UCC Graduates Students from the College of Health and Allied Sciences

The University has graduated 790 students from the College of Health and Allied Sciences who successfully completed their programmes of study in the 2018/2019 academic year.

These graduates constitute the first session of the 52nd Congregation dedicated to the College of Health and Allied Sciences.

Out of the total number, 68 were from the School of Medical Sciences, 244 from the School of Nursing and Midwifery and 294 from the School of Allied Health Sciences. There were also 184 graduates from Affiliate institutions including Schools of Anaesthesia in Kumasi, Ridge and 37 Military Training School and the School of Dispensing Optics in Oyoko, Ashanti Region.

Appreciation to CoHAS and Management of UCC

Speaking at the ceremony, the Chancellor Sir (Dr.) Sam Esson Jonah, commended the College for working diligently to add other programmes like the Doctor of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences to help boost healthcare delivery in the country. “I have no doubt that in no time, this new programme will become one of the University’s flagship programmes and sell like a hotcake not only in the country but the African continent” he noted. The Chancellor appreciated the Management of the University, members of faculty and staff of the CoHAS for serving the University diligently.

Sir (Dr.) Sam Esson Jonah congratulated the graduates on the successful completion of their studies and urged them that “Whatever be your area of specialisation in the health profession, each and every one of you is well trained to play crucial roles in the promotion of good health practices. As Ghanaians, we have come to a point where we need healthcare innovations that will make modern-day healthcare delivery easily accessible and much more affordable”.

Application of Technology to Healthcare

The Chancellor reminded the fresh graduates that “We live in an era where the application of technology in healthcare delivery is making enormous contributions to the treatment of patients”. He mentioned one of such technological advancement as Artificial Intelligence stressing that “Many systems in modern hospitals use technology supported by Artificial Intelligence infrastructure”. He explained that the computer recognised spoken word and could respond but the potential uses of Artificial Intelligence in healthcare had far greater applications than that.

Activities of the College

In his report, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Joseph Ghartey Ampiah, highlighted some of the activities undertaken by the College of Health and Allied Sciences. He noted that the School of Medical Sciences had introduced Graduate Entry Medicine (GEM) option for the Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery. He said the University Eye Clinic which was established through collaboration between the Department of Optometry and Vision Sciences and the Directorate of University Health Sciences had been inaugurated and offering eye care services to the University community and the general public.

Prof. Ampiah reported that two students from the Department of Medical Laboratory Technology won grants from YES Ghana to undertake community projects during the vacation period. He said the Department has been accredited to run Continuous Professional Development (CPD) programmes for the Medical and Dental Council (MDC) and the Allied Health Professions Council.

The Vice-Chancellor noted that the Department of Chemical Pathology in conjunction with Breast Society of Ghana and the Ministry of Gender and Children Protection have planned to screen women in the Central Region for breast cancer with the new light-based breast cancer screening tool known as the breast-i. “ This device is a world-class scientific tool for detecting breast masses developed with the Black African woman in mind,” he said the breast-i was collaborative research between lecturers in the Departments of Chemical Pathology, Surgery, Medical Biochemistry at UCC, Mammocare Ghana and Highland Innovations Centre in Scotland, UK.

Notable Awards and Achievements of UCC

Highlighting some of the notable awards and achievements of the University, the Vice-Chancellor said the National Varietal Release and Registration Council (NVRRC) of the Ministry of Agriculture has approved four new varieties of cowpea developed by a team of researchers from UCC. he added that “The four new varieties are climate-resilient and high yielding cowpea genotypes adaptable to the coastal and savannah areas”.

Prof. Ampiah noted that the UCC sports team was adjudged the overall champions in the maiden African Universities Games held in Cairo, Egypt. “In all our students won 10 gold, 7 silver and 8 bronze medals,” he announced. The Vice-Chancellor thanked faculty, staff and students who continue to lift high the image of the University. He thanked banks and other institutions that continue to support the University’s activities.

Overall Best Graduating Student

Mr. Brah Augustine Suurinobah, with a Cumulative Grade Point Average of 3.8 was adjudged the overall best graduate for the first session of the 52nd Congregation.