A delegation of Advanced Nursing Specialists and Advanced Nursing Practice students from the University of Huddersfield is visiting the University Health Services (UHS) at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi (KNUST) for a five-day knowledge exchange programme running from March 2 to March 6, 2026.
Led by Dr. Dartel Norman and Professor Melanie Rogers, the delegation is participating in a series of collaborative sessions aimed at sharing best practices and strengthening standards in nursing care.
On the second day of the engagement, Angela Windle, subject lead at the University of Huddersfield, delivered a 30-minute lecture on compassion in healthcare delivery. She emphasised the importance of patient-centred communication and urged healthcare professionals to consistently introduce themselves to patients as a basic step in building trust and fostering therapeutic relationships.
Director of the University Hospital, Dr. Nana Kwame Ofori Ayisi-Boateng, encouraged healthcare workers to approach their duties with purpose and empathy, noting that fulfilment in the profession comes from meaningful patient engagement.
“You must make every shift meaningful for yourself,” he said. “When you leave at the end of the day, you should feel fulfilled knowing that you have truly supported your patients.”
Discussions also explored how cultural context shapes the communication of difficult medical information, particularly in situations involving terminal illness or death. Participants noted that language choices can significantly influence how patients and families interpret medical realities.
“It is not enough to simply state the facts,” one participant said. “You must consider what is culturally appropriate and ensure the message is delivered in a way that is both compassionate and clear.”
Another healthcare worker highlighted the complexity of discussing death across languages, explaining that certain expressions may be softened or interpreted differently depending on cultural norms.
“In English, the word ‘dying’ may be direct, but in other languages, there are varied expressions that reflect cultural sensitivity. The key is clarity without cruelty,” she said.
Story and Photos: Alice Laura Kyerewaah Prempeh and Akosua Konadu Bandoh.
