As part of their orientation programme and yearly rituals, fresh medical students of Family Health University College have paid an official familiarization visit to Teshie Mantse, Nii Ashitey Akromfra III, and Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre (KAIPTC) in Accra.
Teshie Mantse and his elders welcomed the Registrar of the school, Rita Kaine, staff and the fresh students into the Palace.
The students were briefed about the history of Teshie, how it started with a small fishing community in 1916 and how it is has grown with a large population with municipal status.
The elders said that knowing the importance and benefits of education and health care caused them to give out pieces of land to Prof. Kwawukume for the establishment of the school and hospital.
According to the traditional leaders, both the school and the hospital have lifted high the image of Teshie and have become a great benefit to the people in the community and its environs.
Teshie Mantse and his elders commended the President of the institution, Prof. E. Y. Kwawukume, Chief Medical Director of Family Health Hospital, Dr. Susu Bridget and the entire management for serving the community well.
The students were advised to take good care of themselves and concentrate on their books in order to become good doctors that would make their parents proud.
Rita Kaine thanked Teshie Mantse for the wonderful reception accorded them.
She pledged on behalf of management and students their commitment to call on them when facing any challenge.
Rita Kaine further said at the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre that the students were taken through the various programmes being offered at the Centre.
The students, especially the women amongst them were advised to undertake short courses after completing the medical school.
Launch of Endowment Fund
Meanwhile, Management of Family Health Medical School led by Prof. Kwawukume, as part of its social responsibilities, have taken measures to launch an Endowment Fund in March 2020 to provide financial support for needy but brilliant Ghanaian students from rural and urban areas who have the desire to be trained as medical doctors.
The Fund shall constitute gifts, grants, donations, and bequests, as may be given by a corporate body, a group of persons, or an individual.
Any person may contribute, or devise money, or other personal, or real property to the Fund.
To ensure its success, contributions towards the Fund shall be administered and managed by a Board of Trustees.
The long-term benefits of the Endowment Fund will ensure the continued support of a diverse group of students from low-income backgrounds within the country.
This will help make medical training accessible to more Ghanaian students and increase the doctor-patient ratio in the nation to an acceptable level.
The beneficiaries of the fund will include students who on the inception of the medical programme were capable of paying their fees but due to sudden challenges are incapable of paying the remaining fees.
Introduction of a dialysis machine
In another development, all is set for Family Health Hospital to begin the use of a dialysis machine to filter patients’ blood to remove excess water and waste products when the kidneys are damaged, dysfunctional, or missing.
About Family Health University College
Family Health University College comprises a Medical School, and Nursing and Midwifery School. It also has a general and a specialist hospital supporting the schools on the same campus.
Family Health Medical School is Ghana’s premier private medical school with a hospital, modern facilities, spacious laboratories and lecture halls.
Family Health Medical School is affiliated to the University of Ghana and accredited by both the National Accreditation Board (NAB) and the Medical & Dental Council (MDC).
The School offers a six-year Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MB ChB) programme for WASSCE and ‘A’ Level candidates, and a four and a half-year Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MB ChB) programme (Graduate Entry Medical Programme) for first-degree holders in science-related disciplines.
The School has students from Cameroon, Nigeria, Benin, Liberia, Cote d’Ivoire, the United States of America, Britain, Canada, and Pakistan.