Six Questions with Doctor Ameenah Hassan

Amina Muhammad Hassan earned her MBBS in April 2006 from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.  

Ready, Set, ...

 She subsequently worked at:  
- Uthman Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital, Sokoto - Internship
- King of Kings Specialist Hospital, Asaga, Ohafia, Abia State - 8 months of NYSC
- Kawo General Hospital, Kaduna state - last 3 months of NYSC
and since then, she's been with the 
- Obstetrics and Gynaecology Department of King Fahd Women and Children's Hospital, Gusau, Zamfara State. She is currently the Head of Clinical Services in the hospital. 

An old photo: Zamfara is quiet

Some more-recent photos HERE

Alongside this, she serves as 
- a State Trainer in the Malaria Action Programme for States (MAPS) 
- a master trainer mentor for MNCH2 (Maternal, Newborn and Child Health 2)

She is a member, and former Zamfara state treasurer, of the Nigerian Medical Association.
She is married, and enjoys taking walks and admiring nature in her spare time.

Back in Queen's College where we were classmates from January 1991- June 1996, Amina was often class captain and when she became a house captain, as expected her Obong House was swiftly transformed into a winner at inspections and sports. 

SS3Y Class Photo in 1996: Ameenah is second from left, with face obscured by Fatima's head (precursor surgical mask? :) I made sure my face got in :) @3rdLeft

I remember her as a Muslim person of principle.   

Also, I think it was she who started the trend in our class of going regularly to the library to enjoy the reference books on the upper floor, that is, not just when we had homework.  I came to enjoy the habit very much too. 


I badly wanted to ask her a few questions for only my fourth ever Six-Questions feature:
  

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1. Tell us a story about the oldest person you've met at work. And the youngest? 

 The oldest patient I've attended to was a 60-year-old woman with uterovaginal prolapse, we managed her successfully.  

The youngest was a neonate born with ambiguous genitalia, we referred [this child] to the teaching hospital in Zaria.

[Ask Google/Wikipedia, like I did :) ]

2. What are the two biggest solvable problems you encounter regularly at work? 

Late-coming especially the HMIS staff,  

and 

Attitude - we generally need to be proactive.

 
3. Three things we should all do for better health? 

Eat healthy, laugh a lot and exercise.

 
4. How did you decide to become a medical doctor? 

I initially wanted to read accounting, like my Dad. 

The turning point was JSCE Book-Keeping [back in 1993, as a JS3 / 9th-grade student.] It got me tied up in knots, lol.   

At that point I decided to save lives instead.  All I had to do was pass JAMB so I got admission in ABU Zaria.

5. What is the meaning of life? 

Life is a gift. Cherish it and make the best use of it, irrespective of the circumstances.  

The Doc with her handsome baby.

6. Does Nigeria need more doctors?

Where I work the ratio is one doctor to 40 [patients] averagely, this can be overwhelming.  

A conducive working environment and more hands will help.  

[Today, it's New Year's Eve] I saw outpatients and now I'm in theatre to perform an elective Cesarean section, and work still continues after the surgery.

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