On Thursday, 21st March 2024, a significant step towards enhancing collaboration in nursing and midwifery education, practice and research was taken, as a delegation from the Nursing and Midwifery Council (N&MC) of Ghana visited the prestigious University of Huddersfield in the United Kingdom. Led by Mrs. Philomina A.N. Woolley, Acting Registrar of the N&MC of Ghana, the delegation comprised Mr. Ampem Darko Oklodu-Abbey Esq, Deputy Director (Operations) and Head of Intelligence and Discipline Unit, and Mr. Dennis Addai, Senior IT Officer.
This visit marked a pivotal moment in the ongoing collaborative project aimed at “strengthening the ability of the N&MC of Ghana to oversee and regulate the professional registration of nurses and midwives to ensure high-quality care”. The collaborative project, funded by the UK Department of Health and Social Care through the Tropical Health and Education Trust (THET), is part of the Global Health Workforce Programme.
Welcoming the delegation on behalf of the University Leadership was Professor Alistair Sambell, Pro Vice-Chancellor (International), as well as Professor Jane Owen-Lynch, Pro Vice-Chancellor (Teaching and Learning) and Dean of the School of Human and Health Sciences.
A highlight of the visit was the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the University of Huddersfield and the N&MC of Ghana. Professor Jane Owen-Lynch signed the MoU on behalf of the University of Huddersfield, while Mrs. Philomina A.N. Woolley represented the N&MC Ghana. The successful visit and signing of the MoU delineates and solidifies the commitment of both institutions to continued collaboration and mutual support in advancing nursing and midwifery education, research, practice, and capacity-building initiatives aimed at advancing nursing and midwifery practice standards in Ghana, the UK, and beyond. It underscores the mutual recognition of each party's expertise and resources, laying the groundwork for sustained cooperation and knowledge exchange.
The meeting was attended by senior leadership teams from the School of Human and Health Sciences and the Department of Nursing at the University of Huddersfield. Noteworthy attendees included Dr. Warren Gillibrand, Ag. Head of the Department of Nursing; Professor Georgina Blakeley, Associate Dean (Teaching and Learning); Professor Ann-Louise Caress, Associate Dean for Research Innovation and Knowledge Exchange; Professor Vanessa Taylor, School Director of Practice and Care Partnerships; Dr. Stephen Prescott, School Director for Clinical Skills Education; Dr. Caroline Barker, Head of Adult Nursing Division; Karen Currell, Divisional Lead for Nursing Apprenticeships and Ag. Divisional Lead for Child Nursing; and Nikki Rochnia, Head of Practice Education for Nursing.
Also in attendance were project team members including Precious Adade Duodu, Senior Lecturer in Adult Nursing and International Lead for the Department of Nursing; Dr. Bibha Simkhada, Senior Lecturer in Adult Nursing and Deputy Director of Graduate Education; Professor Padam Simkhada, Professor of Global Health and Associate Dean (International); and Ransford Akrong, Research Assistant and PhD Researcher (all at the University of Huddersfield). Other project members present were Dr. Susan Jones, Lecturer and Professional Lead for Nursing, University of Liverpool, UK; as well as Hari Krishna Neupane, IT Consultant; and Manish Parajuli, Project Manager (both at TechnoFerry International Limited, UK).
Discussions during the visit encompassed current and future collaborations, with a focus on leveraging resources and expertise to address healthcare challenges in Ghana. The delegation also had the opportunity to tour simulation suites, the Health and Wellbeing Academy, and other state-of-the-art facilities at the University of Huddersfield.
