The Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) and the University of Ghana, Legon, are set to introduce more practical content into their Biomedical Engineering (BME) courses starting on Tuesday, September 19, 2023.
The objective of this initiative is to modernize and enhance the practicality of biomedical engineering courses.
This project is made possible through support from the development funding program, implemented by GIZ on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).
A news brief released to the Ghana News Agency in Accra announced that the Minister of Health will officially launch this innovative project under the banner “Upskilling Biomedical Engineers for Ghana.”
The launch event is expected to bring together biomedical engineering experts, students, faculty from universities offering BME courses, dignitaries from the Ministry of Health, Ghana Health Service, and the Ghana Institution of Engineering, as well as development partners and project partners.
Holger Till, Develop Team Lead at GIZ Ghana, highlighted that the project's launch will contribute to improving the skillset of BME experts in Ghana.
These experts will be better equipped to handle and maintain medical devices and generate innovative solutions. This improvement in expertise is expected to enhance the efficiency of existing medical technologies and, ultimately, improve the quality of life for patients with various medical conditions.
Key industry players, including B. Braun, Delft Imaging Ghana, Sysmex Europe, and the learning platform Area9 Lyceum, will provide universities with quality equipment, technology, and services.
The project's goals include the re-accreditation of modernized bachelor courses, with the first batch of 280 students expected to graduate.
Additionally, 100 health sector professionals will undergo modernized training as part of their continuous professional development, ultimately strengthening Ghana's healthcare system.
Reporting by Stanley Senya. Editing by Mariam Aminu.