Mr. Charles Azagba, Afadzato South District Director of Health, who chaired the occasion, noted that receiving UHAS students into their facilities has been of tremendous support to the various beneficiary districts as some people continue to refuse posting to rural areas. He said, “UHAS is a necessary stakeholder and not just any university but a good training ground.”

Vice Chancellor Professor Lydia Aziato told the audience that VT is a necessary component of UHAS training, without which one cannot graduate: “Vocational training is a core requirement of all health-training institutions,” and called on the students to ensure they exhaust all hours assigned to them for their VT.

She advised them to carry the ethos of excellence, integrity, innovation, service and care into their training wherever they find themselves, as these would go a long way in alleviating the pains of their clients and help build a robust career for them. Prof. Aziato also encouraged stakeholders to attach research components to the VT to help enrich teaching, learning and research.

Mr. Iddrisu Basintale, VT Coordinator, said the programme is structured to ensure that all students undergo the three phases of the training, which includes observation during the first phase of the training, working with preceptors during the second phase, and active participation during the third phase. These phases are to ensure that the students acquire key competencies and become valuable assets wherever they go.

Preceptors from the Afadjato South district, Hohoe Municipal and the Volta Regional Hospital took turns in sharing their experiences with the students and the University. They all attested to the hardworking nature of the students and their willingness to learn. They also suggested some financial support to help take more students on the field.