The Africa Higher Education Health Collaborative at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology is planning to roll out courses in mental health.

Speaking at the 2024 half year review meeting of the Africa Health Collaborative, KNUST at Moree in the Central Region, Principal Investigator of the Collaborative, Prof. Ellis Owusu-Dabo notes recent developments in the health sector has called for the move.

“I believe in opening up the conversation on mental health. We believe it’s about time the Collaborative looks at mental health,” he said.

Deputy Registrar of the Ghana Medical and Dental Council, Dr. Alex Peasah-Koduah also observes worrying trends in mental health issues among healthcare givers.

In response to that, he said the council has developed the Fitness to Practice Policy to guide practitioners and the training institutions on how to address mental issues.

“We think that this is an area where we can collaborate well so we’ll be able to identify people who need help,” he added.

Director of the Human Resources for Health Directorate (HRHD) of the Ministry of Health Dr. Kwesi Asabir hinted at plans to support health professionals with 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 said.

The meeting also witnessed inputs from representatives from the Ghana Medical and Dental Council, Allied Health Professional Council, the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Ghana, the Christian Health Association of Ghana (CHAG) and the Pharmacy Council of Ghana.

About Africa Higher Education Health Collaborative

The objectives of the Mastercard Foundation Africa Higher Education Health Collaborative are to Build and strengthen the capacity of healthcare students and professionals to meet the growing demand for Primary Health Care (PHC) in the health sector; enable students to acquire advanced skills in Africa across a broad range of disciplines critical for sustainable health sector growth and transformation; Optimize entrepreneurial ecosystems in and through universities in Africa to launch and scale health start-ups to create jobs; Develop a dynamic, sustainable, long-term network of leading African universities, alumni, government agencies, health care start-ups, and private sector partners working together to create dignified and fulfilling jobs across health ecosystems.

The project will further develop a dynamic, sustainable, long-term network of leading African universities, alumni and government agencies, healthcare start-ups, and private sector partners working together to create dignified and fulfilling jobs across health ecosystems in the next ten years.

KNUST is one of the eight partners of the Higher Education Collaborative in Health with the aim to contribute to all three pillars of the health strategy: Health Employment, Health Entrepreneurship, and Health Ecosystems.