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ANU President underscores the need for well-trained emergency medicine workforce to support healthcare delivery
A GROUP PHOTO OF MANAGEMENT OF ANU AND GRADUATES
President of the All Nations University (ANU), Dr Samuel Donkor has stated the need for the country to have a well-trained emergency medicine workforce to support healthcare delivery.
According to him, such an emergency medicine workforce could help streamline the healthcare system by reducing overcrowding in emergency departments, improving triage processes, and efficiently managing resources in the country’s hospitals.
“This will enable a smooth transition from the scene of emergency to the hospital and will allow for timely interventions which will ultimately lead to cost savings,” he said.
Dr Samuel Donkor made this known during the 30th Convocation ceremony of the graduating class of 2023 held in Koforidua on the theme: “The Impact of Emergency Services on Ghana’s Healthcare Delivery.”
The graduation ceremony saw the first batch of 57 Graduate students graduating from the university in various disciplines including Human Resource Development, Banking and Finance, and Accounting, among others.
258 Undergraduate and eight Diploma students also graduated from the university in the same disciplines.
Dr Donkor continued that although Ghana’s healthcare system has made progress in improving access to care and health outcomes, it was important for healthcare facilities to get a well-trained emergency medicine workforce to help resolve issues of overcrowding and ensure quick response to emergency cases to save lives.
He said the workforce has become necessary, especially after the devastation of the COVID-19 pandemic which has wreaked havoc on many educational institutions and the lives of countless individuals.
Dr Donkor said the University has received accreditation to offer a 4-year-Bachelor’s degree in Emergency Medicine Technology, where healthcare professionals would be trained with skills and knowledge to provide immediate and appropriate emergency care.
He stated that the training of such professionals could help to significantly improve patients’ outcomes and would help to reduce morbidity and mortality rates.
“Pre-hospital is a critical component for emergency injuries in accidents, heart attacks among others and pre-hospital interventions can significantly affects a patient’s outcome and are akin to the care provided in the hospital,” he said and added that well-trained graduates would provide first aid, emergency and disaster management to victims before they get to the hospital.
He added that graduates would have numerous opportunities to work with the Ghana Ambulance services, Police, and Army among others.
Congratulating the graduates, Dr Donkor stated that the graduates after acquiring their degrees have embarked on a new journey to the unknown and urged them to use the knowledge and skills acquired to achieve higher heights while he hoped that would prosper in good health for successful careers in their future endeavours.
For his part, the Executive Chairman of JL Holdings and Member of the Board of Governors of ANU, Dr James Orleans-Lindsay noted that estimates suggested that emergency care could address 54 to 90 per cent of deaths and 900 million to 2.5 billion disabilities in low and middle-income countries.
He said the data underscores the need for sufficient logistics, infrastructure, education and training of the human resources to help save lives in the country, and added that ANU’s desire to contribute to the global paradigm was heartwarming.
He said the theme was a call to action and a reminder of collective responsibility towards building a resilient and compassionate nation and urged stakeholders to support and strengthen emergency services by ensuring that the country continued to thrive in unforeseen challenges.
From Ama Tekyiwaa Ampadu Agyeman, Koforidua
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ASWIM lauds Prof Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang
The Association of Women in the Media, (ASWIM) has congratulated Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang on her historic achievement as Ghana’s first female Vice President.
The association said her trailblazing journey with sterling accomplishments from academia to politics, is undoubtedly, a vivid inspiration to countless women and girls across Ghana and Africa.
This was contained in a statement signed by its president, Mrs Mavis Kitcher, and copied to The Spectator on Tuesday in Accra.
“ASWIM celebrates your remarkable career, marked by numerous firsts, including the first female Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cape Coast, (UCC), and the first female to hold a professional chair in Ghana, (UCC),” the statement said.
It said the accomplishments of Prof Opoku- Agyemang were clear testament to the brilliance, resilience and resourceful nature of the complete beautiful African woman.
“As she takes on this new role, ASWIM proudly lauds her commitment to education, women’s empowerment, distinguished public service and patriotism and is very confident that her pursuit of excellence, love for humanity, humility, decency, modesty and commitment to the welfare of the vulnerable will characterise Ghana’s political leadership and public service,” the statement added.
By Jemima Esinam Kuatsinu
Entertainment
Demolition of Fantasy Dome unfair — Mark Okraku-Mantey
Months after the Fantasy Dome was dismantled to make way for construction at the Ghana International Trade Fair site, the Deputy Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Mr Mark Okraku-Mantey, has expressed concern over the manner the facility was destroyed.
In an interview on Daybreak Hitz with Andy Dosty, Mr Okraku-Mantey criticised the handling of the dome’s dismantling, suggesting that it could have been done without causing damage.
“I don’t think that leadership gave instructions that they should do what happened. The structure was a prefab but I hear the people destroyed it. That one, we cannot defend it. It is unfair to him (owner). Sometimes, you give instructions and people will go and do things that will make you look bad,” he stated.
When asked about any punitive measure against the workers responsible for the destruction, Mr Okraku-Mantey clarified that the Trade Fair does not fall under his ministry.
He said he had previously contacted the owner, Leslie Quaynor, to discuss relocating the dome, and even suggested the National Museum as a potential site, though it was too small.
The demolition of the 20,000-seater Fantasy Dome occurred on March 16, 2024.
According to Dr Agnes Adu, CEO of the Ghana Trade Fair Company Limited, the action was taken after multiple notices were given to Quaynor to vacate the premises for redevelopment, as per their tenancy agreement.
Dr Adu noted that all previous tenants had complied except for the Fantasy Dome.
Quaynor, in an interview with JoyNews, confirmed that his lease had ended, and was in the process of relocating the dome.
He had requested an extension, which was denied, leading him to seek a writ and an injunction from an Accra High Court to halt the demolition.
Despite this, the demolition proceeded, causing significant damage to the structure.
Quaynor described the incident as a major setback, not only for his business but also for the entertainment industry, which relies on venues like the Fantasy Dome.
