The Africa Higher Education Health Collaborative at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) is set to launch courses focused on mental health.
This decision was announced during the 2024 half-year review meeting of the Africa Health Collaborative, which took place at Moree in the Central Region.
Prof. Ellis Owusu-Dabo, the Principal Investigator of the Africa Health Collaborative, highlighted the need for this initiative in response to recent developments in the health sector. “I believe in opening up the conversation on mental health. We believe it’s about time the Collaborative looks at mental health,” he stated.
Dr. Alex Peasah-Koduah, Deputy Registrar of the Ghana Medical and Dental Council, also expressed concerns about the rising trends in mental health issues among healthcare providers. To address these issues, the council has developed the Fitness to Practice Policy to guide practitioners and training institutions on handling mental health issues effectively.
Furthermore, Dr. Kwesi Asabir, Director of the Human Resources for Health Directorate (HRHD) at the Ministry of Health, disclosed plans to provide support for health professionals through the inclusion of clinical psychologists. “Health professionals care for others but who cares for the health professional. Because of mental health issues we’re thinking of how we can properly place clinical psychologists who can support health professionals,” he explained.
The meeting, which was attended by representatives from various healthcare regulatory bodies and councils, emphasized the importance of collaboration in addressing mental health issues within the healthcare sector.
The Africa Higher Education Health Collaborative aims to enhance healthcare education and training to meet the increasing demand for Primary Health Care (PHC) services, empower students with advanced skills, and promote health entrepreneurship in Africa. KNUST, one of the collaborative partners, is committed to contributing to the pillars of health strategy: Health Employment, Health Entrepreneurship, and Health Ecosystems.
