About Us

If you want to learn more about us, you’re in the right place. Read to learn what we do, how we do what we do and the brains behind all we do.

About Us

The OIPE-KNUST was conceptualized as a project under STRIPE-HIV, an initiative of the African Forum for Research and Education in Health (AFREhealth) to develop and model interprofessional education among health professions students and practitioners in order to optimize team-based health care delivery to achieve high quality health care.

OIPE-KNUST is implementing STRIPE-HIV and COVID-19 modules in addition to  locally developed  complementary modules that address challenges in health care delivery and quality.

who we are

Our Mission, Vision and Goals

Promotion of High Quality Patient-Centered Healthcare

OIPE-KNUST believes that optimizing team-based and collaborative health care will promote a safe and high quality patient-centered healthcare delivery with shared accountability. This will be achieved through interprofessional health education.

Training of Health Professions Students

OIPE-KNUST supports interprofessional training of health professions students in the College of Health Sciences, KNUST and other affiliated institutions in Ghana. It also trains health practitioners in various health care institutions and facilities across the country.

Advancing of Interprofessional Health Education

OIPE-KNUST serves as a key leader for advancing interprofessional health education in Ghana.

Supporting of Team-Based Collaborative Practice

OIPE-KNUST will use its experience in interprofessional education to promote and support team-based collaborative practice among health practitioners to ultimately improve health care delivery.

Core Competencies

Central to the training are the core competencies of interprofessional collaborative practice:

VALUES/ETHICS FOR INTERPROFESSIONAL PRACTICE

Work with individuals of other professions to maintain a climate of mutual respect and shared values.

ROLES/RESPONSIBILITIES

Use the knowledge of one’s role and those of other professions to appropriately assess and address the healthcare needs of the patients and populations served.

INTERPROFESSIONAL COMMUNICATION

Communicate with patients, families, communities, and other health professionals responsively and responsibly to support a team approach to the maintenance of health and the treatment of disease.

TEAMS AND TEAMWORK

Apply relationship-building values and the principles of team dynamics to perform effectively in different team roles to plan and deliver patient-/population-centered care that is safe, timely, efficient, effective, and equitable.

OIPE-KNUST TRAINING

OIPE-KNUST is training final year students and graduates of the various health care professions and practitioners using in-person and virtual workshops, OIPE mobile app and web-based learning platforms. The learners use simulated case-scenarios and have small-group discussions and role plays which are facilitated by an interprofessional team. Learners can also use the OIPE mobile app and web-based platforms for self -paced learning and training whilst still getting the emphasis on interprofessional team-based collaborative approach to health care delivery.

The training currently consists of HIV and COVID-19 modules, with a view to adding other health topics. The training applies an interprofessional approach to learning with the focus on the fundamentals of HIV prevention, care and treatment, managing patients with COVID-19, while also helping learners develop competencies in quality improvement.
OIPE-KNUST delivers interprofessional education to ensure that the next generation of health professionals are equipped to provide team-based, collaborative, evidence-informed healthcare delivery.

OIPE-KNUST HIV and COVID-19 training supports the delivery of high-quality HIV training for students and health professionals at the various training institutions and hospitals across the country. Across all modules, learners are trained to appreciate the the core competencies for interprofessional collaborative practice.

By the end of the training workshop or the self-paced online learning, the learner will be able to demonstrate proficiency in many of the HIV and COVID-19 modules. They will also recognize the importance of interprofessional and collaborative health care delivery and develop a culture of quality improvement.

Our team

The OIPE-KNUST team is an interprofessional team made up of investigators, consultants, facilitators and an administrator working to promote interprofessional education and collaboration for quality health care delivery.

Our Investigators

EDWARD TIERU DASSAH

(MBChB, MPH, Ph.D., FWACS)

Edward is the Principal Investigator (PI) for the Strengthening Inter-Professional Education (STRIPE) HIV project in the College of Health Sciences (CHS), Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Kumasi under the local project name Optimising Inter-Professional Education for HIV care (OIPE – HIV).

He is a Public Health specialist, an academic, and a researcher in reproductive health and infectious diseases. He is also a practicing Obstetrician/ Gynaecologist. Edward teaches at both the undergraduate and postgraduate levels in medicine, nursing, pharmacy and public health as well as residency training in Obstetrics and Gynaecology in KNUST and Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH). 

Dr. Dassah has a Ph.D. from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSTHM) University, United Kingdom (UK), a Fellowship in Obstetrics and Gynaecology from the West African College of Surgeons, and a postgraduate diploma in infectious and tropical diseases from LSHTM.  He also holds a Master of Public Health (MPH) and undergraduate medical degrees from KNUST.

He has contributed to science through peer reviewed publications, book chapters, technical reports and presentations at both local and international conferences, seminars and webinars. Edward has been at the forefront of cervical cancer prevention in Ghana especially in primary health care settings.

VERONICA MILLICENT DZOMEKU

(B.A, MPhil, Ph.D.)

Veronica is a Co-PI on the STRIPE HIV project.

Dr. Dzomeku is a registered Nurse-Midwife, a researcher and an academic. For most part of her academic and professional practice life, she has been actively involved in collaborating with medical practitioners and other health professionals in training nurses and midwives in maternity care including HIV care. 
Inter-professional collaboration and providing respectful maternity care to expectant parents are among the core areas of her training programmes and research activities.  

She has a Ph.D. from the School of Nursing, University of the Western Cape in South Africa, a University of Michigan African Presidential Scholar (UMAPS) Fellow, Ann Arbor USA. She also holds an MPhil in nursing and a bachelors in nursing and psychology from the University of Ghana, Legon.

Veronica has added a wealth of knowledge to the science by making presentations at scientific conferences, seminars and webinars held locally and internationally. She has authored and reviewed a number of journal publications as an expert in her field. Dr. Mrs. Dzomeku is the lead for the “Changing the Culture of disrespect and abuse in maternity care in Kumasi, Ghana project. A Five-year project funded by the National Institute of Health (NIH)

BETTY ROBERTA NORMAN

(MBChB, DTM&H, FWACP)

Dr. Norman is a Co-PI for the STRIPE HIV project.

Dr Norman is an Internal Medicine Physician with special interest in HIV Medicine and a Senior lecturer in the Department of Internal Medicine, KNUST. She additionally trains undergraduate clinical students and house officers in Internal Medicine. She also trains junior and senior residents of both the Ghana College of Physicians and Surgeons and the West African College of Physicians in General Internal Medicine and Infectious Diseases at the Department of Medicine, KATH.  She is a member of the KATH HIV Technical Committee and trains all levels of healthcare workers on the various aspects of HIV care in relation to their job descriptions.

She has also facilitated several interprofesional trainings on the comprehensive care of HIV patients with the National AIDS Control program.

Dr Norman has her Fellowship in Internal Medicine from the West African College of Physicians.  She also has diplomas in Project Design & Management (DPD&M) and Tropical Medicine & Hygiene (DTM&H) from the Liverpool School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine/ Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) and London School of Hygiene &Tropical Medicine respectively. She obtained her undergraduate Medical Degree from KNUST

Dr. Norman has played lead roles in developing various training modules, manuals, and standard operating procedures in HIV care. She has contributed to science through peer reviewed articles, book chapters, presentations at both local and international conferences and seminars in the area of HIV care. 

OFEIBEA ASARE

( BA, MPH, CHES)

Ofeibea is the administrator of the STRIPE HIV project.   
For most part of her academic and professional life, she has been actively involved in collaborating with health professionals.  

She centrally participated in various project works, particularly in the area of sexual and reproductive health, during her working time at the Planned Parenthood Association of Ghana (PPAG). These projects mainly sought to improve family planning uptake and prevent sexually transmitted infections among women, men and young people in Ghana. As the head of the Accra Young and Wise Centre of PPAG, she was involved in both the implementation and management of the projects as a coordinator. 

Subsequently, she has been guiding and providing support to postgraduate students, in addition to coordinating and working with senior faculties in respect of their project training needs as a career development and research manager at the CoHS, KNUST.

Ofeibea has a MPH (Health Promotion and Education) and a BA in Publishing Studies from KNUST. She is a certified health education specialist from the National Commission for Health Education Credentialing, INC., USA.

Ms. Asare has contributed to science through peer reviewed publications, and made presentations at both international and local scientific conferences, seminars and webinars. 
She has newspaper articles on family planning methods and has developed health information tool kits for health education and communication interventions. 

Our Consultants

YAW ADU-SARKODIE

(MBChB, MSc., MWACP, Ph.D., FGCP)

Prof. Adu – Sarkodie is the lead consultant for the STRIPE HIV project. He was the provost of CHS, KNUST. As the provost, he oversaw the academic programs of all health related courses in the University.
As a Clinician with a specialty area in sexually transmitted Infections, he established the Sexually transmitted Diseases Clinic at KATH in 1991, which has since metamorphosed into the HIV clinic of the hospital. He has been teaching students at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels in HIV medicine and other STIs. He also served as a resource person to the National AIDS Control programme of Ghana in writing training courses and teaching various cadres of health workers on issues of HIV/AIDS. He served as a member of the expert advisory panel at the World Health Organization (WHO) on Sexually Transmitted Infections including those due to HIV. He is a professor in clinical microbiology and his works focuses on epidemiology of sexually transmitted infections.
He has his Ph.D. and MSc. degrees from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, University of London. He has FGCP and MWACP degrees from the Ghana College of Physicians and West Africa College of Physicians respectively. He has a BMedSci. Honours from the University of Sheffield UK and BSc. Human Biology and MBChB degrees from KNUST.
His passion as a teacher has also been to mentor the next generation of academics and researchers. His serves as a visiting professor to both global and local universities. He has led a number of projects with north-south collaborations. His contribution to sciences cannot be over emphasized.

KWAME OHENE BUABENG

(BPharm., MSc. MPSGH, Ph.D, FGCPH)

Prof. Kwame Ohene Buabeng is a consultant for the STRIPE HIV project. His contribution to the training of various cadres of trainee health professionals, interns and practitioners in optimizing pharmacotherapy and adherence counselling is also an advantage to the concept of team-based and inter-professional Education and Training to optimize Health care in Ghana.

For most of Prof. Ohene Buabeng’s academic and professional practice life, he has actively worked in collaboration with Medical Practitioners and other health professionals in training medical, nursing, pharmacy and medical laboratory science students in infectious diseases (ID) prevention, management and control. ID and cardiovascular health has been among his subject areas for research since 1999. More so, with his training as a clinical pharmacologist, health systems and pharmacotherapy expert, as well as his position as Head of the Department of Pharmacy Practice at KNUST, Kumasi and the Division of Pharmaceutical Care in the Ghana College of Pharmacist, Inter- professional collaboration and training in health services, antimicrobial stewardship and the care of patients with cardiovascular and infectious diseases are among his passion for training and research. In addition, he is very active at the national level in formulating policies, action plans and treatment guidelines for health problems confronting Ghana, including the containment of antimicrobial resistance and COVID 19.

Prof. Ohene Buabeng holds a Ph.D. from University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland, Certificate in Public Health Science, Research & Ethics from the Nordic School of Public Health, Gothenburg, Sweden, MSc in Clinical Pharmacology from University of Aberdeen, Scotland, UK and a BPharm from KNUST, Kumasi.

Prof. Ohene Buabeng, is currently  an external assessor to the School of Pharmacy, University of Nairobi, Kenya, University of Ghana School of Pharmacy, Accra, and the School of Medicine and Medical Sciences, University of Development Studies, Tamale, Ghana. He has formerly served as a consultant to the KATH research and development unit and the Ghana Access and Affordability Programme (GAAP). Prof Buabeng is involved in several collaborative projects within the College of Health Sciences in KNUST, the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital and the Ministry of Health, Ghana. He has contributed enormously to science in terms of peer reviewed publications, policies, technical papers and Conference presentations. 

Our Facilitators

MERCY NAA ADUELE OPARE ADDO

(BPharm, MSc, Ph.D.)

Dr. Mrs. Opare Addo is a pharmacist by profession, she obtained her BPharm, Masters in Health Services Planning and Management and a Ph.D. in Social Pharmacy from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Kumasi, Ghana.

She worked for 21years at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital and 10year as the Quality Assurance Coordinator. Presently, she is a senior lecturer at the Department of Pharmacy Practice of the Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences at KNUST.

Mercy, is an advocate for quality improvement in health care and her interest in public health promotion activities and her research interest in non- communicable diseases.

DIVINE ASEYE YAO AMENUKE

(MBChB, MGCP, MWACP)

Dr. Amenuke is a Physician Specialist with interest in respiratory medicine. He is the Head of the respiratory unit at the Directorate of Medicine, runs the tuberculosis and respiratory clinics and manage in-patients with respiratory conditions at KATH.

Currently, Dr. Amenuke is part of the clinical care team at the high infectious isolation centre (HIIU) at KATH for severe and critically ill patients with COVID -19 in the Ashanti Region and beyond.

He is also a part-time lecturer with the School of Medicine and Dentistry and teaches fourth and final year students.
Divine had his MBChB from KNUST and a membership from Ghana College of Physicians and surgeons and West African College for Physicians.

ABIGAIL AMEYAW

(BSc)

Ms. Ameyaw has been working with the HIV clinic at KATH as an adherence counsellor and manager for stable HIV cases for the past 17years. She is the senior public health officer of the HIV clinic.

She has a BSc Physician Assistantship from the Presbyterian University College, Agogo an affiliate to University of Ghana, Legon and BSc Public Health (Health Education) from the Catholic University College at Fiapre, an affiliate Institution to KNUST.

CHARLES MARTYN-DICKENS

(MBChB, MGCPS, MWACP)

Dr. Dickens is a Specialist paediatrician at Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital and a senior resident at the Infectious Diseases Unit of the Department of Child Health.

He runs the HIV and Tuberculosis Clinics for both children and adolescents. He has a great experience facilitating discussions amongst the next generation of practitioners in the care of HIV patients. He is hopeful that the learning experiences and interactions will last the distance of their professional journey and impact the lives of the many HIV patients they will interact with along the way. He is passionate about caring for people living with HIV.

Charles holds an MBChB from KNUST and a membership from Ghana College of Physicians and surgeons and West African College for Physicians. 

NANA KWAME AYISI-BOATENG

(MBChB, MPhil, FGCP)

Dr. Nana Kwame Ayisi – Boateng is a Family Physician and Fellow of the Ghana College of Physicians. He is a lecturer at the Department of Medicine, School of Medicine and Dentistry, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Kumasi, Ghana.
He holds an MPhil in Clinical Microbiology and, since the year 2010, has served as the head of the Infectious Disease Unit, University Hospital, KNUST which has approximately 1,500 registered patients living with HIV, Tuberculosis, Hepatitis B and C. 

His research interest is in serodiscordant HIV couples, HIV in the elderly population and neglected tropical diseases. 

He is passionate about team-based approach to the care of vulnerable populations and training a cadre of health professionals to address essential health challenges.

ALBERTA YEMOTSOO LOMOTEY

(BSc, MPH)

Mrs. Lomotey is a registered nurse with BSc Nursing and Masters of Public Health from the University of Ghana, Legon and a Post Graduate Certificate in Human Resource Studies, University of Manchester, UK.

She was the coordinator for training and research at the Ashanti Regional Health Directorate for 13years and served as the Municipal Director of Health Service, Ejisu-Juaben, Ashanti for 4years. She is currently a lecturer at the Department of Nursing, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, KNUST.

Alberta’s research interest is in sexually transmitted infections and family planning

ALICE SERWAA DUODU

(BSC)

Ms. Duodu worked as nurses at the Bolgatanga regional hospital for 3 years and at the Kumasi SouthHospital for 7years. Presently, she is a Physician Assistant at the Suntreso Government Hospital in the Kumasi.

She has a diploma in Nursing from the Bolgatanga Nursing training college and a BSc Physician Assistantship from the Presbyterian university college, Agogo an affiliate of KNUST.

CHARLES GYASI

(BSc)

Charles Gyasi is a Biomedical Scientist and Data Analyst with focus in infectious diseases, Neglected Tropical Diseases and Health data analysis. He has a BSc in Medical Laboratory Technology from KNUST.

Charles has served different hospitals, organizations and project teams and is passionate about research that focuses on clinical trials, Digital health and Bioinformatics, including improving Health outcomes and working with health data to provide information that can improve health policies.

He has served as Project Head and Deputy Academic Chairman for Medical Laboratory Technology Students Association, KNUST and has advocated in major Public health educations and outreach programmes that addresses public health diseases like HIV, malaria, TB and Hepatitis infection.

He is currently with the filariasis research team at Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research (KCCR), KNUST with focus on finding alternative treatment strategies of anti-wolbachia drugs against lymphatic filariasis and onchocerciasis.

Charles was among the first people who volunteered on the COVID-19 testing team at KCCR.

Our Administrator

OFEIBEA ASARE

( BA, MPH, CHES)

Ofeibea is the administrator of the STRIPE HIV project.   
For most part of her academic and professional life, she has been actively involved in collaborating with health professionals.  

She centrally participated in various project works, particularly in the area of sexual and reproductive health, during her working time at the Planned Parenthood Association of Ghana (PPAG). These projects mainly sought to improve family planning uptake and prevent sexually transmitted infections among women, men and young people in Ghana. As the head of the Accra Young and Wise Centre of PPAG, she was involved in both the implementation and management of the projects as a coordinator. 

Subsequently, she has been guiding and providing support to postgraduate students, in addition to coordinating and working with senior faculties in respect of their project training needs as a career development and research manager at the CoHS, KNUST.

Ofeibea has a MPH (Health Promotion and Education) and a BA in Publishing Studies from KNUST. She is a certified health education specialist from the National Commission for Health Education Credentialing, INC., USA.

Ms. Asare has contributed to science through peer reviewed publications, and made presentations at both international and local scientific conferences, seminars and webinars. 
She has newspaper articles on family planning methods and has developed health information tool kits for health education and communication interventions. 

KWAME OHENE BUABENG

(BPharm., MSc. MPSGH, Ph.D, FGCPH)

Prof. Kwame Ohene Buabeng is a consultant for the STRIPE HIV project. His contribution to the training of various cadres of trainee health professionals, interns and practitioners in optimizing antiretroviral therapy and adherence counselling is also an advantage to the concept of team-based and inter-professional Education and Training to optimize Health care in Ghana.

For most of Prof. Ohene Buabeng’s academic and professional practice life, he has actively worked in collaboration with Medical Practitioners and other health professionals in training medical, nursing, pharmacy and medical laboratory science students in infectious diseases (ID) prevention, management and control. ID and cardiovascular health has been among his subject areas for research since 1999. More so, with his training as a clinical pharmacologist, health systems and pharmacotherapy expert, as well as his position as Head of the Department of Pharmacy Practice at KNUST, Kumasi and the Division of Pharmaceutical Care in the Ghana College of Pharmacist, Inter- professional collaboration and training in health services, antimicrobial stewardship and the care of patients with cardiovascular and infectious diseases are among his passion for training and research. In addition, he is very active at the national level in formulating policies, action plans and treatment guidelines for health problems confronting Ghana, including the containment of antimicrobial resistance and COVID 19.

Prof. Ohene Buabeng holds a Ph.D. from University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland, Certificate in Public Health Science, Research & Ethics from the Nordic School of Public Health, Gothenburg, Sweden, MSc in Clinical Pharmacology from University of Aberdeen, Scotland, UK and a BPharm from KNUST, Kumasi.

Prof. Ohene Buabeng, is currently  an external assessor to the School of Pharmacy, University of Nairobi, Kenya, University of Ghana School of Pharmacy, Accra, and the School of Medicine and Medical Sciences, University of Development Studies, Tamale, Ghana. He has formally served as a consultant to the KATH research and development unit and the Ghana Access and Affordability Programme (GAAP). Prof Buabeng is involved in several collaborative projects within the College of Health Sciences in KNUST, the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital and the Ministry of Health, Ghana. He has contributed enormously to science in terms of peer reviewed publications, policies, technical papers and Conference presentations.