UHAS to start medical school next year

The University of Health and Allied Sciences (UHAS) in Ho would start its medical school next year if laboratories and facilities for anatomy and physiology are provided, Professor Fred Binka, Vice-Chancellor of the University said.

He said Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital last year offered its laboratories to UHAS for teaching, but said it would not be able to so this year because the facilities would be overstretched.

Prof Binka was speaking at a meeting with a delegation of the Volta Parliamentary Caucus, which was at the university to acquaint itself with its progress and challenges.

He said the UHAS has designed a three-storey laboratory complex estimated to cost GH¢ 30-million.

The schools currently run courses in Medicine, Public Health, Medical Laboratory Sciences, Nursing and Basic and Biomedical Sciences while Sports Medicine would be added later.

Prof Binka said the new university also needs a 500- capacity auditorium and has approached the Bank of Ghana, which has a facility worth GHc24 million for the project.

There is an urgent need for a big administration block for faculty members who currently operate from their “bags”, Prof Binka said.

He described the financial situation of the university as “critical”.

Prof Binka asked Ghana Education Trust Fund to fund the projects on campus.

He said the university should be given priority attention in matters of funding as has been the approach towards consolidating new public universities.

Prof Binka said the university has increased its admission from a little over 100 students last year to 500 students this year.

Mr Joseph Amenowode, Leader of the caucus said the University is like a baby which must be nurtured in its first five delicate years.

“It is done elsewhere and must be done here,” he said.