The Chancellor of the University of Cape Coast, Sir Dr. Sam Esson Jonah, has stated that it is important for Ghana to create enough opportunities for many more students to pursue medicine as a career.
He stated that private sector participation in medical education is non-existent in the country and there is the need to bring on board the private sector to augment what government has been doing.
Sir Dr. Sam Jonah made these remarks during the 47th Congregation of the University of Cape Coast and 2nd Oath Swearing and Induction Ceremony for the Second batch of 46 doctors who had gone through their six-year programme of study at the School of Medical Sciences. He also pointed out that Ghana, through its investment promotion drive, should market itself as a medical excellence center in West Africa and thus, provide all the necessary incentives to attract private capital and participation as seen with mainstream universities. He said, “Many students with good grades do not make it to medical school in Ghana simply because of the intake limits. These students can leave the shores of Ghana and get into medical schools abroad. There are simply not enough medical schools and it is therefore not surprising that our health statistics are not impressive.”
The Vice Chancellor of the University of Cape Coast, Professor Domwini Dabire Kuupole, said the vision of UCC through the College of Health and Allied Sciences is to make the School of Medical Sciences the preferred destination for medical and other health care education.
He said in order to increase the intake of students, the University intends to open up more clinical training sites in other parts of the country. “It is also the intention of the University to develop more residential facilities for students and recruit more personnel to boost the staff strength. Through the GETFund, efforts are being made to complete the physical development of the uncompleted laboratories and classroom blocks of the School,” Prof. Kuupole stated. He urged the School to partner with local and international corporate businesses to help achieve its set vision.
Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, Minister of Education, in an address commended the initiators of the Community Based Experience and Services (COBES) program which assists the future medical officers to acquire experimental education through immersion. She said government is committed to support the medical school and similar institutions to achieve their higher potential.
The Second batch of 46 doctors who had gone through their six-year programme of study leading to the award of the Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBCHB), graduated and were sworn in to commence their Housemanship.
source: atlfmonline
