Dr Martin Luther King Clinic in collaboration with Martin Luther Health Training School on Monday embarked on a week-long activity to celebrate the 84th birthday of Dr Martin Luther King Junior, named after the two institutions.

Dr Martin Luther King Junior, who was born as Michael Luther King Jr on January 15, 1929 later changed his name to Martin and was assassinated in April 4, 1968 when he was 39 years old.

He was a Black-American Clergyman, Activist, and Leader who advocated racial equality in the United States and was best known for civil rights advocacy using non-violent civil disobedience.

His birthday is celebrated on the third Monday of January every year.

Dr Owusu Achaw Duah, Founder and Chief Executive Director of the Dr Martin Luther King Clinic and its affiliate institutions said Luther King had been his mentor for years while his peaceful nature inspired him to name his institutions after him.

Dr Duah said he was compelled to establish the Training School, affiliated with the Weber-State University, Utah USA in 2007 in the wake of the high exodus of health professionals.

The School, which started with 42 students, can now boast of 300 students.

Students undergo two-year certificate courses in Health Assistant Clinicals, Health Care, Laboratory Technology and ICT training.

Dr Duah said the School, which has accreditation from the Nurses and Midwife Council and the National Vocation Training Institute is in the process of securing accreditation from the National Accreditation Board to enable it offer Tertiary diplomas.

He charged the students to make the best of the opportunity given them at the school to help fulfill the mission of helping complement government's effort of training qualified human resource of health professionals.

Activities planned for the celebration included health talks on anaemia, hepatitis, health screening programmes and a float by students of the school.

Mr Robert Odartey Wilson, President of the Students Representative Council of the School urged his fellow students to be motivated by the courage of Dr Luther King and work hard to make an impact in the health delivery of Ghanaians.

Mr Richmond G. Kwawununu, Lecturer in Communication Skills and Entrepreneurship at the School advised students to manage their time judiciously.