University of Health and Allied Sciences, on March 23, held the Second Session of the Eighth Congregation for the 2022/23 academic year. 478 students, mostly from the Sandwich track, graduated from the Schools of Nursing and Midwifery, Allied Health Sciences, Public Health, and Medicine.
Mr. Evans M. Gbolo, this session’s valedictorian, lauded the lecturers for their support in shaping them in their respective fields and promised to work hard to fly high the banner of UHAS.
As is customary at UHAS, the University also conferred an honorary doctorate degree on the Guest Speaker, Rev. Dr. Joyce Rosalind Aryee, who was the special lecturer at the Eighth John Evans Atta Mills Memorial Lecture the day before, in recognition of her positive impact on public health through her work as a passionate advocate of sustainable mining, and for her exemplary leadership to both female and male leaders of tomorrow.
Rev. Dr. Aryee, who is the Executive Director of Salt and Light Ministries, spoke on the theme, “Communication: The latent ingredient in healing and healthcare delivery”. She underscored the essence of effective communication in delivering quality healthcare in Ghana, saying, “Effective communication between healthcare providers, patients and families can be linked to higher levels of patient satisfaction and improved health outcomes.”
She admonished the newly minted healthcare providers to be measured in their use of words as their words wield the power to either offer a glimmer of hope or shatter the spirits of their patients. “Communication with patients is about meeting them at their most vulnerable moments and guiding them through the corridors of uncertainty with empathy and compassion,” she said.
Rev. Dr. Aryee advised the graduates to be intentional about their chosen profession and set themselves apart by being skilled professionals who are compassionate and committed to caring for their patients at every stage of their recovery journey.
Vice Chancellor Professor Lydia Aziato advised the graduates to commit themselves to continuous learning. “Stay curious and never cease learning. Stay abreast of emerging trends and innovations,” she said.
Justice Victor J.M. Dotse, Chairman of the UHAS Council, said the University continues to stay true to its mandate by equipping students with the relevant skill and knowledge in their various fields of study. “It is the University’s commitment to produce world class graduates who will fit into every working environment in the health sector and be versatile enough to adapt to new challenges.”
He therefore appealed to stakeholders to urgently release funds for the completion of major access roads to the University in order to make commuting easier for students and staff. He also appealed for support to expand the University’s infrastructure to enable it to admit larger numbers of qualified students, most of whom are turned away due to limited infrastructure. He also advised the fresh graduates to live up to the ethos of the University as they go forth into the world of work.