Some of the graduands at the ceremony
A colourful ceremony was over the weekend held to induct into the medical profession a total of 42 new doctors, comprising 24 males and 18 females after the completion of their studies at the School of Medical Sciences (SMS) of the University of Cape Coast (UCC).
They were awarded Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MB ChB) degrees after pursuing a six-year programme at the university.
The medical school which was started under ex-President Kufuor’s regime had its official academic work in 2008, with emphasis on community-based experience and services (COBES) to make students appreciate health and other problems pertaining to the local communities.
Prof Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, in a speech read on behalf of President John Mahama at the 48th congregation and 3rd oath swearing/induction ceremony, expressed concern about the way the health sector was confronted with a number of challenges despite government’s commitment in doing everything possible to resolve the challenges.
“The president is happy about your graduation today since it would go a long way to shore up the doctor-patient ration so remember that in all things, it is your resoluteness, dedication, love for your country and trust in God that would see you through,” she added
Vice Chancellor of UCC, Prof D. D. Kuupole, in a speech hinted that the school had begun collaborating with the University of Sydney Medical School in Australia in the area of medical education and research.
Prof Kuupole stated that the limited space at the Cape Coast Teaching Hospital had placed a limit on the number of students that would have been admitted into the School of Medical Science, adding that the university had to seek permission and authorisation from the Ministry of Health (MoH) and the Ghana Health Service (GHS) to use the Effia Nkwanta Hospital in the Western Region as a new teaching site for the university.
“It is my prayer that all issues related to the conditions of service of doctors would be resolved very soon in order for you not to embark on any strike action but stand firm by the Hippocratic Oath you have taken,” he noted
Chairman of the UCC Governing Council, Nana Sam Brew Butler, urged the new doctors to work hard to uplift the image of the profession in order to help address the problem of the deficit of health professionals in the country.
