New female medical doctors sweep awards

Kumasi, Sept 27, GNA - Seven newly-qualified female doctors of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), School of Medical Sciences (SMS), were on Saturday, awarded for their outstanding academic performance at the 16th Oath Swearing and Induction ceremony. Only one male came up for the awards, a development described by the University as a giant step towards boosting female education, especially in medical practice.

The recipients include Dr Dora Dapaah, best student in Medicine, Dr Ernestina Baidoo-Cudjoe, best student in Otorhinolaryngology, Dr Akosua Boateng, best student in the Clinical Examination in Surgery, Dr Esther Momade, best student in Child Health, Dr Esinam Vittor, overall best student in Surgery, Junior and Senior Clerkship in Medicine. The rest are Dr Esther Ofosu, overall best student in the MB ChB final part-two examination, Dr Esther Selorm Botwe, best student in Obstetrics and Gynaecology and Dr Emmanuel Ato Williams, best student in Community Health.

They were presented with certificates and shields as their prizes. Professor Kwasi Kwafo Adarkwah, Vice-Chancellor of the KNUST, announced that work on the much-awaited Clinical Students' Hostel at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) was 80 per cent complete whiles that of the Faculty of Allied Health Sciences' Complex was also in progress.

He said in the University's efforts to make medical education more accessible, the Human Biology Programme increased its freshmen intake to 200 for this year which was the highest ever in the University's history.

The Vice-Chancellor said 21 of the freshmen were admitted from the less-endowed Senior High Schools across the country. In a similar manner, the Pharmacy Programme has also increased its intake to 170.

Prof Adarkwah said plans were also far advanced to commence topping-up programme in midwifery subject to the availability of adequate resources.

He indicated that over the years, Ghana had made advances in science, technology and medical practice and that there was the need to further resource research and medical training institutions to enable them to live up to expectation.