Junior High School (JHS) pupils of Word International School in Zuarungu have praised the Upper East Regional Hospital in Bolgatanga, describing it as a “great hospital” after an educational visit to the facility.
The approximately 30 pupils, who aspire to become doctors, nurses, and other healthcare professionals, arrived at the hospital dressed in medical attire, complete with stethoscopes around their necks.
Accompanied by their teachers, the pupils visited the facility, which serves as the major referral hospital in the Upper East Region, to gain first-hand knowledge of healthcare delivery and career opportunities in the medical field.
Speaking after the tour, Christable Anabire, a JHS One pupil who hopes to become a medical doctor, expressed admiration for the facility and its staff.
“This hospital is a great hospital. The minds of the professionals are focused on saving lives,” she said.
Another JHS One pupil, Monalisa Ayaribila, who aspires to become a midwife, described the hospital as “very nice and attractive.”
She noted that healthcare professionals at the facility did not only treat patients but also educated them on balanced diets and good personal hygiene practices.
Mr Matthew Avane, the hospital’s In-Service Training Coordinator, welcomed the pupils and their teachers, and provided an overview of the facility.
He explained that the hospital was established in 1946 and had undergone significant expansion over the years.
According to him, the hospital’s primary mission was to save lives, “For the Upper East Regional Hospital, we care for your life,” he told the pupils.
Mr Avane engaged them in an interactive session, educating them on the roles and responsibilities of the various health professionals working at the hospital.
“Nurses educate patients and clients on disease conditions, while midwives care for pregnant women and their babies. They also educate expectant mothers on proper nutrition and healthy lifestyles,” he said.
He encouraged the pupils to take their studies seriously, particularly if they wished to pursue careers in healthcare.
“To become a doctor, pharmacist, laboratory scientist, or laboratory technician, you need to study science. Therefore, you must work hard in school if you want to join any of these professions in the future,” he advised.
Mr Avane further highlighted the diverse workforce that supports healthcare delivery at the facility.
“The hospital is not only about doctors and nurses. We also have cleaners, administrative staff, and many other essential personnel whose contributions are critical to the effective running of the hospital,” he noted.
He advised the pupils to practice good hygiene by washing their hands regularly, eating healthy meals, and showing respect to healthcare professionals and members of the public.
As part of the interactive session, Mr Avane, a Haematology Nurse Specialist, answered several insightful questions from the pupils, including: “Can someone with sickle cell disease be cured?”, “If you are A positive, who can you receive blood from?”, “Does your genotype affect blood transfusion?”, “If you are AS and your partner is SS, will there be complications?”, “How many years does it take to become a doctor?”, “Who is an oncologist?”, “What is the name of the doctor who takes care of children?”, and “Who is a gynaecologist?”
Beyond the interactive session, Mr Avane led the pupils and their teachers on a tour of selected units of the hospital, including the paediatric surgical and medical wards, the female medical ward, and the laboratory and pharmacy departments.
He explained that, as part of infection prevention and control measures, the group could not visit all sections of the hospital.
Ms Mercy Maletena Awane, the teacher who led the pupils on the visit, expressed gratitude to the management and staff of the hospital for the warm reception and valuable learning experience provided to the pupils.
She expressed hope that similar opportunities would be organised in the future to further expose pupils to healthcare services and career opportunities in the sector.
Source: Public Relations Unit, Regional Hospital, Bolgatanga
