The 2014-2015 batch of 535 students admitted into the University of Health and Allied Sciences (UHAS) Ho was matriculated on Saturday with a call on them never to quit until desired outcomes were achieved.
Prof Fred Binka, the Vice-Chancellor, said the University “is a place where you can afford to try and when you fail the first time you can be pardoned and given the opportunity to try again” similar to an experiment in the laboratory.
“At this stage, most students become aware of the fact that in life, there is not a single approach to tackling challenges,” he said.
“Others may also cultivate the habit of quitting when they do not succeed in the first instance but be motivated to try again. I encourage you not to ever quit. Do not give up. When you fail, muster courage to rise up and try again,” Prof Binka said.
Prof Binka urged the new students to build long lasting relationships and be disciplined.
He assured the students that their career, “by no means the easiest is guaranteed on the successful completion of your programmes.”
Professor Binka also assured students and parents that some of the best, internationally renowned and experienced Professors, Lecturers and Administrators who excelled in their respective fields of specialization have been assembled by the University.
He said UHAS’s excellence is beginning to show already.
Prof Binka said the University’s Medical Laboratory Science Students Association beat their counterparts from the University of Ghana, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), University of Cape Coast and College of Health Kintampo in a quiz organised by the Federation of Ghana Medical Laboratory Science Students’ Association.
He said 2,500 candidates applied for admission in 2014-2015, 700 were offered admission, 535 (66 percent) of whom 375 males and 160 females were enrolled.
The first batch of 43 medical students, were admitted this year.
On facilities, Professor Binka said the permanent site at Sokode-Lokoe would be available next year while the construction of the Administration block and the School of Public Health in Hohoe are in progress.
He said the University was working towards establishing an endowment fund towards which employees have contributed 20,000 Ghana cedis.
Professor Kofi Anyidoho, Chairman of the University Council, said matriculation was a good beginning but successful graduation was the ultimate goal that must be pursued and attained.
UHAS has five schools comprising, School of Basic and Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine, School of Nursing and Midwifery, School of Allied Health Sciences and school of Public Health.
Overall the University will comprise eight schools and three institutes dedicated to health-related issues.
UHAS was established by an Act 828 in December 2011, first batch of students were admitted on September 28, 2012 and was formally inaugurated by Vice-President Kwesi Amissah Arthur on November 16.