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The bioinstrumentation laboratories in the University of Ghana (UG) and the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) have been upgraded with modern equipment to facilitate hands-on practice for the Biomedical Engineering students in both universities.
The equipment that the laboratories received included volumetric pumps, haematology analysers, dialysis machines, reverse osmosis machines, waveform generator, programmable DC electronic load simulators, X-ray machines, infusion pumps, and anaesthesia machines.
It also included oscilloscopes, bench multi-meters and other advanced diagnostic tools.
The upgraded laboratories were officially launched for use during a ceremony last Thursday (Feb 26) on the theme, “Partnerships for excellence in biomedical engineering”.
The initiative was the culmination of the Upskilling Medical Engineers for Ghana project, which was jointly implemented by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), which is the main development agency of Germany and other public and private medical technology companies in 2023.
Some of the equipment in the Biomedical lab
The project aimed to strengthen the future of Ghana's landscape by educating highly skilled biomedical engineers in the country.
As part of the initiative, Ghanaian and German academic professionals are collaborating to revise Biomedical Engineering education to align with the healthcare delivery system needs in Ghana.
Beyond providing hands-on, practical training that matches closely with industry needs, the project is expected to produce job-ready medical engineers who would immediately contribute to healthcare facilities and medical technology companies.
The initiative ultimately aims to position the country as a leader in biomedical engineering training across West Africa and lay the foundation for a more sustainable and innovative healthcare system.
In his keynote address, the Director for Allied Health at the Ministry of Health, Dr Ignatius Awinibuno, declared that the initiative marked a decisive investment in competence, innovation and sustainability within the national health system.
He was representing the Minister of Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, at the event.
Dr Awinibuno emphasised that biomedical engineers occupied a critical position between clinical intent and technical performance.
He said that the upgraded laboratories had represented a deliberate move away from theory-heavy instruction towards hands-on competence.
He stated that students would gain structured exposure to modern medical equipment and would develop confidence as contributors to national development.
“The laboratories would help address those developmental challenges by training engineers who would reduce equipment downtime, strengthen maintenance culture and design context-specific innovations”, he said.
Dr Awinibuno added that the facilities could evolve into collaborative hubs that would bring together medical students, biomedical engineers, laboratory scientists, computer scientists and health administrators.
The Project Manager, Dr Helen Widmer, emphasised the importance of strengthening collaboration between Ghanaian and German partners.
She also stated that universities had expanded knowledge through exchange and shared experience and had created global learning communities that encouraged openness and innovation.
Dr Widmer expressed confidence that Ghana and Germany could work together effectively to promote sustainability within the biomedical sector, acknowledging partnerships with Area9 Lyceum, B. Braun, Delft Imaging, Dräger and Sysmex Europe, GIZ and other collaborating institutions for their contributions to the project.
