lectures organized over the period under review followed Mini-Med school syllabus and itwas relevant to the host community. Thematic issues identified were: doctor-patient relationship (M1); teamworkand development (M2); health workers investment (M3); death and dying (M4); and community health education(M5). All were provided to address the ‘faith-based’ question regarding health in the community.

Conclusion: The need for this and other faith-based organizations to use their public lectures to help the host communityunderstand these identified thematic issues and other related healthcare community programs were identified.

Keywords: Mini-Med schools, Roles of Islamic Organizations, Outreach medical education, Public lectures, IMAN