The University for Development Studies (UDS) continues to train medical Doctors to fix the deficit in Doctor-patient radio recorded in the nation’s health facilities.
The UDS School of Medicine and Health Sciences has so far trained 186 qualified Doctors serving in all health facilities across the country.
Some of them are District Superintendents of Health at major health referral centres alongside their clinical services.
On the occasion of the third graduation ceremony held at the UDS central auditorium at the Tamale City campus, 33 Doctors graduated.
In his welcome address, the UDS Vice Chancellor, Professor Haruna Yakubu advised the graduands to live exemplary lifestyles by exhibiting the highest standard of discipline at their work places.
“Bear in mind that the reward of your hard work is more work and I trust that you are up to the task in view of the special training the university has given you: accordingly, I entreat you not to rest on your oars but rather you must aim higher.”
“I advise you to comport yourselves as worthy products of the UDS and I urge you all students graduating today to keep and practice that high level of discipline that has been instilled in you by the UDS,” Professor Harunah stressed.”
Professor Haruna Yakubu implored the Ministry of Health to engage the services of its products in rural communities.
He said despite infrastructural and teaching staff challenges, the university admitted 122 out of 1,582 applicants into the School of Medicine and Health Sciences for the 2014-2015 academic season.
Professor Haruna revealed that the UDS signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Galilee International Management Institute in Israel under which an international medical training was launched in December 2014 to be hosted by the UDS.
According to him, the programme entailed offering a joint medical programme for both local and international students.
“The training of these Doctors will be done at the two sites: at UDS Medical School and other medical schools outside Ghana: it was designed and aimed at training medical Doctors to serve the needs of Ghana, Africa and indeed the international community.”
Professor Haruna reiterated his administration’s commitment to vigorously pursue courses on Africa leadership, research activities as well as culture and development.
He commended management, teaching and non-teaching staff of the UDS for their immeasurable contribution to the achievements made so far.
Infrastructure development
Professor Haruna commended government and its development partners for both completed and ongoing projects at the various satellite campuses.
He singularly mentioned the construction of a 2000 capacity auditorium sponsored by President John Dramani Mahama.
He also cited the construction of 800 capacity students hostel funded by the Ghana Universities Staff Superannuation Scheme (GUSS), an anatomy block funded by the GETfund, an ICT block funded by the Ministry of Communication and the construction of a four storey block for use as lecture halls and staff offices funded by the Bank of Ghana at the cost of GHC5, 000.000.00.
Chairman of the UDS Governing Board, Dr. Salifu Abdulai bemoaned the inferno which ravaged the Tema central medical stores.
He admonished the national security apparatus to intensify their surveillance network to prevent such future disasters.
To the graduands, Dr. Salifu encouraged them to exhibit the knowledge gained for service value by accepting postings to rural communities.
Dr. Salifu passionately appealed to government to place premium on the UDS School of Medicine and Health Sciences.
Of particular mentioned was the Scholarship Secretariat which he asked to pay special attention to students of the UDS School of Medicine and Health Sciences.
Some of the graduands in a Citi News interview welcomed the challenge to accept postings to rural communities.
They promised to operate in line with best international practices to save more lives.
Awards were given to deserving awardees but Edwin Sanwie was adjudged the overall best student.
By: Abdul Karim Naatogmah/Citifmonline.com/Ghana