The University of Health and Allied Sciences in the Volta Region has introduced nine new programmes for the 2024/2025 academic years.

The programmes included Doctor of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Bachelor of Health Service Administration, Combined Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree in Psychology, MPhil Midwifery, and MPhil and Ph.D. Medical Laboratory Sciences.

The rest are M.Phil and Ph.D. Pharmacology, M.Phil and Ph.D. Toxicology, MSc, M.Phil, and Ph.D. Pharmaceutical Chemistry and M.Phil and Ph.D. Pharmacognosy.

The Combined Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree in Psychology Programme comes with options in Clinical Psychology, neuropsychology, and Counselling Psychology.

Speaking at the launch and matriculation for the 2024/2025 academic year, the Vice Chancellor of UHAS, Prof Lydia Aziato said the programmes were tailored to enable the University to deliver on its mission of contributing to improving the human resources in the health sector.

She said the programs would enable the university to produce cutting-edge personnel to deliver world-standard service to meet the ever-growing health demands of the citizens.

Prof Lydia Aziato added that the University was preparing to introduce more programs in the next academic year, as the preparation of curriculums is almost completed.

“But for this year for our alumni who are anxiously waiting, the School of Nursing and Midwifery will be introducing the MPhil Nursing and Midwifery program this year. So, we are getting along with our mission to serve the Ghanaian population within the health space”, she said.

She entreated the students not to rely on Artificial Intelligence for their academic work but to employ their minds to study and earn their degrees on hard work and integrity.

She implored them to stay focused on their studies and contact the student leadership and head of their department for any challenge they may encounter.

Prof Aziato said that the University runs a curriculum that is heavily loaded and hence students must re-orient their minds as such and fit in to prevent failure.

“UHAS is a very demanding University, you chose to come here, we didn't stop you. So once you are in, quickly decongest your mind that this university is a heavy load university”, she said entreating the students to be prepared to “leave a mark” in the University.

The Volta Regional Minister, James Gunu lauded the progress of the University which was established in 2012 under the Atta-Mills-John Mahama-led government.

He acknowledged the challenges of the University ranging from access roads, inadequate lecture halls, accommodation, supply of water, transport, security, and academic logistics, pledging to have them addressed.

He stressed that the University would witness accelerated development under President John Mahama, who developed the blueprint for its establishment with the late President Prof John Evans Atta Mills.

“The good news that I have for you is that the very person who assisted President Mills in coming out with the vision is now the President of the Republic of Ghana. So how can a mother leave her child to go hungry?”, he said.

He reckoned that the new programmes introduced would augment healthcare delivery in the country and West African Sub-region.

4,640 applicants were admitted out of the 14,412 undergraduate applications received, while 285 out 417 applicants for postgraduate programmes were offered admission with 249 students enrolling for the 2024/2025 academic year.