By: Franklin ASARE-DONKOH
Family Health University College (FHUC), students and graduates are now eligible to apply for both the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduate (ECFMG) Certification in the USA and the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) after the college request was approved by the board of the institution.
This was announced at the college’s 9th Matriculation and Graduation ceremony for students of the Medical School and the School of Nursing and Midwifery of the Family Health University College held in Accra.
Addressing the gathering, the former Vice Chancellor of the University of Ghana (UG), Professor Ernest Aryeetey, who was the Special Guest of Honour for the occasion, commended the Founders of FHUC, Professor Enyonam Yao Kwawukume and Dr. Susu Bridget Kwawukume, for their sound vision, which has worked for the past 10 years in the provision of healthcare education for a lot of young men and women across the country.
He recalled when the founders visited him, as the then Vice Chancellor of the UG, in 2013, to discuss their dream of running a private medical school in the country. Through their diligence and persistence, he noted, their vision has materialised and expanded into beautiful physical structures and large numbers of students that graduate through the Medical School and the School of Nursing and Midwifery each year.
According to Professor Aryeetey, in today’s dynamic world, it has become necessary to equip young people with the requisite knowledge and skills for their chosen careers so that they can contribute meaningfully to their communities and Ghana as a whole.
He has, therefore, challenged graduands to dream about how they would use their acquired knowledge and skills from the university to influence society positively, just as the founders of the institution have done.
The former Vice Chancellor of UG also emphasised that education, which is crucial to the development of every society, is an empowering force and that it breaks down barriers to opportunities.
He added, however, that any education that does not lead to service is one that hinders growth and development.
Professor Aryeetey therefore entreated graduands, who would be entering the World of Works, to use the sound education and skills that the University College has provided to render quality service to their patients and to humanity as a whole, irrespective of where they may be assigned to work.
On his part, the President and Founder of Family Health University College (FHUC), Professor Enyonam Yao Kwawukume, assured parents and guardians that their children and wards are at the right place of learning because the institution is a leader in the training of healthcare professionals and boasts a well-endowed hospital facility, which gives students an edge over other private training institutions.
He added that the FHUC’s comprehensive educational curriculum ensures that its students are well-equipped for the challenges of the healthcare profession.
“The experienced and competent faculty and administrators are always willing to assist the students in developing the knowledge and skills that they need to succeed,” he added.
The President and Founder of FHUC welcomed the matriculants to the Family Health University College and assured them of support from the entire university community as they pursue their studies.
He advised the students to take good care of themselves and to maintain healthy routines since “a healthy mind indeed lives in a healthy body”.
Professor Kwawukume also admonished them to make good use of the University College’s relaxation facilities, such as a swimming pool, basketball court, beach resort, and family rooms with diverse indoor games, to help them relax and rejuvenate.
He again advised the graduands to go forth in a spirit of diligence and resilience, to remember to use their time wisely, and also to take leadership roles when an opportunity presents itself.
“Go into the world and use the knowledge and skills that they have acquired here to make a positive change at any place that you would find yourselves at.
Be reminded that graduation does not signify an end to learning; therefore, commit yourselves to a life of continuous learning,” Professor Kwawukume stated.
The School of Nursing and Midwifery was privileged to graduate its maiden twenty-seven (27) BSc Nursing and BSc Midwifery students. Twenty-seven (27) Medical students also graduated with a BSc in Medical Sciences.
The Family Health School of Nursing and Midwifery had three hundred and twenty-nine (329) matriculants, comprising two hundred and fifty-eight (258) for the BSc Nursing and Midwifery programme and seventy-one (71) for the Nurse Assistant Clinical (NAC) programme.
Additionally, the School graduated fifty-five (55) Nurse Assistant Clinical students during this year’s matriculation and graduation ceremony.
The Family Health School of Nursing and Midwifery is accredited by the Nurses and Midwives Council (NMC) and the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC).
The school offers a six-year Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MB ChB) programme for SSCE and ‘A’ Level candidates and four and a half-year Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MB ChB) Graduate Entry Medical Programme (GEMP) for first-degree holders in science-related disciplines.