{"id":"cb7620e5-a780-428d-bca5-466f380d306f","slug":"enhancing-medical-education-experience-through-community-based-experience-and-services","title":"Enhancing medical education experience through community-based experience and services","authors":["Mubarak J. Mustapha","Ahmed Muthana","Ahmad O. Sulaiman","Samer S. Hoz"],"abstract":"Background: Medical education in Africa faces significant challenges, particularly in resource-limited settings, due to socioeconomic and political instability, outdated curricula, and insufficient teaching staff. Community-Based Education and Service (COBES) has emerged as a promising approach to enhance medical training by involving local communities in the educational process. Summary: COBES requires medical students to engage with healthcare professionals in various community settings, addressing local health issues while gaining practical experience. Feedback from students and community members indicates that COBES positively influences students' career choices, particularly their willingness to practice in rural areas. The program has been successfully implemented at the University of Ilorin in Nigeria and has inspired similar initiatives in other African countries. Conclusion: Implementing COBES in medical education is essential for addressing healthcare inequities and preparing future physicians to work in underserved areas. Despite challenges such as resource limitations and logistical issues, strategic improvements and community partnerships can enhance the effectiveness of COBES programs. Keywords: medical education, community-based education, COBES, healthcare inequities, rural practice, Africa, medical training, community engagement","thumbnailUrl":"https://sni-digital-videos.s3.amazonaws.com/placeholders/specialty/socio-economics-politics-and-medicine.png","publishDate":"2024-06-14T00:00:00.000Z","doi":"10.25259/SNI_343_2024","categories":["Socio-Economics, Politics, and Medicine","Letter to the Editor"],"fullTextUrl":"https://surgicalneurologyint.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/12941/SNI-15-200.pdf"}