“What’s in Store for the 63rd Health Week?”- An Interview with the UIMSA Vice President, Meliat Abu-Idris

The University of Ibadan Medical Students’ Association (UIMSA) Health Week is arguably the most anticipated event of the year for UIMSAites. It’s a tradition that has been missed just once – during the COVID-19 pandemic of 2020. That’s to show how much esteem the week long celebration is accorded. 

Oddly, as the University of Ibadan Medical Students’ Association (UIMSA) approaches its 63rd Health Week, there has been notable silence surrounding the event. The absence of publicity and detailed updates regarding the planning and activities of the Health Week has raised questions among students, especially in light of the ongoing Medical and Dental Consultants’ Association of Nigeria (MDCAN) strike at the University College Hospital (UCH) which has affected academic and clinical activities for many students. With much anticipation building around the event, the Press felt it important to address these concerns and provide the student body with insight into the plans for this year’s Health Week.

To this effect, we had an interview with the UIMSA Vice President, Meliat Abu-Idris, who also serves as the Chairman of the Central Planning Committee for the Health Week. In this chat with the UIMSA Press’ Oluwagbolade Ajibode, she discussed the preparations, challenges and expectations for the upcoming week. Read on!

Can you briefly introduce yourself and your role as the Chairperson of the 63rd Health Week Central Planning Committee?

As you already know, I am Meliat Abu-Idris, the Vice president of UIMSA and the Chairperson of the 63rd Health Week Central Planning Committee. My role as Chairman of the Central Planning Committee means I am  at the helm of all the affairs for the Health Week. I’m the one in charge and I have the majority of the final say in what goes on in all committees. All ideas of all committees have to be passed through me. All committee heads have to report to me, basically.

When should we expect the theme exposition for this year’s Health Week?

I can’t say for now. 

The ongoing consultants’ strike at the University College Hospital (UCH) has left many clinical students in a state of uncertainty. How has this situation affected your plans for the 63rd Health Week?

It has affected it a lot because we had to shift the initial date we had for the Health Week forward and now we’re working with a tentative date in mind which I cannot say yet cause we’ve not announced that. The tentative date is likely to be shifted either forward or backwards depending on when the strike ends and depending on when we get a solution to the light and water issues we have currently in ABH. Apart from that, fundraising and planning with committee members are well underway. The only thing affected is the date of the health week.

The 100-level students will be done with their exams in a few weeks and most will be travelling home for the end of session break. Will the tentative date factor in their availability?

Yes, it will.

What happens if the strike persists until after 100-level students go home for the end-of-session break? Does that mean they won’t get to participate?

I already said that whatever we do, we’re putting them into consideration. Every date or timeline we’ve chosen puts everyone’s calendar into consideration. Once the strike is called, we’ll work on rescheduling the events and choosing appropriate dates.

Could you give us a sneak peek into the events and activities planned?

They are the typical events that happen every tenure. The only new addition is the stage play. The committee was created earlier during the tenure and plans are well underway to make sure that it’s a very exciting experience for UIMSAites. We also have the Community Health Awareness Program (CHAP), symposium, interclass quiz, debates, stage play, variety nights, dinner and awards night and of course, Ulympics, which already started before the strike.

With academic activities being put on hold for clinical students due to the strike, how do you think this will impact participation or attendance?

There are no activities that are currently being held for the Health Week so it doesn’t affect it right now. But I think upon resumption, preliminaries will continue and I don’t think it will be a problem. I think that with the right engagement and hopefully, with proper changes being made once the strike is called off, people would have interest in the event again because Health Week is a time that everyone looks forward to at the end of the tenure. 

In other words, are you saying that Health Week events won’t continue until the strike is called off?

Yes. We haven’t done anything since the strike started.

What are some of the challenges you’ve faced in the planning process?

The number one challenge we faced was budgeting, making sure that we looked at inflation rates and how much we can fundraise for the event. This meant cutting down on some things that we could do and also making sure that UIMSAites get their money’s worth for paid events, and regarding the events that are not ticketed, that we give them as much refreshments as we can afford. That’s for budgeting. 

Regarding committee members’ commitment, I chose really great committee heads and for the most part, committee members have been responsive because everyone always has challenges with fundraising but we’re trying our best to tackle that. In some ways, we’ve had to take drastic measures on committee members’ commitment to make sure that people who chose to be on these committees are dedicated to what is required of them. Also, fundraising is always a challenge. We’ve taken so many Ls with fundraising just this year alone. We’ve had quite a number of people tell us, ‘Oh, your idea is great‘, ‘We love what you’re doing but right now, we cannot be of help‘. It’s been really challenging but we’re still pushing. We’ve had some wins too. We’ve been able to raise a couple of funds. At first, the Ls were just so many and it was like there was no end in sight but we’ve had wins when it comes to fundraising and we plan to double our efforts. 

Another challenge is the scheduling like you’ve asked about 100 level students going home, the strike and everything. The strike affected our plans, the protest for light and water at ABH and even now that 100-level students will be going home soon because everything is ideally supposed to happen by the time they have their break or before they go home. That was the initial plan but you know, UCH is on hold right now but UI is still moving. It’s a lot of mental work. It’s a lot of planning. It’s a lot of discussion amongst excos and committee heads to find a way to make sure that everyone is included, everyone’s calendar is considered and there’s no one missing out on the events. That’s still a headache that I and the excos as well as the committee heads have to deal with once the strike is over and once we have a reasonable solution to the light and water problems at ABH.

What has been your most rewarding experience as head of the central planning committee so far?

This is a very interesting question. I think the first will be the photoshoot/creating content. It’s always amazing seeing your ideas come to life and seeing the people that you put in charge of committees being as committed as you are to making sure that everything works well, and everything comes out as amazing as you want it to. Everyone has just been bubbling with ideas and it’s just very wholesome. From committee heads to the excos to designers as well. We’ve released only one design so far which was made by our head designer, Pelumi, and the fact that he was able to bring that vision to life was just amazing. 

Another experience would be getting to speak with alumni, especially the ones that have served as excos before. Just a few days ago, I spoke to a one-time president of UIMSA. He was one of the pioneers of Face of Preclinicals (FOP) back then. It was just amazing being able to speak with someone like that and that’s because I reached out to them as the Vice President, as the Head of the Central Planning committee, telling them about the plans we have for our Health Week. That was also a really rewarding experience. It’s always lovely being able to speak with people that have been where you are and understand what it feels like and can offer guidance and they are much more willing to help with funding and all of that.Those are the two most rewarding experiences so far. And I hope that when the health week eventually holds, people’s extraordinary experience will make it all the much more rewarding.

Before you go, is there anything else you’d like to add or any message you’d like to share with the UIMSAites ahead of the Health Week?

I’d like to tell UIMSAites to prepare themselves for an action-packed, exhilarating week and they should prepare their money for the tickets, their minds for the awesomeness and the innovative things that they are going to see. And of course, they should come ready to have fun because that’s all we plan to do throughout the health week.

Despite the delays, uncertainties and logistical hurdles, the 63rd UIMSA Health Week is shaping up to be an exciting and memorable experience. From the introduction of a stage play to the carefully curated lineup of events, the Planning Committee has worked tirelessly to ensure that every UIMSAite enjoys the week to the fullest; considering every student’s schedule, ensuring inclusivity and delivering a well-organized event. While the consultants’ strike and other challenges have posed significant setbacks, the resilience and dedication of the organizers remain unwavering.

Now, all eyes are on the official announcements. UIMSAites can only wait in anticipation, prepare for the experience ahead. As the Vice President aptly put it, “Get ready for an action-packed, exhilarating week!”

Oluwagbolade Ajiboro