Health News of Thursday, 17 October 2024

Source: www.ghanaweb.com

Biomedical engineers urged to utilise knowledge to enhance hospital services

Participants of the 2024 local training programme for Ghanaian Biomedical Engineering Professionals Participants of the 2024 local training programme for Ghanaian Biomedical Engineering Professionals

The Country Director of the Korea Foundation for International Health (KOFIH), Ghana Office, Bomin Yang, has urged biomedical engineers to apply the skills and knowledge they acquire through training to strengthen their hospitals and ensure patients receive high-quality healthcare.

He made this statement during the closing ceremony of the 2024 local training programme for Ghanaian Biomedical Engineering Professionals, organized in collaboration with the Ministry of Health (MoH).

Addressing participants, Yang emphasised the importance of biomedical engineers in the health system.

He highlighted the role of training in enhancing the healthcare systems, stressing, “Human resources in the health system are vital, and I hope the biomedical engineers will use the knowledge and experience acquired to support their hospitals for patients to receive high-quality services.”

The 10-day training programme, which started on October 7, 2024, and ended on October 15, 2024, brought together 40 participants from health facilities across the country, including the Ministry of Health.

Yang added that the training is not just about acquiring technical skills but also about building a sustainable environment and improving the lives of local engineers.

The programme aimed to ensure that engineers can maintain hospital equipment effectively, extending its lifespan and improving healthcare services.

Engineer Gartin Charles Adangabey, Chief Physiotherapist of the Ghana Health Service, emphasised the importance of the yearly training. “Biomedical engineers are few in Ghana, so this training improves their knowledge in servicing equipment and ensuring that it lasts longer. KOFIH’s support is essential in helping us maintain our hospitals’ equipment efficiently,” he said.

Engineer Ruth Appiah, a team lead for the KOFIH training in Ghana, expressed optimism about the programme's impact.

“We have participants from all 16 regions, covering all aspects of healthcare, including teaching hospitals. The training lasted for 10 days, and we hope to make a significant impact in our various hospitals,” she said.

The initiative, supported by the Korea Foundation for International Health (KOFIH), is aimed at equipping biomedical engineers with advanced technical skills to work more efficiently in maintaining medical equipment and ensuring that hospitals across the country can provide sustainable services.

Ben Ampomah Nkansah, Director of the Infrastructure Directorate at the Ministry of Health, expressed his gratitude to KOFIH for their continuous support, acknowledging the critical role of biomedical engineers in healthcare during the opening ceremony.

“We are grateful for KOFIH’s dedication to developing the expertise of our biomedical engineering professionals. This long-standing support has contributed significantly to the health sector,” he said.





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