The Institute is coordinated by the Director appointed by the Vice Chancellors on rotatory bases from Professors in Departments of Obstetrics & Gynaecology or Paediatrics in the College of Medicine of the University.
UNITS OF THE INSTITUTE
The IMCH UNN has two functional academic units thus:
- Child health unit, and
- Women health unit
These units reflect the two departments of the university, Paediatrics and Obstetrics & Gynaecology respectively that form the base of the Institute. The Principal Officers of the Institute are as shown above.
PROFILE OF THE DIRECTOR:
Name: Professor Cyril Chukwudi DIM
Qualifications: MB.BS, M.Sc (Physiol), Euro. M.Sc (Int’l Hlth), FWACS, FMCOG
Specialty: Obstetrics and Gynaecology
Office e-mail: director.imch@unn.edu.ng
B) Biography:
A Professor / Consultant Obstetrician & Gynaecologist with experience in International Public Health, Health Research Methods, Project management, and Leadership/Management in Health; deeply committed to the promotion and research in female reproductive health especially in the areas of maternal/neonatal health, fertility regulation, and cervical cancer prevention – he has authored several policy-relevant research publications in these areas for instance, his team identified significant gaps in the cervical cancer screening of HIV-infected women in Nigeria that informed the recommendation for routine cervical cancer screening in the Guideline for HIV/AIDS treatment in Nigeria by the National Agency for the Control of AIDS. He subsequently developed the concept of “Provider Initiated Cervical Cancer Counselling and Testing (PICCT)” which encourages wider coverage of cervical cancer screening in under-resourced settings using any accessible effective method. He assists the Federal Health Ministry of Nigeria in quality health survey conception and execution – notably, he is a Technical committee member for the National HIV/AIDS and Reproductive Survey.
He has a passion for the mentoring of medical students, resident doctors, and academics. He has continually provided his expertise in research methodology to medical students, postgraduate students, and academics; and has successfully supervised the dissertations of several senior residents in OBGYN. He has authored several academic publications and presented papers in several international conferences. He presented the 152nd Inaugural lecture of the UNN titled, “Not My Portion” Syndrome: The Bane of Cervical Cancer Prevention and Women’s Health Promotion in Nigeria.
Prof Dim is a member of several committees within and outside the University of Nigeria, and an examiner for the Postgraduate Medical Colleges of Nigeria and West Africa. In recognition of his clinical, academic, and mentoring activities, he was awarded the 2013 Prof. Nwokolo Award for Excellence in Academics and Medical practice by the College of Medicine, University of Nigeria. He remains grateful to the European Commission for the award of Erasmus Mundus Scholarship for his Master of Science study in International Health & Health Research Methods.
As the current Director of the Institute of Maternal and Child Health (IMCH), University of Nigeria, he is working tirelessly with his team to take the young Institute to greater heights in the areas of health research, postgraduate education, and community services.
C) Current Responsibilities
a) Administrative:
i. Director, Institute of Maternal and Child Health, University of Nigeria 2017/18 session –
- Coordinates all functions and activities of the Institute
- Chairs the Administrative Board of the Institute
- A member of Board of School of Postgraduate Studies, UNN
ii. Member of Senate, UNN 2014 –
iii. Member, Directorate of Research and Publications, College of Medicine, UNEC 2013 –
iv. Director of Postgraduate Training, University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH) Ituku-Ozalla 2019 –
v. Member, Health Research Ethics Committee, UNTH Ituku-Ozalla, Nigeria 2014 –
vi. Chairman, Accreditation Committee, Dept. of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, UNN 2013 –
vii. Membership of a few other University, College, and Departmental committees
b) Academic:
i. Teaches the following Postgraduate courses in IMCH UNN: Basic Biostatistics in Women Health & Tropical Paediatrics, Research Methodology in Women Health & Tropical Paediatrics, and Reproductive Health/Fertility Regulation.
ii. Conducts clinical research, classroom, clinic, and bedside teaching of clinical students in Obstetrics & Gynaecology
iii. Supervises post-graduate students in MSc / PhD Human Reproduction & Women Health, IMCH UNN
iv. Supervises Dissertations of senior resident doctors in Obstetrics & Gynecology, University of Nigeria Teaching (UNTH) Hospital Ituku-Ozalla, Enugu, Nigeria
v. Mentoring of Resident doctors & Junior Faculty in Health Research Methods
c) Clinical:
i. Training of Resident doctors in Obstetrics & Gynaecology
ii. Specialist clinical care in female reproductive health – weekly antenatal clinic, weekly out-patient gynaecology clinics and theatre session, call-duty, etc
d) Selected Responsibilities outside the University
i. Technical Committee member, National HIV/AIDS & Reproductive Health Survey, FMOH Abuja, Nigeria 2011 –
ii. Member, Data Safety Monitoring Board (DSMB) of PERISCOPE Trial 2018 –
iii. Examiner, Parts 1 & 2 Fellowship Examinations in the Faculty of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria (NPMCN), & West African College of Surgeons 2014 –
iv. Member, Obstetrics and Gynaecology Faculty Board, NPMCN 2018 –
- Member, WHO Expert Committee on Cervical Cancer Prevention Initiative 2019
- External examiner in Obstetrics & Gynaecology to Niger Delta University, Wilberforce Island, Bayelsa State (2017-19), Ebonyi State University Abakaliki (2019 -)
D) Publications:
Prof Cyril DIM has authored and co-authored 60 journal publication, mostly in Impact factor journals; and a few book chapters. He has presented several scientific papers in international conferences. Details of his publications are available at http://sites.google.com/site/cyrildimsite or http://www.researchgate.net/profile/Cyril_Dim2; His ORCID ID is 0000-0003-3469-3549
OTHER PRINCIPAL OFFICERS OF THE INSTITUTE
Office | Officer | Base Department |
Postgraduate Coordinator (Child Health) | Prof. Tagbo OGUONU | Paediatrics |
Postgraduate Coordinator (Women Health) | Prof. Chukwuemeka A. IYOKE | Obstetrics & Gynaecology |
Associate Director (Child Health) | Dr Barth F. CHUKWU | Paediatrics |
Associate Director (Women Health) | Dr Kingsley E. EKWUAZI | Obstetrics & Gynaecology |
Coordinator, Research Management Office | Dr Eric E. ASIMADU | Obstetrics & Gynaecology |
Representative, School of Postgraduate Studies UNN | Dr. Samuel N. UWAEZUOKE | Paediatrics |
Examination Officer | Dr Adaeze C. AYUK | Paediatrics |
Secretary of the Institute | Ms Amaoge OJINTA
(In acting Capacity) |
Principal Executive Officer 1 |
Account Officer | – | – |
The job description of Principal officers is as contained in the Institute Guidelines
Profile Pic for Director IMCH UNN_ Prof Cyril DIM