UHAS commissions five scientific laboratories and launches bulletin to boost health research, training, and community wellbeing

The University of Health and Allied Sciences (UHAS) has marked a major milestone with the commissioning of five scientific laboratories and the launch of the UHAS Bulletin at a brief but significant ceremony.

The new facilities include a ZebraFish Laboratory, Graduate Research Laboratory for Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Sciences, UHAS Dental Clinic, Imaging Simulation Lab, and the UHAS Counselling and Wellness Centre. Alongside these, the UHAS Bulletin was launched to serve as a one-stop communication platform for both internal and external audiences.

Professor Lydia Aziato, Vice Chancellor of UHAS, said the initiative was in line with the university’s mission of delivering quality education, advancing knowledge through research, and improving health outcomes through community service. She described the Imaging Simulation Lab as the first of its kind in Ghana, while the ZebraFish Lab becomes the third nationwide, after those at the University of Ghana and Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology.

Prof. Aziato acknowledged the efforts of the university’s pioneers and commended collaborators, philanthropists, and an anonymous donor who contributed a dentistry table. She urged stakeholders to sustain their support as UHAS pushes towards becoming a leading health research institution.

Prof. Kwame Ohene Buabeng, Dean of the School of Pharmacy, highlighted the ZebraFish Lab’s potential to revolutionise biomedical research, drug testing, and toxicological assessments of water resources. He thanked Kinapharma Company for providing micro-injectors to support the lab’s operations.

Dr Seth K. Angmorterh, Senior Lecturer at the Department of Medical Imaging, said the state-of-the-art Imaging Simulation Lab, funded by the Ghana Skills Development Fund, would enhance training and generate income for the university by reducing reliance on theoretical explanations.

Dr Fernando M. A. Acevedo, Acting Dean of the School of Dentistry, noted that Ghana’s dentist-to-population ratio stood at a worrying 1:50,000, compared to the World Health Organisation’s recommendation of 1:5,000–7,000. He said the new facility would not only train more dentists but also extend state-of-the-art dental services to the public.

Dr Emmanuel Dziwornu, Head of the Department of Medicine and Mental Health, said the Counselling and Wellness Centre would provide psychosocial support to students, staff, and the wider community, promoting resilience and overall wellbeing.

Mr Francis Ahiekpor, CEO of MES Equipment Limited, pledged continued collaboration with UHAS to deliver quality scientific and medical equipment, while Ms Yaa Amankwa Opuni, Registrar of UHAS, officially launched the UHAS Bulletin. She described it as a monthly e-newsletter that will highlight research, alumni updates, milestones, events, awards, and institutional performance.

The commissioning was described by stakeholders as a defining moment for UHAS, reinforcing its vision to remain a centre of excellence in health training, research, and service delivery.