Students of the Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences of the University of Yaounde 1 have been urged to be disciplined, hardworking and respectful in order to meet set objectives. The Rector of the University of Yaounde 1, Professor Maurice Aurélien Sosso, made the call on Friday, December 18, 2015, during a solemn ceremony to mark the launch of the 2015-2016 academic year.

Professor Sosso said the Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences has carried out reforms in training through the selection of quality students and lecturers. He called on staff to work hard so as to adapt to modernity, maintain the institution’s position as leader in health training, while meeting the demands of the country and the sub- region.

The traditional reopening ceremony began with a procession of lecturers. It was an occasion to welcome new students and also to evaluate the activities of last year and plan for the future.  The Faculty began the new academic year in accordance with the harmonised programme for medical schools adopted by the government in October 2015. The inaugural lesson for this year, presented by Dr. Gloria Ashutangtang, focused on kidney disease. She said the number of patients on dialysis has doubled in two years.

This year, 336 candidates were admitted into the faculty. The faculty has 2,212 students, with 171 lecturers, four amphitheatres, 10 classrooms with a total of 1,590 seats and eight laboratories. It also has a ward in the Yaounde Central Hospital, lodging facilities for missionaries as well as foreign students and a new library with 4,000 books.