The University of Health and Allied Sciences (UHAS) has graduated 60 oncology nurses from 17 African countries under the second cohort of the Oncology Nurse Leadership Programme in Africa (ONLEP). The programme aims to strengthen leadership capacity and improve cancer care delivery across the continent. The graduation ceremony was held in Ho on Friday, with Professor Florence Dedey, a Consultant Surgeon at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, delivering the keynote address.
Professor Florence Dedey urged the graduates to apply the knowledge and skills acquired during the six-month programme to improve patient outcomes and address the growing burden of cancer in Africa. She noted that cancer remained a major public health challenge, particularly in low- and middle-income countries, where patients often faced late diagnosis, limited access to treatment, and inadequate support services.
Prof Dedey encouraged the nurses to prioritise lifelong learning, research, and innovation, multidisciplinary teamwork, holistic patient care, and effective leadership to strengthen cancer services. She also stressed the importance of collaboration among healthcare professionals in providing coordinated and patient-centred cancer care. The graduates were trained in oncology nurse leadership, health services management, financial management, quality assurance, psycho-oncology, research, evidence-based practice, networking, policy, and advocacy.
Professor Lydia Aziato, Vice-Chancellor of UHAS, said the programme was designed to train 240 oncology nurses in leadership over five years. The six-month postgraduate certificate programme was a collaboration among UHAS, City Cancer Challenge (C/Can), the International Society of Nurses in Cancer Care (ISNCC), and Amgen, which funded the initiative. The second cohort attracted 210 applicants, with 103 candidates from 18 countries shortlisted and interviewed.
The cohort comprised 44 females and 16 males, with Ghana recording the highest representation of 26 nurses, followed by Nigeria with nine. Kenya, Malawi, and Rwanda had three representations each, while Ethiopia, Lesotho, Eswatini, Botswana, Cameroon, Seychelles, and the Gambia had one representation each. The Volta Region had the highest representation among Ghanaian regions, with six participants.
The participants also undertook leadership projects focusing on cancer screening and early detection, public awareness, chemotherapy safety, oncology emergencies, palliative care, psychosocial support, and the development of standard operating procedures to improve cancer services. Prof Aziato urged the graduates to continue learning, embrace teamwork, keep abreast of developments in oncology, and uphold the university’s values of excellence, integrity, innovation, service, and care.
The overall best graduating participant, Amos Azure, an Oncology Nurse at the Tamale Teaching Hospital, highlighted the importance of professional networking and expressed appreciation to the facilitators and partners for their guidance and support. Other award recipients included Ampadu Gifty, Outstanding Female Graduating Participant; Igiraneza Pierre Celestine, Second Outstanding Male Graduating Participant; and Felister Musa Willium, Second Outstanding Female Graduating Participant.
Key points
- The University of Health and Allied Sciences has graduated 60 oncology nurses from 17 African countries under the Oncology Nurse Leadership Programme in Africa.
- The programme aims to strengthen leadership capacity and improve cancer care delivery across the continent.
- The graduates were trained in oncology nurse leadership, health services management, financial management, quality assurance, psycho-oncology, research, evidence-based practice, networking, policy, and advocacy.
