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Ensign Global University’s Dr. Edward Kofi Sutherland Named Among Ghana’s Top 10 Medical Experts
Dr. Edward Kofi Sutherland (MD, MPH, DrPH), a distinguished faculty member at Ensign Global University and Site Director for West Africa at the Center for Global Surgery, University of Utah, has been recognized among Ghana’s Top 10 Medical Experts at the prestigious China–West Africa Health Summit 2025, which was held from August 20 to 22, 2025, in Accra.
This honour celebrates Dr. Sutherland’s exceptional contributions to medical practice, research, and healthcare leadership, as well as his unwavering dedication to transforming healthcare outcomes in Ghana and across West Africa.
Leadership at the Oncology Forum
In addition to receiving this recognition, Dr. Sutherland chaired the Oncology Forum at the Summit, where he led compelling presentations and
discussions on: Integration of AI in oncology, Cancer prevention and early detection, Treatment accessibility across Ghana and West Africa, Health equity and strategic partnerships.
The forum featured renowned guest speakers from leading institutions in Ghana and China, generating insights with the potential to influence cancer policy and clinical practice across Ghana and Africa.
Dr. Sutherland’s Reflection
“Being recognised among Ghana’s Top 10 Medical Experts and chairing the Oncology Forum has been a profound honour.
This milestone underscores not just my personal journey but also the collective commitment of my colleagues and partners dedicated to transforming healthcare outcomes in Ghana and West Africa.
It also reflects the significant role of Ensign Global University and the Center for Global Surgery, University of Utah, in advancing medical education, public health, and strengthening healthcare systems in the region.”
About the Summit
Organized by the Health Community of West Africa Association (HCOWA) in collaboration with the Ghana Health Service, Ministry of Health, and Ministry of Trade and Industry, the Summit brought together hundreds of delegates from across Africa and Asia under the theme:“Advancing Cancer Care through Innovation, Knowledge Exchange, and Strategic Partnership.”
The prestigious Awards Ceremony also celebrated exceptional doctors, nurses, pharmacists, hospitals, health associations, and healthcare institutions demonstrating outstanding impact in advancing health systems across West Africa.
Mr. Alfred Nii Kotey Ashie, the Member of Parliament for the Odododiodioo Constituency in the Greater Accra Region, has assured the Accra Street Academy of his support in achieving its mission of uplifting vulnerable children within the community to break the cycle of poverty. “Without the needed support, your efforts may go round in circles due to the enormity of the task. This should not be left on the shoulders of the Academy alone. You need support from both government and the private sector. With that, the Academy would be in a good position to shape the future of these children on the streets,” he said.
The Accra Street Academy, originally formed in 1985 as a boxing arena, now serves as a school for deprived children, with most of its population numbering hundreds of pupils being neglected children from the streets of Jamestown and its environs. Mr. Alfred Nii Kotey Ashie made these remarks at the annual stakeholders’ meeting and fundraising event held over the weekend under the theme “Empowering Street Children: Health and Wellness.” The event is one of the Academy’s annual programmes, organized to raise funds and other forms of support to aid the school in catering to the needs of the children and holding its Christmas get-together.
According to the MP, it is worth noting that these children are taught and provided with two meals and a snack daily through the support of benevolent members of society. In view of this, he promised to facilitate the acquisition of documents needed for the construction of an Astroturf within the school’s premises. He noted that “every child has the right to play, and therefore I pledged to do my best to secure the needed documents” for the project to commence.
The legislator disclosed that over the years, the academic programmes of the Accra Street Academy have transformed children surviving on the streets into successful adults. He therefore urged other members of society to partner with the school to “help pupils rise higher for a better Ghana.” In the 2025/26 academic year, 22 pupils were absorbed by the Accra Metro Education Directorate as they transitioned into various Junior High Schools, while still returning to the Accra Street Academy for academic support.
Ms. Yvonne Abba-Opoku, a chartered governance advisor and senior executive in the nonprofit and charity sector, stated that the best gift to give a child was education.
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Mrs Regina Kudom, Senior Midwifery Officer at the New Atuabo Health Centre in the Tarkwa Nsuaem Municipality, has urged expectant mothers to attend antenatal clinic regularly for safe delivery.
She revealed that “in Tarkwa and its environs many pregnant women prefer staying at prayer camps, we are not against that, you can be there, but when your time is up for your antenatal session make sure you attend.”
Mrs Kudom gave the advice when the Gold Fields Ghana Foundation (GFGF) observed the World Prematurity Day with pregnant women at New Atuabo, Huniso and Awudua health centres.
World Prematurity Day falls on November 17, every year, and it is celebrated to raise awareness about the challenges faced by pre-term babies and their families.
She said research suggested that sex during pregnancy could soften the cervix and potentially aid in labour preparation.
“That is the reason why we encourage pregnant women to have sex with their partners, if they do not have any health implications,” she added.
Mrs Kudom appealed to the GFGF to upgrade the New Atuabo health centre as the current structure was too small because they received many patients daily.
Madam Ayishetu Mohammed, Project Coordinator for GFGF, explained that they received donations from Project C. U. R. E and the items were given to health facilities in their operational area.
She stated that they noticed there were baby dresses, sanitary pads, and baby apparel, so they decided to distribute them among expectant mothers in three of their host communities.
Madam Mohammed said because the foundation was interested in preventive care, they brought a midwife from the Tarkwa Mine hospital to educate the pregnant women.
She extolled the midwives in New Atuabo health centre for the education they gave to the pregnant women and implored them to heed to the advice given during antenatal visits to reduce maternal deaths in the Tarkwa Nsuaem and Prestea Huni-Valley Municipalities.
Mr Paa Kwasi Egan, Deputy Chief Physician Assistance, emphasised that a pregnant woman being anemic meant she was not eating a balance diet, and added that, “Some of these women do not have money to buy food or visit antenatal clinics.”
He said when men follow their wives for antenatal visits, they would be educated extensively on why they should provide funds for their pregnant wives.
Mr Egan, therefore, encouraged all men to be involved in their pregnant wives’ antenatal care appointments so they could learn more about pregnancy, childbirth, and parenting. – GNA
