The Deputy Minister of Health, Dr. Bernard Okoe Boye, has expressed satisfaction with the contribution that University of Health and Allied Sciences is making to the national effort to manage the COVID-19 pandemic. The Deputy Minister, who is also the Member of Parliament for Ledzokuku, was visiting the UHAS COVID-19 Testing Centre at the University’s main campus on June 29.
The Vice Chancellor, Professor John Gyapong, and other members of management gave Dr. Boye a tour of the COVID-19 laboratory. Since it began operating on April 27 this year, the centre has conducted 9,851 tests of samples drawn from Volta and Oti regions.
Briefing the Deputy Health Minister, Dr. Kwabena Duedu said the centre has the capacity to test over 4,000 samples, but needs large, special capacity (minus-80 degree) refrigerators for preservation of the samples.
The Vice Chancellor informed Dr. Boye that after President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo designated UHAS one of the testing centres, the University has, with assistance from other benevolent institutions, committed resources toward the smooth running of the centre. He also enumerated challenges that need urgent attention. For instance, officials who are working at the Centre are yet to fully benefit from “tax reliefs and other forms of incentives” promised by Government. The VC also paid tribute to Dr. Boye’s advocacy efforts as M.P. for Ledzokuku, which had resulted in the construction of the LEKKMA Road, and appealed to him to also advocate for the UHAS roads.
Dr. Boye said the purpose of his visit was to first acquaint himself with the operations of the centre and, most importantly, any challenges. He assured the Vice Chancellor that he would therefore tackle some of the issues raised upon returning to his office.
» Next, the Deputy Minister visited the UHAS School of Public Health.