The University of Health & Allied Sciences (UHAS) in Ho will from this academic year commence a postgraduate programme in Public Health after it received an approval from the National Accreditation Board (NAB).
Prof John Owusu Gyapong, Vice Chancellor of UHAS, who disclosed this during the matriculation ceremony of the 2016/2017 batch of students to the school, mentioned that the university was also awaiting an approval to start a Master of Philosophy in Applied Epidemiology.
Out of the 5,355 applications received by the school, only 835 were admitted to pursue various degree programmes in Public Health, Midwifery, Nursing, Dietetics, Medicine, Physician Assistantship, among others.
Addressing the gathering, Prof Owusu Gyapong stated that the school currently runs 17 programmes in various fields of medical and allied health sciences, including newly-introduced programmes of Doctor of Pharmacy, Bachelor of Sciences in Medical Biochemistry and Molecular Biology as well as Top-Up in Bachelor of Medical Laboratory Sciences.
He mentioned that the school has “also created an avenue for nurses and midwives of certificate holding status to upgrade their qualification through access and sandwich programmes.”
“This upgrading programme is highly sought-after and we have individuals from all parts of the country enrolling,” he added.
Infrastructure
Prof Owusu Gyapong said, “The university authorities and partners are taking steps to enhance the existing facilities as well as develop new ones, especially, hostel facilities at campuses to provide a healthy environment for teaching and learning.”
He added, “The school is currently constructing a 1,200 capacity multi-purpose auditorium with funding from the Bank of Ghana, whilst the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) has also provided adequate funds for the construction of a modern laboratory complex and this project has also commenced.”
Challenges
Prof Owusu Gyapong disclosed that the greatest challenge “facing the school is the transportation of students from the old to the new site for lectures.”
He said university was bearing the full cost of the service, a practice which is depleting their already meagre funds.
“In order to save the situation, management has had discussions with the student body on how students can contribute to sustain the service being provided. We have proposed a minimal amount of GH70p for students to pay towards the effective running of the shuttle system which we hope to start at the beginning of the second semester,” he added.
Advice
Prof Owusu Gyapong advised the new students to wholeheartedly embrace the opportunity of enrolling in the school by striving hard to achieve excellence through developing critical thinking skills and having the right balance between their academic and social life.
FROM Fred Duodu, Ho (freduoo@gmail.com)