The Vice-Chancellor, Professor Kwasi Kwafo Adarkwa has stated that the Dental School of the College of Health Sciences has received positive affirmation for provisional accreditation. This statement was contained in his speech delivered at the commissioning of the KNUST Dental School‘s Clinical facility at Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital. The ultra modern facility is meant for practical training of student-Dentists.
The project put up at the cost of ¢450,000.00 contains a Central Supply and Sterilisation Department (CSSD), 3 fully furnished Clinical rooms, 15-seater lecture room, a library, an office for the Dean and an office for administrative staff. Funds for the facility was provided by the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFUND) amounting to 300,000 whilst the remaining 150,000 was internally generated.
Giving a historic account of the project, the Vice-Chancellor said that, the idea of establishing the School in the University was conceived and formally presented to the Board of KATH a long time ago. Accordingly, a space was provided for the training programme in Dentistry. He continued that the University admitted its first batch of students numbering 11 to undertake the programme in 2006.
He announced that, the School currently boasts of 45 students specialing in Adult Oral Health, Child Oral Health and Ortodonctics, Basic and Diagnostic Oral Sciences, Community Dentistry and Maxillofacial Sciences. He used the opportunity to acknowledge individuals and institutions who contributed towards the success of the project.
Prof. Adarkwa assured that the facilities would be expanded to accommodate the increasing number of students and pleaded with the patrons to use the facilities with the decorum it deserves.
The Dean of the Dental School Dr. F. Adu Ababio, giving the welcome address added that, the occasion marked the fulfillment of the dream of making the Dental School globally recognized as a place of excellence that provides conducive environment for the training of human resources in Dentistry. He called on all stakeholders to remain united in championing the cause for the establishment of the School.
The Chief Executive Officer of KATH and the Chairman for the occasion, Prof. Ohene Adjei assured the gathering that, the School would continue to grow from strength to strength. He again pledged his continuous support to making the School, the best in the sub-region and one of the finest in the world.
The Provost of the College of Health Sciences, Prof. Peter Donkor, reiterated that, amidst all the difficulties the school had faced, the dream of establishing it has become a reality. He said, “Today is a day that calls for celebration, lets all be glad in it”. Again, he used the occasion to extend his gratitude to every individual and organization who contributed immensely towards the successful establishment of the School. He however called on goodhearted persons to come to the aid of the School to expand their infrastructure and workforce.
