The University of Health and Allied Sciences (UHAS) in the Volta Regional capital of Ho has taken a leap towards improving sports medicine in Ghana. 

The solely dedicated health institution commissioned a human performance laboratory and a fitness clinic for use by its School of Sports and Exercise Medicine.  

The Clinic which was refurbished to fit the purpose, houses a well-stocked gym, lecture hall, fitness centre, consultation rooms and a pool to aid the training of the students in professional sports medicine care. 

The Clinic, made available by a hospitality company in Ho, Chances Hotel, would contribute to develop the continent’s sports-related health issues. 

Speaking at a brief commissioning ceremony, the Vice-Chancellor of UHAS, Prof. Lydia Aziato, lauded the collaboration and efforts of the Management of the School in ensuring the students are provided with the requisite training. 

She underscored the need for an ultra-modern sporting facility and urged the faculty to collaborate with interested institutions to improve facilities for the School of Sports and Exercise Medicine. 

She also implored the faculty to digitize the operations of the clinic to ensure easy accessibility to services by the community. 

“I also want you to incorporate technology in your future programmes, so that at least telemedicine services will be part of your sports and exercise medicine services that we provide”, she suggested. 

The Dean of the School of Sports and Exercise Medicine, Prof Eric Ofori, explained that the Clinic would contribute to produce professionals who would adapt to the use of exercise as therapy, aid in assessing the performance of sportsmen and enhance research. 

“The focus of the school is to create graduates who can also manage sportsmen and women to enhance their performance. They will also help them in the area of sports psychology to be able to develop the psyche of sportsmen and women to achieve their best”, he said.

He said students would be trained to manage pitch-side injuries and accidents, before being transferred to health facilities for treatment. 

“These are products that we are training to be able to manage sporting facilities that we have across the country and engage in sports marketing”, he added. 

The Owner of Chances Hotel, Emmanuel Chance, expressed excitement about making available a major facility for the training of health professionals to improve sports medicine in Ghana. 

He entreated the school to take good care of the facility and hopes for future collaborations with the University. 

The Ho Municipal Chief Executive, Divine Bosson, commended the collaboration, indicating that it conforms with the Government’s policy to promote well-being. 

He appreciated the gesture by Emmanuel Chance for exhibiting a quality of statesmanship and called on all and sundry to support the University which is at its developing stage.