By: Rita Kafui Nedjoh | Voltaonlinegh |
The University of Health and Allied Sciences (UHAS) has held its 4th congregation to graduate and celebrate 803 students who had successfully completed their respective courses.
The ceremony held at the Cedi Auditorium of the University over the weekend saw students awarded Bachelor degrees in Dietetics, Medical Laboratory Sciences, Physiotherapy, Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences, Physician Assistantship, Midwifery, Nursing and Public Health.
Speaking at the ceremony, the Vice Chancellor of the University, Prof. John Owusu Gyapong congratulated the graduates for their successful completion and urged them to go out and deliver on the values of the institute.
Prof. Gyapong noted that all programmes undertaken in the university had the required accreditation approval and would continue to work with all accreditation bodies to ensure introduction and implementation of programmes.
He said the Doctor of Pharmacy programme had accreditation from the Pharmacy Council and the National Council of Tertiary Education (NCTE) while the Diagnostic Imaging programme had approval from the Allied Health Council and the National Accreditation Board (NAB) and awaiting final approval from NAB and NCTE respectively.
He indicated that with the interest of many research funding agencies to work with the University, UHAS was fast becoming the place of choice for health-related research adding that, the Institute of Health Research was leading the Ghana Consortium to conduct a quantitative study on the introduction of the new malaria vaccine (RTS, S) in Ghana.
The Vice Chancellor lamented the infrastructure deficit confronting the number 12 ranked University in the country according to the Ghana University Rankings which he said was negatively affecting teaching and learning in the University.
He noted that currently, only the School of Basic and Biomedical Sciences out of the eight schools was built and all GETFUND projects had slowed down due to non-payment of contractors.
Prof. Angela L. Ofori-Atta who was the guest speaker advised the graduates that in moment of anxiety of what to do next, they should be careful and choose wisely but never despise small beginnings and start something small.
She fell on words of Oriah Mountain Dreamer, “it doesn’t interest me how old you are. I want to know if you will risk looking like a fool for love for your dream for adventure of being alive,” to drive home her point.
The Volta Regional Minister, Dr Archibald Yao Letsa commended the UHAS Management and graduates for their efforts and successes and expressed hope that UHAS would become the best university in Ghana.
Dr. Archibald noted that government would ensure that the infrastructure and logistics deficit and other challenges of the University were addressed in order to make UHAS a centre of academic excellence in healthcare education and training in a short time.
Dr. Letsa advised graduates that to be the best in health care delivery, they should continue to upgrade their knowledge and skills.
He charged the graduates to be ambassadors for UHAS and showcase what it stands for as the name UHAS would soar higher through their attitude in their various work environments and promised to institute a special award scheme for the best student in Psychiatry.
Elvis Nutifafa Agbley was awarded the Vice Chancellor’s Prize for the Overall Best Graduating UHAS Student and the Best Graduating Student in Physician Assistantship programme.
Source: www.voltaonlinegh.com
