UDS graduates 27 qualified medical doctors

Tamale, May 25, GNA – The University for Development Studies (UDS) in collaboration with the Tamale Teaching Hospital has for the first time produced 27 newly qualified medical doctors to contribute to the healthcare delivery in the society.

The doctors, who comprised 14 females and 13 males underwent a seven and half medical and clinical training after which they had been registered with the Ghana Medical and Dental Council as certified practitioners.

The new practitioners have duly been posted to the Tamale Teaching Hospital for their housemanship and thus serve their alma mater.

Until four years ago, medical students of the UDS had to continue part of their medical and clinical training at the University of Ghana, Legon and the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology in Kumasi.

Professor Haruna Yakubu, Vice Chancellor of the UDS, addressing the doctors during the Hippocratic Oath swearing ceremony in Tamale, called on them to exhibit a higher sense of professionalism throughout their career for the benefit of the nation.

He said the UDS was now strategically positioned to deliver quality and purposive medical education despite some challenges it was currently facing at the School of Medicine and Health Science and appealed to the government to resource it to progress smoothly.

Prof Yakubu said plans were far advanced to provide library facilities at the Tamale Teaching Hospital to aid the medical students during clinical at the hospital and expressed the school's appreciation to government for its assistance.

He said even though the Government had assisted the school in diverse ways, it is still appealing for some additional allocation from the GETFund to enable it complete some projects stressing that “the point medical training has reached in Tamale is too advanced to be stalled”.

He urged them not to be complacent of the knowledge acquired but to learn new things to improve themselves adding that parents of the graduates should limit the material pressure on them to ensure they progress in the profession.

Mr Moses Bukari Mabengba, Northern Regional Minister described the doctors as 'intelligent and home grown doctors whom he advised to exhibit their compassion and humane qualities to serve the underserved in Ghana.

He assured the UDS that the School of Medicine and Health Sciences deserves government's attention and support which he would endeavour to extend to cabinet.

Dr Edward N. Gyader, the Dean of the School of Medicine and Health Science, said the journey begun when the UDS students were refused clinical training from Legon and KNUST stressing that it was an enormous and rough task which had now yielded fruitful results.

He said despite the seemingly insurmountable challenges, external examiners never minced words at complimenting and encouraging the students in their quest to pursue the noble profession.

GNA