Central University inaugurates hospital project

The Central University has inaugurated a hospital project as part of efforts to ensure practical training of health professionals on the university's campus.

The 18-bed facility, scalable to 26 beds, was financed by the International Central Gospel Church, Holy Ghost Temple, Adentan-Frafraha.

The facility, which is made up of an Out-Patients Department, three consulting rooms, a surgical theatre, a radiology unit, ultrasound, offices, seminar rooms, and two lecture halls, will be equipped with tools for live streaming of procedures for students on clinicals to observe the various activities.

Dedication

The General Overseer of ICGC, Pastor Mensah Otabil, dedicated the first phase of the hospital last Tuesday at the university’s Miotso campus. With him was the Head Pastor of the ICGC Holy Ghost Temple, Prophet Christopher Yaw Annor.

Central University Hospital project

Pastor Otabil, who is also the Chancellor of Central University, expressed gratitude to God and commended Prophet Annor and the Holy Ghost Temple of the church for their role in making the project a reality.

He prayed that it would become an extension of God's healing ministry through Jesus Christ.

Speaking at the event, the Vice-Chancellor of Central University, Prof. Bill Buenar Puplampu, underscored the significance of the hospital as a beacon of hope and service for both the university community and the communities within the university’s catchment area.

He said Central University’s leadership as a flagship private university could only be maintained if it entered and began relevant academic programmes such as medicine, dentistry, midwifery, optometry, medical laboratory, physiotherapy and diagnostics, which required a medical facility.

He said the facility would be used as a skills and learning training centre for the university’s Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MB ChB) programme and other allied health professionals training to help address the poor patient-doctor ratio in the country and also make health care more accessible and readily available to Ghanaians.

Aside from serving as a training centre for students, the hospital would also offer direct community service and employment within the university’s catchment area, Prof. Puplampu said.

While expressing gratitude to ICGC Holy Ghost Temple for their generosity and support in making the project a reality, he encouraged all stakeholders to envision the facility’s future as a teaching hospital and invited them to partner with Central University to equip the facility.

Rationale

Prophet Annor, in a speech read on his behalf by a member of the ICGC Holy Ghost Temple Council, Rev. Michael Aseidu Antwi, said as a member of the Central University Council, recognised the significant health challenges the country faced, particularly the shortage of health professionals, and the inadequate facilities for their training.

To facilitate the training of more health professionals, he said, the church decided to intervene by providing an edifice that would offer students an opportunity for hands-on clinical training and also allow students trained at the university to apply theoretical knowledge in a real-world setting; hence, the gift of a hospital.

“For many years, students pursuing these programmes at Central University have had to travel to various health facilities for their clinical attachments.

While these experiences have been invaluable, we recognise the gap. We knew that for the university to attain the status of a great medical institution, it was necessary that a purpose-built, clinical facility be obtained right here on the campus so the Senior Pastor of the Holy Ghost Temple and the members saw this need to construct this facility,” he said. 

Writer’s email: Benjamin.glover@graphic.com.gh