Central to the curriculum of the University of Ilorin's medical school is the Community-Based Education and Service (COBES) program. This program is consistent with the emphasis of the government health care system on primary health care services targeted at problems such as poor nutrition, parasitic disease, and infection, especially among mothers and children. The CORES program, instituted in 1978, places medical students in both urban and rural clinics to impart awareness of the unique problems in each setting. In their 1st COBES posting, students study the demographic structure of the community and make a "community diagnosis." They organize a health education day and a public health action (e.g. immunization). At the end of this posting, students present suggestions for action to village leaders. The 2nd posting is centered around the World Health Organization's theme for that year. Postings 3 and 4 emphasize the development of clinical skills in basic primary care. At all times, students are taught to understand the impact of the local culture on the interpretation and treatment of illness. The COBES experience has stimulated numerous related developments, including establishment of an African Chapter of the Network of Community Oriented Institutions for Health Sciences, proposals for reforms in medical education by the 1989 African Inter-Ministerial Conference, and the introduction of similar programs at Ogun State and Bayero Universities.

作者：J D, Hamilton；O, Ogunbode

来源：Lancet (London, England) 1991 年 338卷 8759期