Fifty-six (56) graduates of the School of Medical Sciences of the College of Health and Allied Sciences of the University of Cape Coast have been inducted as full-fledged medical doctors by the Registrar of the Medical and Dental Council, Dr. Eli Kwasi Atikpui.
This took place during the 49th Congregation and 4th Oath Swearing and Induction Ceremony of the School of Medical Sciences.
Twenty-four (24) awards were shared by 9 graduating students with Lyanne Dede Scackey and Gideon Gawu Mensah picking five awards each. Gideon Gawu Mensah was also adjudged the best overall performing student of the class of 2016.
UCCSMS Provides Quality Medical Education
The Chairman of the University of Cape Coast Governing Council, Nana Sam Brew Butler, addressing the gathering commended the UCCSMS for providing medical education of the highest quality to the students. He pointed out that “information indicates that our products are among the best in the country and are performing creditably’. Nana Butler announced that the University has proposed to provide scholarships to those who would elect to specialise.
To the graduating class, he said, “You have endured great training and today you have earned what only a few can put behind their names. Go out there and demonstrate professionalism as you venture out to serve the sick and humanity’.
Unique Model of UCCSMS Training of Medical Doctors
The Executive Secretary of the National Council for Tertiary Education, Prof. Mohammed Salifu, who represented the Minister for Education, said the University’s model of training medical doctors was unique and has produced competent and well-grounded doctors and was confident that they would bring about the needed change in medical practice in the country.
“As we commend you on your unique style, I hope other universities will emulate you as it is a marked change in medical training in Ghana”
Prof. Salifu said the health system was fraught with many challenges that were being addressed by the government at all levels but it would take the collective efforts of all to solve them. He mentioned that the Ministry was prepared to help get cutting edge medical practice and delivery in the country and therefore urged the newly qualified doctors to perform the best they could.
The Executive Secretary appealed the University to reconsider its full fee paying financing model to allow the brilliant but poor to access medical education at UCC.
UCCSMS Products Excelling at their Work Places
Presenting his address, the Vice-Chancellor Prof. D. D. Kuupole said UCCSMS has produced a total of 184 doctors spread over the country to help improve upon the doctor-patient ratio.
Commending the special feature of the medical school’s curriculum, the Community-Based-Experience and Service (COBES) that is designed to give the trainee doctors a hands-on experience of diseases and their treatment. He said it has given the doctors a strong community-based orientation for patient care.
“Mr. Chairman reports received about our doctors indicate that they are performing creditably in hospitals where they have their housemanship and those who have completed their training and are now Medical Doctors are excelling at their workplaces”.
In order to facilitate and enhance training at the school, the Vice-Chancellor announced that the Effia Nkwanta hospital in Sekondi Takoradi has been approved by the Ministry of Health for clinical training of medical students.
Prof. Kuupole bemoaned the slow pace of work on infrastructural facilities of the school saying “it has not made it possible for us to have the full benefit of them”.