The Kwame Nkrumah University of
Science and Technology (KNUST) has been given the green light for the
construction of a Teaching Hospital for the School of Medical Sciences (SMS) due
to commence in three weeks.
The 750 bed ultra-modern facility
to be situated in the university is expected to reduce the inadequate space,
congestion, inadequate lecturer rooms, and lack of accommodation space the
students and lecturers of the university are battling with at the Komfo Anokye
Teaching Hospital (KATH) during their clinical training programme.
The Vice Chancellor of the
university, Professor William Otoo Ellis, disclosed this at the 18th oath swearing
ceremony of new doctors from the School of Medical Sciences at
the College of Health Sciences.
Professor Ellis acknowledged
government’s contribution to the university and appealed to the government,
once again, to wholly take up this project by injecting the necessary funds for
early completion.
He said the School of Medical
Sciences continue to receive more applicants to enroll in the Medical School in
the face of resource constraints hence management’s decision to expand the
infrastructure base with the construction of a Simulation Centre at the
Clinical students’ Hostel at KATH to equip students with requisite skills for
effective clinical training. He also added that plans are far advanced to
construct a Basic Sciences Block for the School all towards increasing the
intake.
The Food Science and Technology don
intimated that the School will explore the use of District Hospitals in the
region as training sites through an initiate called the “Network of Teaching
Sites Programme”. This is aimed at easing congestion of clinical teaching at
KATH, strengthen community-oriented training and enhance service delivery at
the participating District Hospitals.
He called on the Ministry of
Health and the Ghana Medical and Dental Council for support in the quest to
achieving these goals.
He appealed to the new doctors to
hold high and value human life above money which “predominate everything we do”
to help Ghana.
Professor Tsiri E. Agbenyegah,
Provost of the College of Health Sciences and the Chairman of the Ghana Medical
and Dental Council advised the young doctors to continue in their quest of
life-long learning while keeping in mind the principles to save humanity. He
took the doctors through the ethics of the profession.
The Dean of the School of Medical
Sciences, Professor K.A. Danso said the School is working towards the expansion
of undergraduate intake and introduce new post graduate programmes. The School
according to him has also reviewed the curricula for both the Human Biology and
the Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery programmes towards ensuring the quality of
graduates being produced.
Professor Danso advised the new
doctors to be good ambassadors of KNUST and remember their alma mater and
contribute towards its development. He cautioned them against shortcuts to fame
and riches.
In all, 92 doctors including 9
Nigerians took the “Hippocratic Oath”. 48 of the inductees were females and the
rest males, which according to
the Dean confirm the university’s commitment towards gender development and
women empowerment.
Since its introduction some 36
year ago, the SMS has trained about 1624 doctors majority of whom are still at
post in Ghana and contributing their quota to the health needs of the country.

Bright Habita
Focus fm, KNUST