- Provost Urges Professionalism, Ethical Conduct
By John Dike, Osogbo
No fewer than 150 graduates of Community Health Extension Workers (CHEW and JCHEW) from the Osun State College of Health Technology (OSCO-HEALTH), Ilesa, have been officially inducted into the Community Health Practitioners Registration Board of Nigeria (CHPRBN).
The induction ceremony, held at the college premises, marked a significant milestone in the professional journey of the graduates and reaffirmed the institution’s commitment to producing competent, ethical, and service-driven health practitioners.
Addressing the inductees, the Provost of the College, Dr. Lateef Olarewaju Raheem, congratulated them on their success and reminded them that induction into the professional board is only the beginning of greater responsibilities ahead.
Represented by the Deputy Provost, Mrs. Margaret Oparinde, the Provost charged the new practitioners to uphold professional ethics and standards at all times.
He emphasized that their licenses are not merely certificates but symbols of trust, responsibility, and service to humanity. He further urged them to remain good ambassadors of the institution wherever they find themselves.
Administering the oath, the Registrar of CHPRBN, Dr. Bashir Idris (Lifidin Jama’a), called on the inductees to embrace integrity, competence, accountability, and dedication to community service.
Represented by the Director, Institute of Community Health, Abuja, Dr. (Mrs.) Risikat Motunrayo Onawola, the Registrar stressed that professional ethics must be reflected in daily practice through confidentiality, respectful care, non-discrimination, and strict adherence to scope of practice.
According to him, competence must be sustained through continuous learning, evidence-based practice, and compliance with national guidelines, including the National Standing Orders.
He reaffirmed the Board’s statutory mandate to regulate community health practice through accreditation of institutions, conduct of professional examinations, induction of qualified graduates, enforcement of ethical standards, and promotion of continuous professional development (CPD).
He added that ongoing reforms in digital transformation, credential verification, examination processes, and regulatory oversight are aimed at aligning Nigeria’s community health practice with global best practices while addressing local realities.
In a goodwill message, a former Board member, Comrade Olabisi Adewumi, advocated stronger empowerment of Community Health Practitioners and sustainable Primary Health Care (PHC) systems as critical pillars for national development. He urged the inductees to recognize that a healthy population remains the foundation of socio-economic growth.
Delivering the induction lecture, Dr. (Mrs.) Oluwatoyin Oladejo of the Department of Community Health, University of Medical Sciences, Ondo State, described community health as the backbone of the Primary Health Care system. She encouraged the new practitioners to uphold fairness, equity, transparency, and accountability in their professional engagements.
Also speaking, the Head of Department, Mrs. Joyce Folasade Adebayo, commended the graduates for their resilience and dedication, expressing appreciation to the college management for its consistent support to the department.
The ceremony also featured the induction of graduates from Seventh Day Adventist College of Health Technology, Ile-Ife; Adonis American College of Health Technology, Esa-Oke; Interlink College of Health Technology, Ijebu-Jesa; and Foreign Links College of Health Technology, Moro.
