Peter Yeboah, the Executive Director of Christian Health Association of Ghana (CHAG) said improving health service coverage and outcomes depends on the availability, accessibility and capacity of health workers to deliver quality people-centred integrated care.

He said the production of high quality health professionals to provide holistic and compassionate health care was critical in achieving universal health coverage for all.

He said this in a speech read on his behalf at the fifth Matriculation, and second and third Graduation of Nursing and Midwifery Training College in Afosu in the Eastern Region.

The Institute had been handed over to the Methodist Church with the name 'Methodist Health Training Institute', Afosu Campus, to run operations of the school.

The programme was on the theme: "Meeting the Health Workers Requirements for Universal Health Coverage and Sustainable Development Goals-Policies, Partnerships and Challenges".

In all, 413 students graduated, which consisted of 205 students for the second batch of 2017 academic year and 208 for the third batch of the 2018 year.

However, 137 students of the Institute who were matriculated, comprising of 125 students offering two-year Nursing Assistant programme, with seven students offering three-year Diploma in Nursing programme and five students offering Diploma in Midwifery course.

Mr Yeboah said Universal Health Coverage sought to guarantee equitable, affordable and accessible high-quality health services for all who needed them.

According to the World Bank, a trained workforce is at the centre of the health system, and without one, medical equipment, suppliers, facilities and medication would be inefficiently used.

He said the Ministry of Health and CHAG as partners in the health sector, would continue to work to improve health care delivery in the country.

The Executive Director said the collaboration would ensure availability of sufficient numbers, quality and mix of required professionals to man the health sector.

"We will build professional capability and skills level of performance of personnel with respect to their position, attitude and ensure employees are satisfied with their working conditions to deliver high quality health care", he added.

He appealed to the management of the Institute to consider focusing on neglected areas such as pharmacy technician, critical care nursing, paediatric nursing, among others.

Mr Yeboah urged Authorities to work assiduously to address challenges facing the health sector including low human resource productivity, non-compliance with policies and weak supervision and monitoring.

Dr Paul Kwabena Boafo, the Presiding Bishop of Ghana Methodist Church said quality education must produce the right critical thinkers needed for the transformation of society.

He said with the Church, taking over the administration of the school, would produce students with the right worldview about people, the community and work.

He pledged their commitment to ensure that students trained from the Institute got employment in the health institutions with positive attitudes.

Dr Boafo urged the graduates to impact the knowledge and skills acquired to make a difference in the field of work.

Oseadeayor Dr Frimpong Manso IV, the Omanhene of Akyem Kotoku Traditional Area advised the graduates to develop entrepreneurship skills to help add up to their future careers.

He assured the Institute of his help to expand the school to the University level.

Nana Attefah, Founder of the Institute said his decision to hand over the school to the Church was for then to help managed the facility in an effective and efficient manner.

He urged all to help to sustain the gains and improve the school to become a fully-fledged University.

Ms Vera Ampomah emerged the overall best student for the 2017 year while Ms Esther Asiamah won the best student for the 2018 year group.