The college of health sciences at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) has touted the immense role its researchers have played in addressing the country’s health-related problems.
The University says its junior and senior staff have been contributing massively towards the country’s development through research, innovation, community engagement, and entrepreneurship.
In view of this, the college of health sciences (CHS) during its maiden excellence awards appreciated the work of many students and lecturers.
For instance, the leader of Global Health and Infectious Diseases Research Group at the Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research (KCCR), Dr. John Amuasi who and his team have played a critical role in the COVID-19 fight received two awards- Best Senior Member-Research and Best Senior Member-Service and Innovation.
The Vice Chancellor of KNUST, Prof Rita Akosua Dickson, who spoke at the event, said she is hopeful that appreciating the senior and junior members of the university will even encourage them to do more.
“Appreciation will always remain application. So as we appreciate you, we are asking for more”.
On his part, the provost of the college of health sciences, Prof. Christian Agyare noted that the focus on the awards on community engagement, innovation and entrepreneurship is to prepare their members to work towards making real impact in the lives of people in the society. He also called on industry players to collaborate with them to work on impact-driven research.
“This is to make learning easier and more acceptable to students. That is the innovative way we are looking out for, and I think at the end of the day, we are getting the best out of that. In addition to that, this is also being used as part of their promotion so, it is enhancing the teaching of our students. We want to take our research works to the next level by commercializing some of them so that we can get something for the University and at the end of the day we improve whatever we’ve been doing in terms of systems and other aspects in the country and the world.”
”What we are hoping and requesting from the industry is collaborating with them for them to come up with their challenges that they are facing, and we can conduct a research to enhance on whatever they’ve been doing”.
Alumni of the university who are also playing crucial roles at their workplaces were also recognized.
Dr. Benjamin Kissi Sasu was adjudged as best alumni of the School of Veterinary Medicine, while Pharm Dr. Hamidu Abdulai was awarded as best alumni for faculty of pharmacy and pharmaceutical sciences. Other alumni who were awarded included Ms. Eva Nkansah of the faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Naomi Gyamfi of School of Public health, Prof. Joslin Alexei Dogbe of School of Medicine and Dentistry.
Overall best students in various departments were also recognized for putting up splendid academic performances.
Appiah Edith Ruth was awarded as overall Best Students (academic) for Bsc. Emergency Nursing while Asantewaa Mary was the overall Best Student (Academic) for Bsc. Midwifery. The others include; Adu Danso Julia (Overall Best Student (academic) for Bsc. Nursing, Fredua Agyeman Emmanuel (Overall Best Student for Bsc. Medical Imaging), Tamakloe Valentine Christian Kodzo Tsatu (Overall Best Student for Bsc. Medical Lab. Tech), Prince Taxa (Overall Best Student for Bsc. Physiotherapy and Sports Science) among many others.