NEW YEAR MESSAGE  TO THE WACP – 2022

Greetings to our esteemed Fellows, Members, and administrative staff of our beloved College.  When I gave the New years message for 2021 I had no idea I will be talking about covid in 2022. Alas, this virus is here to stay and as we now tighten our belts to face the new Omicron variant we should at the same time start seriously thinking about dealing with the new normal of a persistent virus which is going to be with us for a long time.

I am pleased with the way we coped with these difficult situations in 2021. Our examinations went well including the newly established CBT and we were encouraged by the number of candidates that took the examinations. With more countries forming national colleges and their own postgraduate training programs, the lastest being Sierra Leone, we should expect falling numbers of candidates taking our exams and we should plan to cope with that.  The College must now start looking at assuming a strategic role in promoting health and medical education in the sub-region and position itself as the ‘College of Colleges’.

Our first virtual AGSM was an unqualified success and for this, we are indebted to the Gambian chapter particularly its Chairman Dr. Uduak Okomo for a superb performance.  It gives credence to the adage that great things come in small packages! The Gambia being the smallest Chapter rose to the occasion and reminded us that despite its size it can deliver on the biggest platforms. Larger chapters take note! Virtual and hybrid meetings may well be the way to go until we figure out how to live with this virus.

Our Constitutional Review committee has started its deliberations and we look forward to its recommendations this year which we hope will be tabled at the next Annual General Meeting in Accra. The next phase of construction of the WACP tower block has been approved by Council and is ongoing. We desperately want the completion of this building at the earliest possible time to boost the College’s income generation. I implore Fellows and Members to pay their building fund contributions. As we start 2022 we look forward to our continued resolve and hard work to elevate the stature and prestige of our College.

I, therefore, take this opportunity to wish you all a very fruitful and successful year.

Dr. Durodami Radcliffe Lisk FWACP