The solemn Hippocratic oath ceremony took place on Saturday August 5 at the Free University of the Great Lakes Country (ULPGL) in Goma, in the province of North Kivu. This historic moment marked the entry into service of the first twenty-five doctors trained by this university since the opening of its medical school in October 2014.
The ceremony was held in the presence of the president of the Provincial Council of the Order of Physicians of North Kivu, as well as eminent members of the medical sector. The director of ULPGL, Aron Lupasula Lubango, expressed his pride and satisfaction at this memorable event. He underlined his university’s commitment to training young Congolese in different fields, particularly medicine.
The speed with which this first class obtained their medical professional number is remarkable. In less than a year, these young doctors managed to register with the country’s Order of Physicians, a feat which testifies to their determination and the quality of their training.
In addition to the twenty-five doctors graduated from ULPGL, thirty-nine other doctors from different universities in the provinces of North and South Kivu also took the Hippocratic oath during the same ceremony. Among these universities are the University of Goma (UNIGOM), the Free University of the Countries of the Great Lakes (ULPGL), the University of Nature Conservation and Development of Kasugho (UCNDK), the University of Kivu of Goma (UNIKIVU) and Simon Kimbamgu University (USK) in Bukavu.
The Hippocratic Oath is a solemn commitment made by doctors, in which they promise to serve their Congolese patients, as well as all humanity. This oath embodies their commitment to medical ethics and the responsible practice of medicine.
This swearing-in ceremony marks an important step in the development of the medical sector in the Democratic Republic of Congo. It illustrates the desire of Congolese universities to train a new generation of competent and committed doctors, ready to contribute to improving the health of the Congolese population.
The success of these first ULPGL graduates demonstrates the quality of the medical education provided by this university. It also offers new employment prospects for young doctors, who will now be able to practice their profession with the assurance of being recognized by the country’s Order of Physicians.
In conclusion, the taking of the Hippocratic oath of the first twenty-five doctors trained by ULPGL is an important moment for the university, for the medical sector and for the country as a whole. This ceremony demonstrates ULPGL’s commitment to training competent and responsible health professionals, ready to contribute to improving the health of the Congolese population.