Medical students in Ukraine to continue studies in Grenada

The Government has given a renewed sense of hope to students studying medicine in Ukraine to continue their education at the St George’s University of Medicine, Caribbean Island of Grenada.

This was followed an agreement signed by the Ghana Scholarships Secretariat and the University for Ghanaian students affected by the Russia –Ukraine War to continue their education there.

A statement from the Scholarships Secretariat, copied to the Ghana News Agency, said the agreement came at a time when most students in Ukraine felt their studies would be truncated because of the war.

Mr Kingsley Agyemang, Registrar of the Scholarships Secretariat, signed the agreement on behalf of Ghana while Mr David Anthonisz, Director of Recruitment and Commercial Engagement, signed for St. George’s University.

The agreement follows an earlier Memorandum of Understanding signed in 2019 with the University, where selected students with first degrees in medical sciences were to be offered scholarship for post graduate training in the medical field.

The scholarship packages range from 50 to 100 per cent funding by the awarding institution, with the Scholarship Secretariat as the coordinating agency.

Speaking after the signing of the agreement, Mr Agyemang noted that the pact, which took full effect immediately would ensure that the affected students had a smooth transition with their studies and continue at the St. Georges University.

He disclosed that the students would also have access to two of the best three hospitals in the world during their studies.

“The Government of Ghana under the leadership of His Excellency Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo takes the education of Ghanaian students serious no matter where they find themselves and therefore instructed me to quickly find a way to ensure that these students who are affected by the unfortunate situation in Ukraine can find a way to continue their studies.

“I, therefore, see the signing of this agreement as very important, especially considering the timing as well,” he said.

Mr Agyemang explained that students who had so far left Ukraine and in Ghana through the efforts of the Government of Ghana would be contacted for the necessary arrangements to be done to quickly get them to continue with their studies in Grenada.

The move, he said, was important because it would also complement Ghana’s efforts to train medical professionals as it worked towards achieving universal health coverage.

Mr Anthonisz, for his part, said the St George University of Medicine was more than happy and ready to absorb the medical students to ensure that they continued their studies.

He commended Ghana for having a reputation for producing great students at the international level, saying that was one of the reasons for the partnership.

Mr Anthonisz said the University had trained more than 16,000 professionals with about 10,000 of them practising in the United States and other countries.

Present at the ceremony were Molly K O’Neill, Chief Growth and Strategy Officer of Medforth, a global healthcare education organisation; Richard Aidoo, Chief Accountant of the Scholarships Secretariat; Afua Gyasiwaa Gaisie, Head of Education and Recruitment, Ghana High Commission, and Richard Gyamfi, in charge of Diasporan Affairs at the Scholarship Secretariat.

The George’s University School of Medicine is a private international university offering degrees in medicine and other related programmes.

It is reputed to be among the best universities that offer world class educational experience in the training of health professionals.