Professor John Owusu Gyapong and other Senior Officers of UHAS unveiling the anniversary logo
The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Health and Allied Sciences (UHAS), Professor John Owusu Gyapong has announced that the university will celebrate its 10th anniversary next year, 2022.
The celebration which is themed “Great Giant Arising” is hoped to highlight the progress that the university has made in the last decade despite the odds.
“As a university, we don’t despise our humble beginnings. Instead, we will use this opportunity to show what we have accomplished,” Prof. Gyapong stressed as he unveiled the logo for the celebration.
The announcement was made this week during a press launch at the main campus of the University; Sokode Lokoe (Green Valley), near Ho, the Volta Regional Capital.
Prof. Gyapong observed that “UHAS may have started from a very humble and even uncertain beginning (in 2011), but today it is the venue of choice for training health professionals in the country.
UHAS was established by an Act of Parliament (Act 828), which received presidential approval in December 2011. A sod was cut for the construction of the main campus. Followed by full operation in September 2021 with 154 students.
As the premier university to be dedicated to training healthcare professionals of Ghana and West Africa, it has lived up to its vision, thus; “to become a pre-eminent research and practically oriented health educational institution dedicated to community service.”
With over 4000 students currently, the University runs both undergraduate and postgraduate programs in six (6) schools and one (1) institute, namely; School of Allied Health Sciences, School of Basic and Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine, School of Nursing, and Midwifery, School of Public Health, School of Pharmacy and Institute of Health Research. Others are School of Sports and Exercise Medicine, School of Dentistry, Institute of Medical Education and Institute of Traditional and Alternative Medicine.
The university, which is presently one of the best in the country; was recently ranked second best in Ghana and 36th in Africa by AD Scientific Index in the World Scientist and University Rankings 2021, beating KNUST, UCC and GIMPA, among other universities.
Its sterling research prowess has attracted research funding worth millions of dollars to contribute to the body of knowledge in science, health and medical areas. It is also a leading testing centre for COVID-19 in the country.
Following approval by the university’s council; a number of activities have been lined up to commentate the year-long anniversary. They include the usual procession and a Special Leadership Lecture Series, focusing on environmental health and waste management.
As part of community activities, the university will engage senior high schools in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). There will be health examinations and blood donation exercises, sports activities and Healthy Life promotion.
The public will be given the opportunity to review and experience programs, infrastructure and research exhibitions during open days. A special anniversary congregation will be held to graduate the first group of pharmacy doctors. Honorary degrees would also be awarded at the event.
Some projects, including student hostels and the university’s basic school will be commissioned during an anniversary durbar in July 2022. The university’s laboratory complex which will be the biggest and most specialised in West Africa is expected to be outdoored at the durbar.
The Vice-Chancellor, Prof Gyapong reiterated that the institution has made remarkable progress from a modest start ten years ago, hence the growth in the last decade is worth celebrating.
From Fred Duodu, Ho (k.duodu@yahoo.com