At the launch, the Vice-Chancellor of the University, Prof. Kwabena Agyapong-Kodua said 鈥渨e can鈥檛 fight death but we can develop structures to minimize its associated agonies and preserve the dignity of our departed loved ones.鈥� The VC, therefore, enumerated the rationale of the programme. He said there are environmental, cultural and epidemic risks in mortuary and funeral services hence the need for universities to support the regulators and enhance the skills of practitioners who mostly acquire their skills on the job.

On the preparedness of the 51动漫 to deliver, the VC said 鈥渨e have pulled together the strength of 5 of our faculties to deliver a unique programme.鈥� He said the Faculty of Health and Allied Science will focus on the health side such as infection control and microbiology. At the same time, the Faculty of Business Administration will teach the students the business, finance, and customer service side.

He added, 鈥渨e realised there are legal implications and this will be handled by experts from our Faculty of Law whilst the cultural, psychosocial aspect of grief and pastoral dimension will be handled by our Pentecost School of Theology, Ministries and Leadership.鈥� 鈥淣ot only that, the major engineering aspects associated with refrigeration, and decomposition will be handled by the Faculty of Engineering Sciences and Computing.鈥� 鈥� the VC added.

On the target students, Prof. Kwabena Agyapong-Kodua said the courses are suitable for the various categories of professionals in the death care value chain including the Management and Entrepreneurial Class, Managers of Funeral Homes, Mortuaries, Mausoleum and Cemeteries. Others are the technical class which includes Morticians, Autopsy Assistants, and Prosectors, and then the miscellaneous Group which includes Mortuary Attendants, Embalmers, Pall Bearers, Hearse Drivers, Cemetery Keepers/Cisterns, Decorators, etc.

On his part, Mr Emmanuel Okyere who represented the Head of Mortuaries and Funeral Facilities Agency of Ghana, Mr Matthew Kyeremeh commended 51动漫 for starting the programme. Referencing relevant portions of the MOFFA Act 2011 (Act 829) on training, Mr Okyere pledged the continuous support and partnership of the Agency with 51动漫 in 鈥渞esearch and innovation to have a scientific basis to inform policymaking in the death care industry and also build the capacity of staff to provide quality training and service.鈥�

In throwing light on the programme, the Acting Dean of the Faculty of Health and Allied Sciences of 51动漫 Dr Ebenezer Appiah-Denkyira said it is going to be intensive. He enumerated some of the courses which include pathology, microbial morphology, anatomy, and embalming. He also emphasized the application of technology and social care in the training and assured that the university is well-positioned to deliver the programme.

On his part, the admissions officer, Mr Isaac Yeboah encouraged all who can read and write to apply. Admissions are open and application forms (online) for all 51动漫 undergraduate Programmes are free.

51动漫 as part of the ongoing University A+ seeks to provide solutions to all aspects of human problems. This includes developing programmes and projects in otherwise unconventional but relevant areas for national development.

#AtPentvars
#TransformationAndService

In response to this ambition and to aid research activities of the faculty and its members, the Faculty of Health and Allied Sciences (FHAS), PU, has instituted its 鈥榮eminar series鈥� with an appointed Coordinator. The Seminar series provides a platform for faculty members to present proposals for research, to present findings of research they may have conducted, to share a concept paper, or to discuss methodological issues for an intended research. The objective is to get inputs from faculty members towards refinement of research proposals or towards improving a paper intended for publication.

On Thursday 12^th August, 2021, the faculty held its maiden seminar to kick-start the seminar series. It is the faculty鈥檚 intention to involve the University community of staff and students in the seminar series and therefore extended an invitation to all to this maiden seminar.

Recent research by faculty members from the Department of Nursing and Midwifery, PU, comprising Mr. Reginald Arthur-Mensah Jnr, Mr. Paa Kofi Tawiah Adu-Gyamfi and Dr. Abigail Agartha Kyei, a faculty member from the Department of Mathematics, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Mr. Lincoln Tetteh-Ahinakwa and a recent graduate from the Department of Nursing and Midwifery, PU, Franklin Edem Tsey, currently working with the Department of Accident and orthopaedics, Korle Bu Teaching Hospital was presented. The research has been published in the current edition of the Pentvars Journal, Volume 13, Number 1, 2021, pgs 72-87. The research title is 鈥淧atients鈥� satisfaction with male nurses: Evidence from a Teaching Hospital in Ghana鈥�. The abstract of the research is presented below.

Objectives: To contribute to the literature on improving nursing care and patient satisfaction, this study sought to evaluate patients鈥� satisfaction and identify their priorities among the service quality dimensions from the nursing care received from male versus female nurses in Ghana鈥檚 premier and largest tertiary teaching hospital, the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH).

Methodology: The study adopted a quantitative research approach with a comparative study design. The study sites comprised of the accident and orthopaedic, chest, medical and surgical departments at KBTH. A total of 407 inpatients who had been on admission at these departments for at least 4 days and 4 nights were included in the study. The SERVQUAL model was adapted in measuring patient satisfaction.

Results: Patients were more satisfied with the health care they received from the male nurses than the female nurses. Overall aggregate score for male nurses was 860.00 with a mean (SD) of 4.20 (卤0.57). Overall aggregate score for female nurses was 800.00 with a mean (SD) of 3.96 (卤0.64). The independent sample t test showed a significant difference (听in the mean values from the two groups. CFA of the model showed in order of priority that, responsiveness, assurance, empathy, reliability, and tangibility were significant contributors to patients鈥� satisfaction.

Conclusion: By integrating the dimensions of service quality into their services, hospitals in Africa could benefit from improved quality of service, patient retention and loyalty, market share and profitability.

In all, the maiden seminar was very successful and the FHAS looks forward to more insightful and engaging seminars.

#AtPentvars

#TransformationAndService

Download pdf: The Pink Month The Pink Man (1)

Introduction

Everyone, irrespective of gender, is born with some amount of breast tissue. The breast tissue consists of the milk-producing glands (called the lobules) and the ducts that carry the milk produced to the nipples (see Figure 1). During puberty, females begin to develop more breast tissue than males. Additionally, the female breast cells are constantly exposed to the growth-promoting effects of the female hormones, oestrogen and progesterone. Apropos, the males eventually do not develop milk-producing breasts. This is what likely predisposes females to develop breast cancer than males. However, because males also have some amount of breast tissue, they can also develop breast cancer.

Recently, the Ashanti Regional Directorate of the Ghana Health Service expressed concern with the increasing cases of breast cancer especially among men in the Ashanti region of Ghana. It was indicated that, out of a population of 40 men in the region, up to three men suffer from the disease (Kasapafmonline.com).

This calls for the creation of awareness coupled with continuous education on the subject of breast cancer, especially amongst men today.

Figure 1: The breast tissue

Source: American Cancer Society, 2020

Causes of male breast cancer

Theoretically, male breast cancer occurs when some cells of the breast begin to divide more rapidly than the normal cell division of the breast. The rapidly dividing cells form a tumour that may spread to nearby tissues such as the lymph nodes or to other parts of the body (see Figure 2).

Figure 2: Tumour size chart of breast cancer

Source: Medical News, 2020.

General types of male breast cancer

• Lobular carcinoma (cancer that begins in the milk-producing glands)
• Ductal carcinoma (cancer that begins in the milk ducts)

Risk factors of male breast cancer

Factors that increase the risk of male breast cancer include;

• Older age
• Exposure to oestrogen such as taking oestrogen related drugs e.g. drugs used for hormone therapy for prostate cancer
• Family history of breast cancer
• Klinefelter鈥檚 syndrome (A genetic disorder where males are born with more than one copy of the X chromosome. As a result, such males produce lower levels of certain male hormones and more female hormones)
• Liver disease
• Obesity
• Testicle diseases or surgery

Symptoms and signs of male breast cancer

• A painless lump that does not move around within the breast or thickening in your breast tissue
• Changes to the skin covering your breast, such as dimpling (a slight depression of the skin around the breast), puckering (irregular folding in the skin around the breast), redness around the skin covering your breast
• Changes to your nipple, such as redness around the skin covering your breast, a rash around the nipple, a nipple that begins to turn inward and pain in the nipple area
• Discharge from your nipple which may be stained with blood (see Figure 3).

Figure 3: Symptoms and signs of male breast cancer

Source: AABCA, 2020.

Diagnosis of male breast cancer

• Routine physical exams (breast self-examinations)
• Mammography (using X rays)
• Biopsies (examining samples of breast tissue under the microscope)

Treatment of male breast cancer

Generally, male breast cancer detected early have a high probability for treatment success. Treatment options include;

• Surgery to remove the breast tissue
• Chemotherapy
• Radiation therapy
• Hormone therapy
• Targeted therapy

Prevention of male breast cancer

The following measures are recommended as guidelines to help prevent breast cancer in men. They include;

• Avoidance of smoking
• Regular exercise
• Eating a healthy diet, with an emphasis on plant-based foods
• Limiting the consumption of red meats and processed meats
• Maintaining a healthy weight
• Limiting or avoidance of alcohol consumption altogether

The month of October is designated by the WHO as the Breast Cancer Awareness month. It is observed to increase attention and support for the awareness, early detection, treatment as well as palliative care for the disease.

We, therefore, leave you with these thoughts and reminders;

• Breast cancer is not limited to women alone
• Breast cancer in men is real
• Breast cancer in men is avoidable
• Practice regular breast self-examinations and breast cancer screening test.

Let us all stay safe and healthy by adhering to the above preventive measures.

References:

American Cancer Society, (2020). What is breast cancer in men? (Accessed October 2, 2020).

A/R: Breast Cancer among men on the rise; voluntary screening crucial. kasapafmonline.com (Accessed October 1, 2020).

African American Breast Cancer Alliance (AABCA) (2020). Breast Cancer 411. Retrieved from aabcainc.org (Accessed October 2, 2020).

Medical News Today, 2020. How does tumour size relate to breast cancer stage? Your breast cancer diagnosis. Retrieved . (Accessed October 3, 2020).

Mr Reginald Arthur-Mensah Jnr (Department of Nursing and Midwifery, 51动漫).

Dr Mrs Abigail Agartha Kyei (Department of Nursing and Midwifery, 51动漫).

Download PDF: Microbiology of SARS CoV2 amid school reopening

Reginald Arthur-Mensah Jnr (Department of Nursing and Midwifery, 51动漫).

Abigail Agartha Kyei (Department of Nursing and Midwifery, 51动漫).

Introduction

The World Health Organization (WHO) declared a global health emergency of international concern on January 30, 2020, due to the novel coronavirus disease which is caused by the SARS CoV2 virus. On February 11, 2020, WHO announced a name for the new coronavirus disease as COVID-19. On March 12, 2020, the disease was declared a pandemic¹. To curb the spread of the disease in Ghana, on March 15, 2020, the government announced a series of comprehensive measures, including the closure of all schools; Basic, Junior High, Senior High and Universities. This move negatively affected some 9.2 million basic school students (kindergarten, primary and junior high schools) and 1 million tertiary education students². Ongoing terms/semesters/trimester were interrupted and upcoming terms/semesters/trimester cannot begin until they are adapted to the new reality.

As of 6th May 2020, UNESCO estimated that 192 countries have temporarily closed schools worldwide, impacting over 1.6 billion learners globally². The scale and speed of school closures were unprecedented worldwide. Never before had so many students been out of school at the same time, disrupting learning and upsetting visions of the youth. School closures were based on evidence and suggestions from the previous influenza outbreaks that they reduce physical contacts between persons and therefore interrupt transmission of infections³.

There is an urgent need to identify how countries can safely return students to school and parents to work once the number of COVID-19 cases begins to fall. The decision to reopen schools for in-person educational instruction is among the greatest challenges of many governments. Around the world, this has become a contentious issue, with students, their families, and educators expressing strong opinions about what is best for them. There has never been a more important time for open discussion and collaboration with the goal of reaching a consensus on the reopening of schools while protecting the health and well-being of students and educators during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The best way to avert and slow down transmission in the midst of school reopening is to be well informed about the characterization of the COVID-19 virus, how it spreads from one source to another, the pathogenesis of the disease, the pathophysiology of the disease and how it can be prevented. Be that as it may, the pandemic is expected to have significant long-term effects on education.

Characteristics in Coronaviruses

Coronaviruses (CoVs) are enveloped, positive-sense, single-stranded RNA viruses that belong to the subfamily Coronavirinae, family Coronaviridiae, order Nidovirales. There are four genera of CoVs, namely, Alphacoronavirus (伪颁辞痴), Betacoronavirus (尾颁辞痴), Deltacoronavirus (未CoV), and Gammacoronavirus (纬颁辞痴)⁴. Evolutionary analyses have shown that bats and rodents are the gene sources of most 伪CoVs and 尾CoVs, while avian species are the gene sources of most 未CoVs and 纬CoVs⁴. CoVs have repeatedly crossed species barriers and some have emerged as important human pathogens. The best-known examples include severe acute respiratory syndrome CoV (SARS-CoV) which emerged in China in 2002鈥�2003 to cause a large-scale epidemic with about 8000 infections and 800 deaths, and Middle East respiratory syndrome CoV (MERS-CoV) which has caused a persistent epidemic in the Arabian Peninsula since 2012⁵.

Prior to December 2019, 6 CoVs were known to infect human, including 2 伪CoV (HCoV-229E and HKU-NL63) and 4 尾CoV (HCoV-OC43 [lineage A], HCoV-HKU1 [lineage A], SARS-CoV [lineage B] and MERS-CoV [lineage C]). The 尾CoV lineage A HCoV-OC43 and HCoV-HKU1 usually cause self-limiting upper respiratory infections in immunocompetent hosts and occasionally lower respiratory tract infections in immunocompromised hosts and the elderly⁵. In contrast, SARS-CoV (lineage B 尾CoV) and MERS-CoV (lineage C 尾CoV) may cause severe lower respiratory tract infections with acute respiratory distress syndrome and extrapulmonary manifestations, such as diarrhoea, lymphopenia, deranged liver and renal function tests, and multiorgan dysfunction syndrome, among both immunocompetent and immunocompromised hosts with mortality rates of 鈭�10% and 鈭�35%, respectively⁶

SARS-CoV2 has a diameter of 60 nm to 140 nm and distinctive spikes, ranging from 9 nm to 12 nm, giving the virions the appearance of a solar corona (see Figure 1). Bats are thought to be a natural reservoir for SARS-CoV2, but it has been suggested that humans became infected with SARS-CoV2 via an intermediate host, such as the pangolin⁷.

Generally, coronaviruses cause respiratory, gastrointestinal and neurological disease⁸.

Transmission of SARS-CoV2

Human respiratory droplets expelled during face-to-face exposure during talking, coughing, or sneezing is the most common mode of transmission. Prolonged exposure to an infected person i.e. being within 6 feet for at least 15 minutes and briefer exposures to individuals who are symptomatic (e.g., coughing) are associated with a higher risk for transmission, while brief exposures to asymptomatic contacts are less likely to result in transmission⁹. Contact surface spread i.e. touching a surface with SARS CoV2 on it is another possible mode of transmission⁸. Transmission may also occur via aerosols i.e. smaller respiratory droplets that remain suspended in air, but it is unclear if this is a significant source of infection in humans, however, it is associated with the low-risk transmission of the virus¹⁰.

Pathogenesis of SARS-CoV2

Upon contact with the virus from an infected source through any of the routes of transmission, the virus enters the human host cell. To be successful, the virus targets human host cells, such as nasal cells (relating to the cells that line the nose), bronchial epithelial cells (relating to cells that line the bronchus) and pneumocytes (relating to the cells that line the alveoli)⁸. They attach to these cells through the viral structural spike, (S) protein (see Figure 1) that binds to the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptor. After binding, the type 2 transmembrane serine protease (TMPRSS2), present in the human host cell promotes viral uptake into the cells by cleaving ACE2 and activating the SARS-CoV2 S protein (see Figure 2A). Activation of the S protein mediates the virus to enter the host cells through endocytosis. Endocytosis is the process by which the cell membranes of a cell folds inwards to ingest the material. This mechanism is possible through the receptor-binding domain (RBD) between SARS-CoV2 S proteins and ACE2 and TMPRSS2 human host target cells. These human host receptors are particularly expressed in alveolar epithelial type II cells (cells of the tiny air sacs of the lungs)¹¹.

Figure 1: Structural details of SARS CoV2¹²

Pathophysiology of SARS-CoV2

On entry, viral replication begins. The viral inflammatory response, consisting of both the innate and the adaptive immune response i.e. comprising the humoral and cell-mediated immunity, impairs lymphopoiesis i.e. the formation of lymphocytes in the bone marrow, lymph nodes, thymus and spleen and increases lymphocyte apoptosis i.e. a type of cell death in which the cell uses specialized cellular machinery to kill itself. As such, profound lymphopenia i.e. an abnormally small number of lymphocytes in the circulating blood may occur. This allows the virus to infect and kill T lymphocyte cells of the host⁸ (see Figure 2B).

As viral replication, transcription and translation accelerate and infection continues, the epithelial-endothelial barrier integrity of the alveolar is compromised (see Figure 2C). In addition to the epithelial cells, the virus infects pulmonary capillary endothelial cells, heightening the inflammatory response and triggering an influx of monocytes and neutrophils into the alveolar. Interstitial mononuclear inflammatory infiltrates and edema i.e. swelling from excessive accumulation of watery fluid in cells, tissues, or serous cavities, develop and appear as ground-glass opacities on computed tomographic (CT) imaging. Pulmonary edema filling the alveolar spaces with hyaline membrane formation follows, compatible with early-phase acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Bradykinin-dependent lung angioedema may also contribute to the disease¹³. Collectively, endothelial barrier disruption, dysfunctional alveolar-capillary oxygen transmission, and impaired oxygen diffusion capacity are characteristic features of COVID-19⁸.

Further, fulminant (sudden and severe) activation of coagulation and consumption of clotting factors occur leading to diffuse intravascular coagulation. Inflamed lung tissues and pulmonary endothelial cells may result in the microthrombi formation and contribute to the high incidence of thrombotic complications, such as deep venous thrombosis, pulmonary embolism and thrombotic arterial complications such as limb ischemia, ischemic stroke, myocardial infarction in critically ill patients. The development of viral sepsis, defined as life-threatening organ dysfunction caused by a dysregulated host response to infection may further contribute to multiorgan failure including the heart, brain, lung, liver, kidney and the coagulation system¹⁴.

Figure 2: Pathogenesis and pathophysiology of SARS CoV2⁸

Symptoms of COVID-19

COVID-19 affects different people in different ways. Averagely, it takes 5 鈥� 6 days from when someone is infected with the virus for symptoms to show, however it can take up to 14 days. Most infected people will develop mild to moderate illness and recover without hospitalization. Some may also develop severe complications of the disease or other comorbidities and death may result. Currently, the most serious symptoms include difficulty breathing or shortness of breath, chest pain or pressure and loss of speech or movement. Most common symptoms include fever, dry cough and general fatigue. The fewer common symptoms are aches and pains, sore throat, diarrhoea, conjunctivitis, headache, loss of taste or smell, a rash on skin and discolouration of fingers or toes¹⁵.

School reopening

As students prepare to come to school, it is cardinal for both educators and students to adhere to the following precautionary and preventive measures against the ongoing pandemic.

1. The regular washing of hands with soap under running water before and after lectures
2. The intermittent sanitizing of the hands with an alcohol-based hand rub during a lecture
3. Avoidance of touching the T zone of the face as well as the eyes, nose and mouth
4. Wearing of face protection e.g. nose masks, face shields at all times on return to campus
5. Practising physical distancing in the classrooms, social gatherings and staying away from crowds and large groups of people.
6. Refraining from smoking and other activities that weaken the lungs.
7. Staying home if one feels unwell.

Moreover, general school infection prevention and control practices should be enforced more effectively at this time.

Education is one of the strongest predictors of the health and the wealth of a country. Giving schools the support they need to confront COVID-19 could result in safe, healthy, and thriving environments for students and ultimately recognize education as a critical determinant of development in countries.

The World Health Organization (WHO) report on Elder abuse says, it is a single or repeated act, or lack of appropriate action, occurring within any relationship where there is an expectation of trust, which causes harm or distress to an older person. (WHO, EA, 2018). Types of abuse includes physical abuse, psychological or emotional abuse, sexual abuse, abandonment or neglect and financial or material fraud or any combination of these (WHO, EA, 2018). Types of abusers may include family members, informal and formal caregivers and acquaintances (Yon et al., 2018). Physical elder abuse occurs when force is used against an elder, resulting in some type of bodily pain, impairment or injury. In a hospital or nursing home setting, this type of abuse includes hitting, smacking and shoving. It also extends to physical restraints; drug restraints and confinement being used inappropriately (WHO, EA, 2017). Psychological and emotional abuse occurs when elderly patients are treated or spoken to in ways that cause them trauma or emotional pain. Likewise, it reflects any form of degrading or humiliating conduct such as instilling fear, mockery name calling and isolation of an older person (MacNeil etal., 2010). Sexual abuse is any kind of carnal contact that is conducted without consent. This may include sensual touching, forcing an elderly person to witness or watch sexual acts or pornographic materials or forcing the elder to undress against his or her will (Pillemer, Burnes, Riffin, & Lachs, 2016). Healthcare fraud occurs when medical professionals, including doctors and nurses, take advantage of elderly persons. Some of these behaviors may include: charging for procedures without performing them, providing unnecessary referrals or prescriptions, double-billing or charging more for services, providing too many or not enough medications, and providing treatments or medications for medical conditions that are fraudulent in nature (WHO, 2018; Mudiare 2013). Effects of mishandling of the aged can lead to bodily injuries ranging from minor scratches and bruises to broken bones and disabling injuries. For much older elders, the consequences of mishandling can lead to physical deformities, delayed convalescence or even death (Cohen, Halevy-Levin, & Gagin, 2010).

Current global efforts in combating elder abuse include knowing the symptoms of elder abuse which comprise bedsores, bruises, bodily injuries, recently lost weight, dehydration, poor hygiene, depression, anxiety, easily agitated and periodic crying; saying something if you suspect something and a more contemporary approach by spreading the word via social media platforms. The race is on throughout the world to develop COVID-19 vaccines and therapeutics and end a pandemic that threatens global health, especially the aged. Ageism has virtually coloured every discussion in this COVID-19 era. The WHO defines ageism as the stereotyping, prejudice, and discrimination against people on the basis of their increasing age (WHO, 2019). Ageism is pervasive, harmful, and arguably the primary vice underlying elder abuse. From the beginning, coronavirus has inspired ageist thoughts and comments given its partiality towards harming older adults. Adults aged 60 years and older and those with preexisting medical conditions, e.g. heart diseases, lung diseases, diabetes and cancer are more likely to have severe to deadly COVID-19 infections.

In these times, one precautionary measure against the infection is social distancing. This may be tough for older adults who cherish time spent with their families and friends. Faith communities are also a big part of older adults鈥� social lives and these have all been closed in this period. Social distancing doesn鈥檛 have to be isolation and loneliness. The WHO recognizing this, adapted the term to physical distancing. Social distancing has the potential to cause psychological or emotional abuse and neglect or abandonment and this can have a negative impact on older people鈥檚 immunity and mental health (Tsang et al., 2020). Thus, practicing physical distancing should not lead to social distancing and isolation particularly for the aged. Relatedly, in effect to promote social distancing, the possibility for elder abuse is all the more heightened, since perpetrators of abuse can be family members and friends. Additionally, with the introduction of caregivers, family members, friends and children of the aged working from home in this time, the possibility of unbuffered time together may contribute to circumstances leading to incidents of abuse. If the pandemic lingers on, physical distancing, social isolation and loneliness in old age will undoubtedly intensify, increasing elder abuse 鈥� physical abuse, psychological or emotional abuse and neglect or abandonment.

The World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD) is an annual international UN observance day celebrated to raise awareness of elder abuse and ways to prevent it. It encourages countries, regions, communities and the media to run events to highlight the awareness of elder abuse, the dangers of it and what can be done to prevent it. It is commemorated on the 15^th of June each year. We celebrate it this year by this editorial to the world; If you see something, say something.

Article by Dr. Mrs. Abigail Kyei and Mr. Reginald Arthur-Mensah Jnr (Department of Nursing and Midwifery, 51动漫)

GCNM is a corporate body established under the Specialist Health Training and Plant Medicine Research Act 2011, Part 3 (Act 833) with a three-fold mandate to

• Promote specialist education in nursing, midwifery and related disciplines
• Promote continuous professional development in nursing, midwifery and related disciplines and
• Contribute to the formulation of policies to improve health outcomes and health generally

The College鈥檚 vision is to develop cadres of committed intellectual and skillfully competent contemporary nurses and midwives with specialized education to provide quality improved care. The College also believes that character alongside with intelligence is the goal of education and has as its motto Integrity, Professionalism, and Excellence.

The elections were conducted by the Electoral Commission of Ghana and with Dr. Mrs. Kyei as the only candidate, she was expected to gain at least 50% plus 1 of the total valid votes to be declared the winner. Out of 192 votes, 185 voted affirmatively for her and seven voted against her. She, therefore, won with an overwhelming number of votes (96%). Dr. Mrs. Kyei took over from Dr. Mrs. Jemima Dennis Antwi, the first President of the College who served meritoriously for two terms.

The new President, Dr. Mrs. Abigail Agartha Kyei, has over 30 years鈥� experience managing large-scale health programmes in several countries under the International Confederation of Midwives (ICM), the Danish Development Agency (Danida) and the Malawian and Ghanaian Ministries of Health. She currently works as an independent consultant in Public Health, Midwifery, Maternal & Child Health and Health Management and is the Acting Head of Department in Nursing and Midwifery at the 51动漫 College at Sowutuom in Ghana where she lectures in Nursing and Midwifery-related courses.

Dr. Kyei is a Ghanaian by birth. She received her education up to undergraduate level in Ghana and despite her extensive travels for further studies and work outside her country in more developed countries, she is committed to rendering her services to the cause of women and children and the training of health workers, especially nurses and midwives, in developing countries, more especially in her home country of Ghana. A product of Wesley Girls High School where she received her secondary school education, Dr. Kyei鈥檚 first degree is in Nursing, from the University of Ghana and she holds Masters in Public Health (Maternal & Child Health Concentration) from the San Diego State University, California, in the United States of America (USA) and a Doctorate in Health Administration (DHA) from the University of Phoenix, in Arizona, USA.

In her acceptance speech after her induction, Dr. Kyei stated that her vision during her tenure of office is to support and provide leadership to the College to live up to its motto of Integrity, Professionalism and Excellence through a translation of the motto in the day to day lives of fellows and products of the College.

The Presidency of GCNM is a 3-year tenure renewable for two terms.

The walk according to Rev. Eric Adobah Thompson, who served as the coordinator, was aimed at sharing fellowship and unity amongst the workers of the university community. It also provided workers an opportunity to cultivate in them the culture of exercising their bodies.

The walk started at the main campus of the school at Sowutuom through to Santa Maria and back to the Sowutuom campus with the Rector of the University Rector of PUC, Apostle Dr. Daniel Okyere Walker leading the staff and management members.

Other managers who participated in the walk included; Dr. Emmanuel Apea, the Institutional Advancement Officer; Rev. Adams Owusu, the Human Resource Manager, Elder Felix Astrim, the Estate and Development Manager; Ms Victoria Aryee, the Academic Registrar, some lecturers and administrative staffs also joined in the walk.

Workers were also taken through some aerobics by a chiropractic expert while the G&A Health and Fitness Services in collaboration with PUC also offered free medical screening for Hepatitis and other blood related statuses.

Some staff interviewed expressed so much joy and excitement and admonished the organisers to make such activities more regular, since they served a worthy cause.
Rev. Adobah Thompson, expressed his profound thanks to all the management and staff members for showing up in their numbers.

The Committee, inaugurated on Thursday, December 21, 2017, is tasked to produce an interim report on their commendations by April 30, 2018.

As part of the Terms of Reference for the 12-member Committee, headed by Prof Amonoo Kuofi, the Committee is to develop a Curriculum for the Medical Course for the approval of the statutory bodies such as the National Accreditation Board (NAB). It is also to recommend Lecturers and staff for the school.

The Prof Amonoo Kuofi Committee has further been tasked to list the equipment, transport and electricity generating plant including solar power systems required for the school. They are to recommend the type of buildings necessary for the School, prepare capital and operating budgets for the first three years of the establishment of the School; and to plan for other things needed before the Medical School can take off and become a Centre of Academic Excellence.

Other members of the Committee include Dr Daniel Osei, Member; Dr (Mrs) Abigail Kyei, Member; Dr Yao Yeboah, Member/Secretary; Mrs Theresah Sekoh, Member; Dr Joshua Ofori-Amanfo, Member; Dr Gideon Attoh, Member; Dr John Ahenkora, Member; Prof Asante Opoku, Member; Rev Dr. Isaac Anim, Member; Dr Suresh Kumar Singhvi, Member; and Mrs Denise Anatsui, Member in Attendance/Recorder.