KATH churns out 21 specialists

A total number of 21 emergency medicine specialists have been produced at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) in Kumasi within the last six years who are playing vital roles in the health delivery system in the country.

Within that same period, about 60 nurses have also been trained, whose contributions in the effective healthcare provision in some selected hospitals across the country cannot be underestimated.

This was made possible following the effective collaboration between University of Michigan, US, Ministry of Health (MoH), Ghana College of Physicians and Surgeons and KATH.

The number of emergency medicine specialist produced following the collaboration between the aforementioned groups stood at 19 since 2009, and it was increased to 21 on Saturday after six new specialists graduated.

Dr Rockfeller Oteng, Lead Clinician, Emergency Medicine Directorate, KATH, said the graduates were schooled for three years on how to manage emergencies of all forms whether trauma, medical or surgical.

He said the United States government has so far pumped a staggering US $1.2 million, with the University of Michigan also providing US $1 million since the inception of the internationally acclaimed educative programme.

Dr Oteng said two Nigerian doctors had been trained in the programme, disclosing that Ethiopia and other African countries had also expressed interest in joining the programme soon.

Dr George Oduro, Head of Emergency Medicine, KATH, recounted the huge impact that the programme had had on the medical care provision in the country within the last six year, noting that “we shall soon extend to West Africa.”

Dr Ebenezer Appiah-Denkyira, Director General, Ghana Health Service, said Ghana has vacuum for emergency nurse and specialists, expressing hope that the emergency medicine programme could help solve the anomaly.

Dr Joseph Akpaloo, CEO of KATH, said, “I have no doubt that the skills acquired by the emergency physicians, residents and nurses of the programme will help promote quality of care to our clients measurable to international standards.”

Dr William Barsan of University of Michigan expressed delight about the huge success of the programme so far, assuring that there are brighter days ahead of the programme.