Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) has taken a significant step towards addressing accommodation challenges faced by clinical students on rotation at the Bekwai Municipal Hospital.
The university has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Valco Trust Fund and the Bekwai Municipal Hospital to construct a student hostel.
The Provost of the College of Health Sciences at KNUST, Prof. Christian Agyare, expressed gratitude for the partnership and highlighted the importance of providing adequate accommodation for students to enhance their academic experience. The project, set to commence in a few months, will be located near the Bekwai Municipal Hospital for easy access for students.
The student hostel will also feature a 100-seater capacity lecture hall with offices. Kelvin Kwaku Yeboah, the Executive Director of Valco Trust Fund, emphasized that the facility’s purpose goes beyond student accommodation, serving as a tribute to the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II. He also mentioned plans to engage a professional facility management company to ensure the proper maintenance of the facility.
Dr. Frank Serebour, the Medical Superintendent for Bekwai Municipal Hospital, highlighted the challenges of establishing new medical schools and stressed the importance of a centralized teaching system between the University and its affiliated institutions. He proposed a gradual expansion of centralized teaching sites to accommodate more aspiring medical professionals, ultimately improving the quality of healthcare services.
Member of Parliament for Asante Bekwai, Mr. Osei Owusu, also welcomed the initiative, emphasizing its significance for the community. The project represents a positive development in enhancing medical education and ensuring access to quality healthcare services in the region.
