Graduate Students from Fred N. Binka School of Public Health visit GES Headquarters

As part of the vision of UHAS as a pre-eminent health institution dedicated to practical orientation and recognizing the value of real-world experience, postgraduate students of Fred N. Binka School of Public Health (FNBSPH) embarked on an educational visit at the Ghana Health Service (GHS) Headquarters in Accra from September 1, 2024, to September 3, 2024. The purpose of the 3-day educational tour was to integrate hands-on field trips into the educational curriculum to prepare students for impactful careers in their various professions.

The students were led by the Postgraduate Programme Coordinator of FNBSPH Dr. Hubert Amu, the MPhil Programme Coordinator Dr. Anthony Dongdem and the Postgraduate Programme Administrator Mr. Rockson Koomson. The 35 postgraduate students comprised Master of Public Health in Epidemiology and Disease Control and Master of Philosophy in Applied Epidemiology students.

The team interacted with some key programme managers of the service including Dr. Franklin Asiedu-Bekoe, Deputy Director, Public Health and Mr. Sefa Kumah, Deputy Director, Administration, who welcomed the team and delivered presentations on the structure and functions of the GHS. The students were made to appreciate the fact that there is the need to thoroughly understand the rules, regulations, systems and structures of the service to function effectively and efficiently within the service. The presentations set the tone for an immersive learning experience, where students were urged to think critically and embrace leadership roles in the Public Health sector. On the second day of the educational tour, the students met with personnel from Neglected Tropical Diseases Programme and the National Malaria Elimination Program (NMEP) for another interactive session. The third day presented students with an opportunity to interact with National Viral Hepatitis Programme personnel.

The field trip provided an opportunity for both faculty and students to gain in-depth understanding of how the GHS operates by interacting with seasoned health professionals shaping public health policies with a greater understanding and inspiration of Ghana's public health landscape to drive change in their future careers.

Reflecting on the experience, the students expressed deep appreciation for the opportunity to merge classroom learning with real-world applications. They are convinced that such initiatives would shape the next generation of public health professionals to be adequately skilled in both theory and practice.