Professor Kwabena Danso, Dean of the School of Medical Sciences (SMS) at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), has called on government to expand academic facilities at the country's medical schools.

He said "Ghana has come of age in medical science and there is the need for expansion of structures and facilities to admit more students to the schools."

Prof. Danso was speaking at the inauguration of a number of completed projects at the SMS at a total cost of more than GH¢180,000, on Friday in Kumasi.

These included a mechanized borehole, drainage system, modern teaching and laboratory equipment, installation of public address system at the Molecular Medicine Department, ultra modern kitchen and a security gate.

The occasion was also used to unveil a teaching laboratory project model expected to have ICT-in-medicine facilities, which the School has planned to construct to help keep students abreast with the practice of modern medicine.

Prof Danso stressed that the expansion of facilities at the Schools would ensure the training of more medical officers and other health professionals to improve health care delivery in Ghana.

He re-affirmed the KNUST's determination to pursue its strategic plan of building a new teaching hospital for the training of house officers.

Prof Danso said since its establishment some 34 years ago, the School has trained over 1,000 doctors adding that it could have trained more personnel if it had adequate infrastructure.

Prof. Kwasi Kwafo Adarkwah, Vice-Chancellor of the University, advised managers of the School to take good care of the new facilities.

He expressed worry about the high rate of brain drain in the health sector, and called on corporate bodies to collaborate with the Ministry of Health to establish private medical schools to improve the situation.


source: GNA