West African College of Physicians

The West African College of Physicians is a professional society, founded in 1976, for medical specialists in the West African sub-region.[1] The association promotes postgraduate specialist training, professional curriculum development and fellowship certification in six sub-specialties or faculties, Community Health, Family Medicine, Internal Medicine, Paediatrics, Psychiatry and Laboratory Medicine, specifically concentrations in Anatomical Pathology, Chemical Pathology, Haematology and Medical Microbiology.[1] The College also serves as a health policy advisor to many participating governments in West Africa.[1]

West African College of Physicians
AbbreviationWACP
Formation1976 (1976)
TypeProfessional Association
HeadquartersLagos, Nigeria
Location
Official language
Websitewac-physicians.org//

History

Established in 1976, the West African College of Physicians has its headquarters in Lagos, Nigeria.[1] In the early days, membership of the College was limited to the five Anglophone countries of West Africa: Ghana, Liberia, Nigeria, Sierra Leone and The Gambia. Fellowships are categorised by chapters based in 8 member-nations including La Cote d’Ivoire, The Gambia, Ghana, Liberia, Nigeria, Benin, Senegal and Sierra Leone.[1] Membership is now available for medical doctors in Francophone countries.[1] Overall, current members nations include Benin, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Côte d'Ivoire, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone and The Gambia. The College has plans to expand medical outreach and development initiatives in the two Lusophone member states, Cape Verde and Guinea-Bissau.[1]

The College’s sister institution is the West African College of Surgeons, a professional society for surgeons in West Africa.[1][2] It also has strategic partnerships with the National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria, the Ghana College of Physicians and Surgeons and the Medical Research Council in The Gambia.[1] There is educational and scientific collaboration between the West African College of Physicians and Britain’s Royal Medical Colleges especially the Royal College of Physicians of London, the American College of Physicians and the South African Medical College.[1] The Annual General and Scientific Meetings are rotated among the 14 member-nations of the College.[1] From time to time, the College embarks on a five-year strategic plan to set health services delivery objectives for the organisation.[1]

College structure

Atop the College’s committee hierarchy is the College Council superintends the Finance and General-Purpose Committee which in turn has oversight of the Education and Research Committee, Accreditation Committee, Examination Committee, International Office/Committee and the Quality Assurance Committee. The Faculties/Faculty Boards report to the Education and Research Committee.[1]

At the administrative level, the President is the Head of the College assisted by the Vice Presidency. Below that level is the Secretary-General and Treasurer who supervise the Administrative Officer, Examination Officer and the Accountant. The Vice Presidency consists of eight Vice Presidents who double as Chairpersons for the national chapters. In each member country, the National Treasurer and National Secretary report to the Vice President/Chapter Chairman. The National Secretary oversees the Chapter Faculties.[1]

Faculties

The six faculties of the College are:

  • Community Health
  • Family Medicine
  • Internal Medicine
  • Paediatrics
  • Psychiatry
  • Laboratory Medicine with options in Anatomical Pathology, Chemical Pathology, Haematology and Medical Microbiology

Medical publications

The West African College of Physicians, together with the West African College of Surgeons, co-own the West African Journal of Medicine, with the aim of "providing a medium for international dissemination of information about medical science in West Africa and elsewhere."[1][3][4] Additionally, the College publishes the Proceedings of its Annual College Lectures as well as other symposia and scientific conferences.[1]

Fellowship examinations

To be awarded a fellowship in a faculty of the WACP, a candidate must satisfactorily pass the Part I and Part II examinations and complete a clinical rotational training at an accredited institution as well as a written dissertation.

College prizes

The following academic prizes are awarded to outstanding graduating Fellows of the College:[1]

Prize Description
Ayo Iyun Prize For the best Part I Candidate in Internal Medicine
A. F. B. Mabadeje Prize For the best Dissertation in Internal Medicine
S. F. Kuku’s President Prize For the best Graduating Fellow in the College
S. F. Kuku’s Chairman’s Prize For the best Part II Candidate in Internal Medicine
Egerton Luke Prize For the best Part I Candidate in Psychiatry
Awoonor-Renner Prize For the best Dissertation in Laboratory Medicine
A. O. Senbanjo’s Prize For the best Graduating Fellow in Family Medicine
Tom Thatcher Prize For the best Part II Dissertation in Family Medicine
Asuquo Antia Memorial Prize For the best Part I Candidate in Paediatrics
A. B. O. O. Oyediran Prize For the best Part I Candidate in Community Health
Olubunmi Robbin-Coker Prize For the best Dissertation in Paediatrics
Manuwa-Olumide Prize For the best Part II Candidate in Community Health
Professor A. C. Ikenne Prize For the best candidate in Cardiology Sub-specialty Examination of the Faculty of Internal Medicine

College leadership

Presidents
President Tenure of Office Country of origin
J. O. Mabayoje 1976–1978 Nigeria
J. N. Togba 1979–1980 Liberia
J. V. O. Mends 1981–1982 Sierra Leone
E. B. F. Foster 1983–1984 Ghana
J. J. N'dow 1985–1986 The Gambia
A. Binite 1987–1988 Nigeria
J. M. Bankole-Arret 1989–1990 Liberia
D. J. O.Robbin-Coker 1991–1992 Sierra Leone
J. K. Bandoh 1993–1994 Ghana
F. S. Oldfield 1995–1996 The Gambia
S. F. Kuku 1997–1998 Nigeria
E. M. F. Luke 1999–2000 Sierra Leone
V. E. Sirleaf 2001–2002 Liberia
J. K. Acquaye 2003–2004 Ghana
T. Corrah 2005–2006 The Gambia
Ro.A. Makanjuola 2007–2008 Nigeria
Patrick Coker 2009–2010 Sierra Leone
Benson S Barh 2011–2012 Liberia
Yao Tettey 2013–2014 Ghana
Kalifa Bojang 2015–2016 The Gambia
Ifeoma Egbuonu 2017–2018 Nigeria
Houenou Agbo Yveline 2018–2019 Cote D’ivoire
Radcliffe Durodami Lisk 2019–present Sierra Leone

Secretary-Generals
Secretary-General Tenure of office Country of origin
J. O. M. Pobee 1977–1980 Ghana
A. B. O. Oyediran 1981–1983 Nigeria
H. O. Adewoye 1984–1987 Nigeria
A. Iyun 1988 Nigeria
R. O. A. Makanjuola 1989 – 1992 Nigeria
A. F. Bella 1993 – 1994 Nigeria
Kike Osinusi 1995 – 1998 Nigeria
T. Ipadeola 1999 – 2000 Nigeria
Y. Tettey 2001 – 2002 Ghana
J. O. Ogunbiyi 2003 – 2004 Nigeria
T. K. Caiquo 2005 – 2006 Ghana
F. E. A Lesi 2007 – 2010 Nigeria
Bernard Nkum 2011–2014 Ghana
Clement Ezechukwu 2015–2018 Nigeria
Albert Akpalu 2019–present Ghana

Treasurers
College Treasurer Tenure of office Country of origin
F. S. J. Oldfield 1978–1982 The Gambia
D. A. Olatubosun 1983–1986 Nigeria
S. N. Afoakwa 1987–1988 Ghana
Tolu Odugbemi 1989–1992 Nigeria
A. E. Ohwovoriole 1993–1996 Nigeria
P. K. Nyame 1997–2000 Ghana
I. Egbuonu 2001–2004 Nigeria
Ngozi F. Onyia 2005–2006 Nigeria
Mercy Ablorh-Odjidja 2007–2010 Ghana
Kofo Odusote 2011–2014 Nigeria
Adabayeri Victoria May 2015–2018 Ghana
Enobong Ikpeme 2019–present Nigeria

References
  1. "WACP | About Us". wac-physicians.org. Retrieved 2019-04-30.
  2. "College History". www.wacscoac.org. Retrieved 2019-04-30.
  3. "West African Journal of Medicine". www.ajol.info. Archived from the original on 2019-04-11. Retrieved 2019-04-30.
  4. "West African Journal of Medicine". www.scimagojr.com. Archived from the original on 2018-03-16. Retrieved 2019-04-30.
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