Four nursing schools at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital have graduated 355 specialist nurses at the ninth joint graduation ceremony held yesterday.
The graduates included 162 from the School of Peri-Operative and Critical Care Nursing, 129 from the Public Health Nursing School, 89 from the Ophthalmic Nursing School, and 35 from the School of Anaesthesia.
They were all awarded degree certificates from the University of Cape Coast (UCC).
Ceremony, awards
The graduation ceremony, which was on the theme: “Empowering a resilient healthcare system in Ghana through specialised nursing”, marked the successful completion of rigorous academic work and clinical practice aimed at producing highly skilled specialist nurses to support quality healthcare delivery in the country.
It also recognised the outstanding achievements of students in various fields.
Samuel Sakyi Mensah was awarded the Overall Best Graduating Student in Peri-Operative Nursing, with Mustapha Abubakar adjudged the Best Graduating Student in Ophthalmic Nursing.
In public health nursing, Esther Fosuaa Owusu emerged as the Best Graduating Student. Additionally, Christopher Yoosah Kombat was honoured as the Best Graduating Student in Anaesthesia.
National necessity
The Deputy Director of the Directorate of Research, Innovation and Consultancy of UCC, Prof. Elvis Ofori Ameyaw, who represented the Pro-Vice-Chancellor of UCC, said the graduation was not merely a ceremony but a reaffirmation of the country’s commitment to producing specialised, resilient and ethically grounded healthcare workforces capable of responding to challenges, advancing innovation and strengthening health outcomes in our communities.
He said specialised nursing was no longer an added advantage, but a national necessity, given the country’s evolving health profile and the increasing complexity of cases at various levels of care.
Prof. Ameyaw explained that the four categories of specialist nurses embodied the competencies required to strengthen the country’s health system through service, advocacy, leadership and compassion.
He reminded the graduates that their qualification marked the beginning of a lifelong journey of professional growth.
“Approach every patient with empathy. Embrace new technologies and new knowledge.
Challenge outdated practices respectfully and inspire change where needed. Be examples of ethical conduct, professionalism and humility,” he said.
Ministry’s commitment
The acting Head of Health Training Institutions and spokesperson for the Ministry of Health, Tony Goodman, said the ministry had recognised that the type of specialist training offered by the four schools was exactly what the health sector now required.
“For years, these schools have been doing what the Ministry of Health actually needs. We have channelled a lot of nurses in this country and we have now reached the point where we must specialise,” he said.
He said specialist nurses trained from the four schools had been identified as critical to the implementation of the “Mahama Cares” initiative and managed migration programme, particularly in the area of non-communicable diseases (NCDs).
He explained that the ministry intended to establish centres across the country to manage NCDs and had, therefore, agreed to train additional numbers of specialist nurses to man the various centres.
Mr Goodman also announced that promotion processes for teaching and non-teaching staff of the health training institutions had begun, with documentation received and being processed, while applications received under the PhD Scholarship Programme were being shortlisted to prepare tutors to fully take over academic roles from UCC in due course.
Agents of change
The Principal of the School of Peri-Operative and Critical Care Nursing, Faustina Excel Adipa, charged the graduates to be agents of change, advocates of health and champions of resilient healthcare systems in the country as they had endured long hours of study, clinical practice and personal sacrifice and were now stepping out.
She reminded them that the path ahead would demand courage, innovation and empathy, as they would be required to take critical decisions and care for patients at some of their most vulnerable moments.
