TIKA supports medical training with lab equipment

The Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA), through the Türkiye Embassy in Ghana, has presented 11 high-tech microscopes, including two advanced Olympus CX33 microscopes and nine Olympus 23 microscopes, to the Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences at the School of Biomedical and Allied Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Korle Bu.

This gesture, in response to a request by the department's alumni, will make a significant contribution to the education and training of future health professionals at the university.

It will improve the university's laboratory facilities and enhance the practical training of students. By providing students with hands-on experience in cell and organism identification, sharpening their diagnostic skills and preparing them for their future roles as health professionals.

At a short event to present the equipment in Accra last Tuesday, the Türkiye Ambassador, Hüseyin Güngör, said the initiative reflected TIKA's commitment to development and technical support in Ghana, focusing on human-centric approaches and responding to community needs.

He said the embassy's support in facilitating the collaboration demonstrates the importance of partnerships for community and human development.

In addition to the donation, the ambassador highlighted the embassy's flagship scholarship programme, which offered students worldwide, including those from Ghana, the opportunity to study in Türkiye.

He added that the programme covered a wide range of fields, including artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, medical services, medicine, engineering, environment, and social sciences.

The Provost of the College of Health Sciences at the University of Ghana, Professor Alfred Edwin Yawson, expressed gratitude for the donation, stating that the technology would enhance the effectiveness of learning, particularly in identifying cells and organisms.

He acknowledged the ongoing needs within the department and appealed for further support from corporate organisations to acquire additional essential lab equipment, such as chemistry analyzers and urine analysis tools.

"Training health professionals requires hands-on experience, and our school of biomedical and allied health sciences has various disciplines that require essential lab equipment.

“This technology allows us to project images onto screens, making learning more effective, especially in identifying cells and organisms. We are grateful for this support, which strengthens our teaching capacity and impacts students, ultimately producing well-trained professionals who can serve the population," Prof. Yawson said.

Maintenance

For his part, an alumnus of the medical sciences department and the project initiator, Gideon Frederick Owusu, shared his personal experience of the microscope shortage during his studies, which inspired him to secure the donation.

He extended his gratitude to Ambassador Güngör, TIKA, and his colleagues for their contributions to the initiative, which aimed to enhance the training of upcoming scientists, particularly in parasite and microbial detection.

He gave an assurance that the equipment would be maintained properly to serve its intended purpose.