Associate Professor at the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research (NMIMR), Evelyn Yayra Bonney, has emphasized the need for Ghana to invest in health research and human capacity development. This, she believes, will enable the country to translate scientific discoveries into practical healthcare solutions. According to her, increased government funding for research and training is critical to building the capacity needed to address Ghana’s healthcare challenges.
Prof Bonney made these remarks on the sidelines of the UGMC Research Symposium held on Tuesday, September 29. The symposium, organised by the Medical Scientific Research Centre (MSRC) through the Research Training and Development Unit and the Office of External Engagement, seeks to showcase research activities being undertaken at the University of Ghana Medical Centre (UGMC). The theme of the symposium, “From Bench to Bedside: Integrating Research, Technology, and Clinical Care in Ghana,” highlights the importance of integrating research, technology, and clinical care.
The symposium provides a platform for researchers to share their ongoing work with the public, particularly because UGMC’s research Centre is quite young. Prof Bonney described the location of the research centre within a hospital as one of UGMC’s key advantages. This allows researchers to work closely with patients while investigating health challenges identified in clinical settings. She noted that this setup enables researchers to identify problems, investigate them in the laboratory, and develop solutions that can be applied to patient care.
Prof Bonney stressed that research conducted at UGMC should extend beyond academic findings and produce practical interventions and products that could benefit other health facilities. She believes that innovations developed through the research programme should not remain confined to UGMC but can be scaled up to other hospitals and healthcare facilities once they have undergone the necessary regulatory processes. This includes receiving approval from the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) and other relevant regulatory bodies.
Prof Bonney emphasized that government funding is essential to sustaining research activities, particularly in training and developing the human resources required to undertake high-quality scientific work. She warned that inadequate funding could contribute to the loss of skilled professionals, particularly when researchers who acquire specialised expertise seek better opportunities abroad. Investing in research and training locally will help retain skilled professionals and equip them to develop solutions to problems confronting Ghana.
Prof Bonney encouraged participants at the symposium to approach research with an inquisitive mindset and use existing studies as a basis for identifying new areas of investigation. She urged researchers to pay attention to gaps in presentations and ongoing studies, as these could provide ideas for further research. By doing so, researchers can focus on producing evidence that could ultimately provide solutions to healthcare challenges.
The UGMC Research Symposium aims to strengthen the link between scientific research and clinical practice. By showcasing research activities and encouraging collaboration, the symposium seeks to promote the development of practical solutions to healthcare challenges in Ghana. Key to this effort is the need for sustained investment in health research and human capacity development.
Key points
- Prof Evelyn Yayra Bonney calls for increased government funding for research and training to build capacity and address healthcare challenges in Ghana.
- The UGMC Research Symposium aims to showcase research activities and strengthen the link between scientific research and clinical practice.
- Research conducted at UGMC should translate into practical interventions and products that can benefit other health facilities in Ghana.
