The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Health and Allied Sciences (UHAS), Professor Lydia Aziato, has renewed her appeal to the government to take urgent steps to construct the university’s internal roads, to befit its status as a sterling university in Ghana and Africa.
“The general ambience of UHAS without roads is just uncalled for,” she said.
Professor Aziato was speaking at this year’s White Coat Ceremony for 249 students from the School of Medicine and the School of Pharmacy on the main campus at Sokode-Lokoe, near Ho.
They included 74 Level 500 Doctor of Pharmacy students, 110 Level 400 Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery students, as well as 65 Level 300 Bachelor of Physician Assistantship students.
Event
The event signified the departure from the pre-clinical stage of their training to the clinical stage.
It was on the theme: One White Coat, Many Callings — Professionalism, Purpose and Service in Healthcare.
The state of UHAS’ roads
Professor Aziato said the absence of constructed roads on the campus was causing damage to official university vehicles and cars belonging to the staff.
Apart from that, she said, the situation was affecting the comfort of students who had to move from one lecture facility to another.
The Vice-Chancellor pointed out that the rugged and disgusting routes on the campus were inimical to the hosting of big events on the campus of the 14-year-old university.
Meanwhile, she said, UHAS also needed hostels to meet the rising demand for admission.
“Only about 2,000 out of 11,000 students are resident on campus,” she revealed.
Throwing more light on the students’ accommodation problem, Professor Aziato said out of more than 14,000 applications received by the UHAS recently, only 2,000 were offered admission.
The Vice-Chancellor made a call to the private sector to help to address the problem by investing vigorously in hostels on the campus.
She said UHAS also needed a vehicle to support its healthcare training on the field.
Professor Aziato said UHAS was proud of the students for reaching the White Coat milestone.
Guest Speaker
The Guest Speaker was the Board Chairman of the Medical and Dental Council of Ghana, Professor Agyeman Badu Akosa.
He reminded the students that healthcare delivery was based essentially on teamwork, humility and respect for not only one’s colleagues, but also the patient.
“Your career is a life-long learning process, and the patient should have confidence in you,” he maintained.
Professor Akosa urged them to read beyond their scope and build their professional competencies decisively.
“You must always be good listeners to your patients and present yourself at work in a decent manner to win the respect of the patient,” the guest speaker said.
Source:
www.graphic.com.gh