A delegation of Assessors from the University of Cape Coast Committee on Institutional Affiliation have met with staff of the Nurse Anaesthesia Training School(NATS), Ridge Hospital in Accra to interact and inspect facilities at the school.

The visit of the assessors was aimed at finalising NATS affiliation to the University of Cape Coast School of Nursing. Currently the Ministry of Health has approved the affiliation of degree top-up programmes of 12 Nursing Training Institutions to the University of Cape Coast.

As part of the affiliation process, the team of assessors are currently visiting all these 12 Nursing Institutions to explain the details of the affiliation with staff of these institutions.

Purpose of the Visit

In an opening remark during interaction with management and staff of NATS, the leader of the UCC team of Assessors, Dr. Justus Deikuma explained that the visit was intended to help them fulfill all requirements of the National Accreditation Board and the UCC in terms their academic and administrative structure as well as their activities. He stressed that “UCC stands for quality and therefore the team will ensure that every activity of NATS with regards to the degree programmes should conform to standards.”  He said UCC would continue to offer them directions to help adopt best practices as mentees to ran the programmes successfully and also prepare to become a chartered institution that can award its own degrees in the near future.

The Coordinator of the Institutional Affiliation Office, Mr. Justice Agyenim Boateng said the visit was to advise them on the structures and policies they need to put in place before NAB would finally approve their programmes. He pointed out that UCC was determined to assist NATS to successfully start the bachelor’s degree in September stressing that “Your students will be awarded UCC certificates so whatever goes on at NATS must conform to UCC standards. “He commended them for completing the curriculum for the programme within the stipulated time.

History of NATS

Giving a brief history of NATS, the Acting Principal of the School, Dr. Evans Atito-Narh said a team of medical doctors after realising the short fall of Anaesthestics Nurses in the region wrote a proposal to the Regional Health Service and other stakeholders who assisted them to establish the School in 2009. He said the school was initially running an 18 months post diploma programme in Anaesthesia but with the current upgrade the institution would now run a two-year top up degree which according to him “is a dream come true.” He assured the team that NATS would comply with all the rules and regulations by UCC and NAB to protect its status as an institution of excellence in the training of professional Anaesthestics in the country. He thanked the team especially staff of the Institutional Affiliation Office and Mr. Alexander Afrifa Darteh for their cooperation and warm reception anytime they call on them for assistance.

Other Members of UCC Team

Other members of the UCC team were Dr. De-Valera N. Y. M. Botchway, Ms Paulina N. Y. Kwafoa, Ms. Joyce Sam, Mr. Alex Allotey and Mr. Peter Fosu Thompson.