Professor Margaret Gyapong of the University of Health and Allied Sciences (UHAS) Delivers Inaugural Lecture – 2018
Professor Margaret Gyapong, Director of Centre for Health Policy and Implementation Research, Institute of Health Research, University of Health and Allied Sciences (UHAS) delivered her inaugural lecture on the topic: “FROM THE STOMACH TO THE SKIES”: LAY PERCEPTIONS OF DISEASE CAUSATION AND IMPLICATIONS FOR DISEASE CONTROL at University of Health and Allied Sciences, Ho. The event was chaired by the Vice-Chancellor, Professor John Owusu Gyapong.
In her lecture, Professor Margaret Gyapong shared insights from her school years to her present position as the Director of the Centre for Health Policy and Implementation Research in the Institute of Health Research, UHAS. She dealt with societal perceptions about health issues namely malaria, lymphatic filariasis, maternal and child health, demographic surveillance systems among others. In her submission she said that health research must be tailored in a manner that helps healthcare providers to use the findings to the benefit of their target communities. She therefore called for a greater collaboration between health researchers and institutions in charge of healthcare provision.
Professor John Owusu Gyapong in his closing remarks congratulated Professor Margaret Gyapong for her academic achievements. He also called for a special support for female scientists. The Registrar, Dr Cynthia Sena Kpeglo earlier welcomed the guests to the lecture. She emphasised on the importance of an inaugural lecture. She noted that it presents an opportunity for newly-promoted or appointed Professors to inform colleagues in the University and the general public, about their research career so far and update colleagues on their current and future research directions. There were a number of presentations made to Professor Margaret Gyapong from the Institute of Health Research, UHAS and other institutions outside the University, as well as corporate bodies and family members.
Present at the lecture were the Members of the University Council, the Acting Pro Vice-Chancellor (Professor Seth Owusu-Agyei, Deans, Directors and members of the University community. Others present were the Regional Director of Ghana Health Service (Dr Timothy Lets), heads of departments and institutions in the Volta Region, colleagues from Dodowa Health Research Centre, colleagues from Kintampo Health Research Centre, colleagues from Navrongo Health Research Centre, family members and friends of Professor Margaret Gyapong and the general public.