A cohort of 42 veterinary medicine doctors from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) and the University of Ghana, under the auspices of the Ghana Veterinary Council, have been officially inducted.

This group, comprising 17 doctors from the University of Ghana and 25 from KNUST, solemnly took the veterinary oath guided by Dr. Jonathan Amakye-Anim, the chairman of the Ghana Veterinary Council.

The newly inducted professionals, consisting of 28 men and 14 women, pledged their commitment to utilizing their expertise and scientific knowledge for the betterment of society.

The induction ceremony, held in Accra, featured commendations from Dr. Amakye-Anim, who praised both the students and the schools of veterinary medicine for their significant collaboration.

Dr. Amakye-Anim emphasized that this achievement marked a transformative era in Ghana's veterinary medicine field, foreseeing the invaluable contributions these trained professionals would make to animal health and welfare.

He commended the partnership between the two esteemed institutions, citing it as a testament to their dedication to excellence in education and the advancement of veterinary science not only in Ghana but also beyond its borders.

During the ceremony, Prof. William K. Ampofo, a board member and Chief Executive Officer of the National Vaccine Institute, delivered a keynote address.

He highlighted the vital contributions of veterinary medicine to human health, explaining its focus on the prevention, control, diagnosis, and treatment of diseases affecting both domestic and wild animals. Additionally, he underscored the role of veterinary medicine in preventing the transmission of animal diseases to humans.

“We hope that our new inductees will understand the very important role that they are going to play in our society here in Ghana and also in the sub-region and ensure that they broaden their knowledge,” he added.

In addition to their roles in veterinary hospitals, Professor Ampofo elaborated that veterinary medicine doctors are also actively engaged in the pharmaceutical industry. Their contributions extend to the development of drugs, safety testing of medications, and the evaluation of vaccines and antibiotics.

Highlighting the broader spectrum of responsibilities, Professor Ampofo emphasized that pharmaceutical companies leverage the expertise of veterinary medicine professionals to ensure the safety and efficacy of various medical products.

Furthermore, he shed light on Ghana's ongoing program, which involves the continuous surveillance of animal populations. This initiative is a collaborative effort between the Ghana Armed Forces and the Ghana Veterinary Services.

“Every year, there is active surveillance in various backyards, in the military barracks, and also in some private farms looking for the presence of avian influenza,” he said.

He urged the new doctors not to use their acquired knowledge just to look after animals, stating, “You can help prevent transmission of disease from animals to humans, and you can help us control diseases in animals by working towards more efficient vaccines.”

Adding, “You can help us to make human vaccines better human vaccines, and then help in a significant contribution to public health and one health.”

Speaking to the Ghana News Agency in an interview, Dr Samuel Anganmwin Doozie, a newly inducted veterinary medical doctor, applauded the joint induction event as it harmonised efforts of the two schools of veterinary medicine for the advancement of the veterinary profession and make its practice have a greater impact on the country’s economy.

Referencing recent medical research, Dr Doozie stated that about 70 to 80 per cent of diseases that affected humans were of animal origin, and that it had also been found that over 75 per cent of new or emerging infectious diseases were of animal origin.

“And so, the one health concept that has existed since its inception has been amplified and encouraged among medical professionals as the means to solving medically related problems in humans, animals, and the environment,” he added.

Meanwhile, the Ghana Veterinary Council had indicated that several bills had been introduced and at various stages for passage into law towards reforming the practice of veterinary medicine in Ghana in line with global standards.