From Family Health University College to Family Health University

On Thursday, December 19, 2024, the Family Health University College (FHUC) received a Presidential Charter which converted the institution from a university college into a fully-fledged university, the “Family Health University.” 

At a ceremony at the Jubilee House involving 14 institutions including the National Defence College, the Certificate of Charter was presented by the President to the founders of Family Health, Professor Enyonam Yao Kwawukume (Obstetrics & Gynaecology consultant) and his wife Dr Susu Bridgitte Kwawukume, (Dermatology Consultant).

Also present were the Registrar, Mrs Rita Kaine and Chairman of Council, Brig. Gen. Dan Frimpong (Rtd). As a university college, Family Health’s qualifications were awarded by a mentor institution, the University of Ghana, Legon.

With the Charter, the Family Health University is now autonomous and will award its degrees/diplomas/certificates.

Background

In my article of May 2024 titled FHUC Medical School graduates 15 new doctors in ‘Round 4’ in May 2024,” I stated:

Exactly six months to the day of the last graduation on November 9, 2023, the Family Health University College (FHUC) Medical School on Thursday, May 9, 2024, graduated its fourth batch of medical doctors.

Fifteen medical students who undertook the Graduate Entry Medical Programme (GEMP) graduated as doctors.

The GEMP is a four-and-half-year medical programme which starts at Level 300, offers graduates with a first degree in the Sciences. The regular course for non-graduates takes six years.

The congregation also had 33 regular medical students graduate with a BSc Medical Sciences as a prelude for further training to qualify as doctors. There were also matriculants to the Medical School and the Nurses and Midwifery Training Schools.

In the Daily Graphic of November 24 2023, I stated as follows:

On Thursday, November 9, 2023, 54 medical students of the Family Health University College (FHUC) Medical School graduated as medical doctors.

They comprised 10 males and 44 females. This is the third set of doctors the medical school has produced. The doctors included four Nigerians and one Pakistani.

In 2020, the first set of 30 doctors graduated. In 2021, the second set of 47 doctors graduated. This brings to 131 the number of doctors the Family Health Medical School has produced so far.

Also graduating were 200 BSc Nursing/BSc Midwifery students, as well as Clinical Assistants students.

When I told an acquaintance of the graduation of doctors and nurses on November 9, 2023, he stated with surprise, “I thought Family Health was only a hospital. I did not know it had medical and nursing/midwifery schools.”

So, what is the Family Health University College (FHUC)?

FHUC
Located directly opposite the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre (KAIPTC), Teshie, Accra, the Family Health University College (FHUC) is a private medical facility comprising a hospital, a Nursing & Midwifery School and a Medical School.

The FHUC is the brainchild of a medical profession couple, Professor Enyonam Yao Kwawukume, a Consultant Obstetrician & Gynaecologist and his wife Dr Susu Bridget Kwawukume, a Consultant Dermatologist.

It started modestly in 1997 as a Diagnostic Centre in a garage at 51 Guggisberg St, Korle Bu. In 2007, it moved to its present permanent site overlooking the Atlantic Ocean and opposite the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre (KAIPTC), Teshie.

As the hospital expanded, the need to train its nurses saw the establishment of a Nursing and Midwifery Training School in 2009.

From its humble beginnings as a “backyard clinic,” the FHUC in 2016 was given a university status and formally became known as the Family Health University College.

Addressing the congregation, the President of the FHUC, Prof. Kwawukume congratulated the newly qualified doctors, as well as the regular course which started from

Level 100 and has successfully completed the BSc Medical Sciences. They will qualify as doctors after further training.

Prof. Kwawukume added “Whether you are studying to become a nurse or doctor, here at Family Health University College, we operate as a big family unit. As such, all members are expected to conduct themselves and relate with one another with respect and dignity.”

He advised them to uphold the core values of leadership, integrity, compassion, commitment to lifelong-learning, discipline and teamwork.

Summary
At the ceremony, the Minister of Education stated that the diversity of the 14 institutions being given presidential charter showed a commitment to holistic education in Ghana.

The President congratulated the founders, council chairs, registrars and faculties of the 14 institutions on their hard work that earned them granting of a presidential charter.

Congratulations and commendations to the founders of Family Health University College whose vision and tenacity have transformed a “backyard clinic” (Diagnostic Centre) in 1997 into a university college in 2017.

Currently, the Family Health University comprises a hospital, a nursing/midwifery training school and a medical school.

Similar commendations go to the staff and faculty for their dedication and hard work which has earned Family Health autonomy as a fully-fledged university, the Family Health University.

It is hoped that the new Family Health University will continue producing medical doctors and nurses/midwives, as well as clinical assistants of the highest calibre and also a first-class hospital, as its modest contribution to national development.

Now to the Nobel Foundation of Sweden, the 2024 Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to Japanese NGO, Nihon Hidankyo, for efforts towards a “world free of nuclear weapons.”

Is it not time to consider the award to Ghana’s Professor Yao and Mrs Susu Brigitte Kwawukume for their medical contributions to humanity using Ghana as a microcosm?

Apart from founding the Family Health University comprising a Medical School, a Nursing & Midwifery Training School and a hospital, starting humbly as a “diagnostic centre” in 1977, the Obstetrician / Gynaecologist Professor Yao Kwawukume is said to be: “the first surgeon in the world to perform a Bloodless Myomectomy during a caesarian section using a tourniquet. He also co-invented the Medical Eligibility Criteria WHEEL for Reproductive Health and Family Planning which is now used worldwide after approval and adoption by the the World Health Organisation (WHO).”

Need I say more? Long live the Family Health University! Long live Ghana!
Leadership, lead by example! Fellow Ghanaians, wake up!

The writer is a former CEO of the African Peace Support Trainers Association, Nairobi, Kenya/Council Chair, the Family Health University College, Accra.

E-mail: dkfrimpong@yahoo.com