In a significant stride toward advancing medical education and enhancing clinical experience, the School of Medicine at the University for Development Studies (UDS) has embarked on a groundbreaking collaboration with the Holy Family Hospital in Techiman. This collaboration, solidified by a Memorandum of Understanding, was formalized during a momentous meeting at the Catholic Diocese Secretariat in Techiman.

Present at the meeting were the Dean School of Medicine, Professor Stephen Tabiri, the Vice Dean of the School of Medicine, Prof. Gideon Kofi Helegbe, Heads of various Departments and Officers from the School of Medicine. Also present were the Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Techiman, Most Rev. Dominic Yeboah Nyarko, the Vicar General of the Catholic Diocese of Techiman, Very Rev. Fr. Paul Ameyaw, others present were Rev. Fathers of the Diocese of Techiman and the management of the Holy Family Hospital,  Doctors and staff of the Holy Family Hospital.

During her insightful presentation, Dr Jackline Asibey, the Clinical Coordinator of the Holy Family Hospital, expounded on the hospital's rich history and its mission to provide top-tier healthcare to the Bono Region and beyond. She passionately articulated the hospital's vision to evolve into a hub for undergraduate and postgraduate medical training, viewing this collaboration as a pivotal step towards achieving that goal.

Professor Tabiri, addressing the assembly, articulated the primary objective of the meeting: to decentralize medical education without compromising quality. He emphasized the potential of Holy Family Hospital as an ideal venue to provide UDS medical students with invaluable hands-on clinical experience. He lauded the hospital's remarkable progress and saw it as an opportunity for students to gain real-world medical insights.

Most Reverend Dominic Yeboah Nyarko expressed his delight at UDS's choice of Holy Family Hospital as a hub for clinical training for undergraduate and postgraduate medical education. He foresaw this collaboration as a mutually beneficial venture, propelling the hospital closer to its dream of becoming a beckoning teaching institution while ensuring UDS students receive exemplary clinical exposure. He pledged his unwavering support and confidence in the hospital's commitment to delivering a top-tier clinical education.

The Dean, Heads of Departments, and Officers of the School of Medicine also conducted an extensive assessment of potential accommodation facilities for students who embark on their clinical journey at the Holy Family Hospital.

On their return journey to Tamale, the UDS team made a noteworthy stop at the newly commissioned Central Gonja District Hospital. They were given a comprehensive tour of the hospital's facilities, with the hospital's management reaffirming their commitment to providing high-quality training opportunities for UDS students.

This meaningful collaboration between UDS School of Medicine, Holy Family Hospital, Techiman and Central Gonja Hospital, Buipe promises to redefine medical education in Ghana, offering students unparalleled clinical exposure without compromising quality while advancing Ghana's Universal Health Coverage agenda.

Story by:
Ali Abdur Razaq Danbo (UDS MEDIA)