A second batch of medical students at the School of Medicine and Allied Health Sciences, University of The Gambia, were, yesterday, sworn-in at a ceremony held at the Royal Victorial Teaching Hospital in Banjul.

The 12 students took the oath of allegiance to be dedicated to their services in the cause to serve humanity.

Speaking at the ceremony, Dr Ousman Nyang, provost of Medical School, said that some of the earliest written records concerning medical codes come from ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia.

According to him, the recent versions are based on the code penned by Hippocrates and his school in Greece, some 5000 years ago.

"No greater opportunity can fall the lot of a human being than to be a physician. In the care of the suffering, he needs technical skills, scientific knowledge and human understanding.

He who uses these with courage, humility and wisdom will provide a unique service for his fellow human beings and will build an enduring edifice of character within hinself. The physician should ask of his destiny no more than this, and he should be content with no less,"  he posited.

In his remarks, Andreas Steigen, Vice Chancellor of the University of The Gambia, said that the swearing-in of second cohorts marks another important milestone in the annals of the UTG.

According to him, they still have a distance to go.

"To educate and train medical students is expensive. Let's not forget to commend our dear friends like Cuba, Federal Republic of Nigeria, Egypt and other countries for their technical support in achieving this goal. I would also like to acknowledge the support of RVTH," he said.

Vice-Chancellor Steigen further advised the newly sworn-in doctors to always seek for knowledge and keep studying for the rest of their lives.

For his part, Dr Malick Njie, Secretary of State for Health and Social Welfare said that a few years ago, The Gambian leader had dreamt to see doctors trained in The Gambia.

"The task was immediately given to UTG and RVTH, supported by Cuba with technical assistance from Egypt and Nigeria," he explained.

SoS NJie further expressed his sincere gratitude to The Gambian leader and SoSes for Higher and Seconday and Basic Education for their support.

"In your first six years, you will have lecturers, and thereafter, your patients will examine you until you die or you leave the profession. You will work to save lives," he noted.

Other speakers at the swearing-in ceremony included Adama Sallah, registrar, Gambia Medical and Dental Council and Abdou K Sillah, one of the newly sworn-in doctors, who delivered the vote of thanks.

The ceremony was also attended by several secretaries of state, including Mary Saine-Firdaus, Attorney General and secretary of state  for Justice, Abdoulie Sallah, secretary of state for Higher Edcation, Fatou Lamin Faye, secretary of state for Basic and Secondary Education, as well as Carlos Salsamendi, Cuban ambassador to the Gambia, amongts other senior government officials.