Windhoek — The much-anticipated School of Medicine at the University of Namibia will officially open its doors come February 2010.

Unam is currently recruiting students and applications close on September 30, 2009. Lecturers in anatomy, biochemistry, physiology, behavioral sciences and community medicine are expected to commence duty on September 1, 2009.

The future School of Medicine project was given another boost this week when a high level delegation from the University of Oulu in Finland and from the Global Health through Education, Training and Service (GHETS) in the USA paid a weeklong visit to Namibia.

The team held meetings with senior officials of the Ministry of Health and Social Services in Windhoek and Oshakati, the American and Finnish embassies, and the Health Professionals Council.

The team was also accompanied by Prof Peter Nyarango who is the Technical Advisor to the Ministry of Health and GTZ in Kenya. Prof Nyarango is an advisory member of the Medical School Steering Committee and also carried out the feasibility study in 2003 for establishing the medical school.

The purpose of the visit was to strengthen the road map for establishing the medical school, which has already been approved by the university senate.

In this regard, meetings held with hospitals, health centres and clinics centred on the important roles these institutions will play in accommodating medical interns during the course of their training.

Human resource development and the development of strategic partnerships for resource mobilisation and collaboration were also high on the agenda of the visiting delegation.

Starting February 2010, the medical school will annually admit 50 students to pursue the Bachelor of Medicine and the Bachelor of Surgery (MB ChB) courses.

The degree comprises five years of training in basic sciences and clinical areas followed by a two-year internship jointly supervised by the School of Medicine and the Medical Dental Professions Council of Namibia.

In order to be admitted to the Unam School of Medicine, a candidate must have:

- Passed five subjects of the NSSC (Namibian Senior Secondary Certificate, or any other equivalent qualification) with at least 35 points on the Unam scale;

- Obtained a Grade 12 or better on NSSC (higher level) or equivalent for Mathematics and Physical Sciences; and

- A Grade B or better on NSSC (ordinary level) or equivalent for Biology and English.

OR

- Successfully completed the entire first year science curriculum with at least 60% pass in Mathematics, Chemistry and Physics.

OR

- Successfully completed a relevant degree programme such as pharmacy or dentistry.

In addition to the above requirements, candidates would be expected to write an essay on a topic or topics so determined by the Committee on Admissions of the School of Medicine and submit a letter of recommendation either from the applicant's teacher, lecturer or employer(s).

Eligible applicants shall normally be invited for interviews to be conducted by the Committee on Admission.