The students taking their oath at the induction ceremony
Five hundred and eighty-six allied health graduates from various health training institutions have been inducted by the Allied Health Professions Council.
The sixth induction ceremony, held in Accra over the weekend, had 254 medical laboratory scientists, 18 occupational therapists, 23 diagnostic radiographers, 33 dieticians, three audiologists, 10 medical physicists, 33 physiotherapists, 55 optometrists, 33 sonographers, five radiotherapists and 119 nutritionists taking their oath to become professionally registered allied health practitioners.
Dr Matilda Asante, Head of Department of Dietetics, University of Ghana, speaking on the theme: ‘Prevention & Control of Chronic Diseases Through Intensive Promotion of Healthy Lifestyles & Diet’, stated that chronic diseases have been recognised as a threat not only to human health, but development and economic growth.
She said the number of people suffering and dying from chronic disease has seen a steady increase over the years, with most people who die from chronic diseases like cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular and chronic respiratory diseases die in their prime age.
“The fact is that almost 50 percent of people who die of chronic diseases are in the prime of their productive years and this affects national productivity,” she stated.
She, however, mentioned that a healthier lifestyle of physical activity, good diet regular visits to the hospital can help reduce the impact of non-communicable disease on the country.
Dr Asante, thus, encouraged the inductees to uphold their profession with all dignity as they discharge their duties.
Dr Clement Opoku Okrah, Registrar of the Council, in his opening remarks warned against the practice of the profession without being registered by the council.
“It is equally an offence for any institution or facility to engage the services of an unlicensed professional,” he said.
Dr Okrah further advised all allied health training institutions to ensure they acquire accreditation for both the institution and programmes, without which their students will not be allowed to write the licensure exams or inducted.
He said the role of allied health professionals in preventing and controlling chronic disease cannot be over emphasized, indicating the capacity of the professionals to contribute to the prevention and management of non-communicable diseases is very evident in the areas of nutrition and diet.
Touching on the importance of their one-year internship, Dr Okrah said life requires more than the ability to understand a concept, memorise it and reproduce it, “therefore, don’t limit yourself to only your professional practice, do something practical and take a leadership position.”
By Jamila Akweley Okertchiri