The Diploma in Project Design and Management (DPDM), which is aimed at strengthening the institutional capacity of the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH), is making giant strides.

The DPDM is a collaborative programme between the KATH, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) and the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine.

Started nine years ago, the long distance education programme has successfully graduated 75 health professionals from various health disciplines of the hospital.

The course is reported to be over-subscribed because of the quality of the lecturers and its international standard.

Presenting Diploma Certificates to the 2009/2010 year group of graduates, numbering 10, Professor Ohene Adjei, Chief Executive of KATH, said the programme had enhanced the facility’s research profile.

Additionally, it had tremendously aided the pool of appointed consultants by supporting and equipping residents and specialists with research skills, critical for their fellowship and professional examination.

“I wish to indicate that management appreciates the increase in scientific knowledge through research and the build on this knowledge gained to devise new applications across the spectrum”, he said.

Prof. Ohene Adjei pledged that the management would continue to encourage and support all research design and conduct, to promote clinical care and influence policy.

The expectation was that the graduates would use their research findings to improve patient care.

The DPDM course, he said, was opened to health professionals across the country, eager to join in the promotion of quality care and prompt referral system.

Dr. Imelda Bates of the Liverpool School said under the programme, students are allowed to identify new research topics to improve service delivery.

These topics are designed to address major clinical problems in their various areas of operation.

Dr. Bates announced plans to extend it to the 37 Military Hospital and another facility in Zimbabwe.

Dr. Daniel Ansong, a Senior Lecturer at the KNUST-School of Medical Sciences (SMS) and Coordinator of the Programme, urged the graduates to use the knowledge gained to improve the quality of care for patients.