KNUST Brings Free Health Services to Anwomaso as Part of 75th Anniversary
KNUST Brings Free Health Services to Anwomaso as Part of 75th Anniversary | The Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi (KNUST) has taken its health services closer to the people of Anwomaso and nearby communities as part of activities marking the University’s 75th Anniversary.
The University’s College of Health Sciences organised a Medical and One Health Outreach to provide health screening, medical consultations and health education to community members of Anwomaso and its surroundings.
The programme also gave health professionals and students from different fields an opportunity to work together while serving the community.
KNUST Reaffirms Its Responsibility to Society
Speaking on behalf of the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Christian Agyare, Prof. Francis Kemausuor, Dean of the Faculty of Mechanical and Chemical Engineering, said the University’s anniversary was more than a celebration of its achievements.
He explained that KNUST’s 75 years had been marked by progress in teaching, research and innovation. However, the University also had a responsibility to use its knowledge and skills to help improve people’s lives.
“KNUST’s seventy-five-year journey has been defined not only by excellence in teaching, research and innovation, but also by a strong commitment to service,” he said.
Prof. Kemausuor said the medical outreach was one of the ways the University was putting this responsibility into action.
According to him, the programme brought together students and professionals from different health-related fields to provide healthcare services to people in surrounding communities.
He praised the College of Health Sciences, the planning committee, schools and departments for working together to make the programme possible.
He said cooperation between different professionals was necessary because many health problems require the knowledge and skills of more than one profession.
Prof. Kemausuor also thanked the traditional authorities, market leaders, community members and development partners for their support. He noted that their contributions, including equipment, supplies and logistical assistance, helped the programme to succeed.
He urged the health professionals, students and volunteers taking part in the exercise to treat patients with care, respect and professionalism.
He also reminded them to keep patients’ information private and make sure that anyone who needed additional treatment was properly referred to the appropriate health facility.
Prof. Kemausuor encouraged community members to make good use of the services available during the outreach.
He advised participants to speak openly about their health concerns, provide correct information to health workers and follow the advice they received.
He explained that screening alone is not enough. People must also take the necessary steps after receiving their results and continue with any treatment or follow-up care recommended by healthcare professionals.
College of Health Sciences Promotes Teamwork
Professor Fred Stephen Sarfo, Provost of the College of Health Sciences, said the outreach showed how KNUST could turn its knowledge and expertise into practical service for communities.
He described the programme as an important moment for the College and the University.
“Today is a very important day for the College of Health Sciences. We are gathered not simply to mark an anniversary, but to demonstrate what seventy-five years of KNUST should mean in practical terms: knowledge translated into service, professional expertise brought closer to the people, and stronger partnerships between the University and its neighbouring communities,” he stated.
Prof. Sarfo said the work of the College should not be limited to classrooms, laboratories and hospitals.
He explained that although the College trains healthcare professionals, conducts research and works to improve health outcomes, it must also take healthcare knowledge and services into communities.
Why Anwomaso Market Was Selected
Prof. Sarfo explained that Anwomaso Market was chosen as the location for the programme because markets are busy places where many people work and interact every day.
Holding the outreach at the market, he said, made it easier for traders, workers and residents in the area to access health services without travelling far.
He also highlighted the importance of teamwork in providing quality healthcare.
According to Prof. Sarfo, healthcare workers from different areas must work together to meet the needs of patients.
These professionals include doctors, pharmacists, nurses, dentists, laboratory professionals, physiotherapists, optometrists, veterinary professionals, public health practitioners and students.
“No single profession can meet all the health needs of a community,” he observed.
Prof. Sarfo said the programme was also useful to students because it allowed them to gain real-life experience outside the classroom.
The students had the opportunity to learn how to work with professionals from other fields, communicate with patients and understand the importance of putting patients’ needs first.
He encouraged residents to feel free to discuss their health problems with healthcare workers.
He also advised people who were referred for further tests or treatment to follow the recommendations given to them.
Prof. Sarfo Calls for Preventive Healthcare
Prof. Sarfo further stressed the need for people to take preventive healthcare seriously.
He said regular health checks can help identify some health problems early. He also encouraged people to maintain healthy lifestyles, use medicines correctly and seek medical help when they notice health problems.
He expressed his appreciation to everyone who contributed to the success of the outreach.
Those he thanked included the organising committee, faculty members, students, volunteers, traditional leaders, assembly representatives, market leaders, community mobilisers and development partners.
Prof. Sarfo also urged members of the outreach team to maintain high professional standards throughout the programme.
He reminded them to protect the dignity, privacy and safety of patients and to explain health information clearly to participants.
He said the success of the outreach should not be judged only by the number of people who received screening.
“The value of today’s programme will not be measured only by the number of people screened. It will also be measured by the quality of the interactions, the referrals completed, the knowledge shared and the trust strengthened between the College and the communities,” he said.
Prof. Sarfo described the programme as both a celebration of KNUST’s 75 years of service and a renewed promise by the College of Health Sciences to respond to the health needs of Ghanaians.
Anwomaso Traditional Leaders Welcome KNUST’s Support
Nana Akwasi Poku, Gyaasehene of Anwomaso, who spoke on behalf of the Anwomasohene, Nana Osei Boah III, thanked KNUST and the College of Health Sciences for bringing the medical outreach to the community.
He described the programme as an important step towards improving the health and well-being of people living in Anwomaso and surrounding areas.
Nana Poku expressed his appreciation to the University for making healthcare services available to residents.
He said the initiative was helping to bring “healing, care and essential health services to the residents of this community.”
He noted that the programme could help people who might otherwise have limited access to certain healthcare services.
Nana Poku urged residents of Anwomaso and nearby communities to take advantage of the free medical consultations, health screening and health education provided during the outreach.
He also appealed for similar programmes to be organised in the community in the future.
“I hope that this will not be the only time such a programme is held here. We welcome more of these initiatives in the future to continue supporting the health and well-being of our people,” he said.
The Medical and One Health Outreach was therefore an important part of KNUST’s 75th Anniversary celebrations. It also demonstrated the University’s continued effort to use education, professional knowledge and healthcare services to support communities and improve the well-being of Ghanaians.
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