The School of Nursing and Midwifery (SNM), in collaboration with the Directorate of Research,

Innovation and Consultancy (DRIC), has held its maiden Research Support Grants Award

Ceremony.

The Dean of the School of Nursing and Midwifery, Dr Nancy Innocentia Ebu Enyan, explained

that the principal goal of the ceremony was to work towards achieving the current Research

Agenda of the University of Cape Coast which focused on “Education and Environment for

Sustainable Development”. She said, “In line with this goal, the School developed four thematic

areas in 2018 which were influenced by patient and client needs, and national health sector

priorities.” The priority research areas identified to guide the development of departmental

research includes: Promoting quality nursing and midwifery education, clinical and community

management of chronic conditions and disabilities, women’s health, maternal and child health,

Hospital-acquired infections and HIV/AIDS management.

She congratulated the Heads of Department and faculty for their immense support in achieving

the initiative. "I'm hopeful that we will be energized by this and stay focused in our research

paths to enhance the visibility of faculty members, the School and the University at large," she

added.

The Director for DRIC, Prof. Frederick Ato Armah, presented the keynote address on the topic,

“Twenty-first-century nursing education, responsible research and innovation for national

development and impact”. He noted that the ability of nurses to make use of new and future

technologies, such as robotics, automation and digitalization, would be an important competitive

advantage which is crucial for success in a world of globally competitive markets.

“Long-term focus on research quality is an essential prerequisite for a high university innovation

impact. UCC in general, and the School of Nursing and Midwifery in particular, therefore need

to keep up our efforts for research excellence along the entirety of the Technology Readiness

Level (TRL), which requires a close and long-term collaboration between academia, research

organizations and the private and public sectors,” he noted.

Prof. Armah stated that the future of nursing would depend on experienced nurses taking a

leadership role to train incoming generations, a community-based approach to care, and a focus

on demographic shifts.

“This implies that nurse researchers, educators, and leaders must work with professional nursing

organizations for a structured process to develop new research-related policies, standards, and

recommended guidelines to help shape innovations in nursing scholarly research partnerships,"

he added.

There were 13 awardees from the Departments of Adult Health, Maternal and Child Health, and

Mental Health. The grants awarded were for the following research projects:

 Effect of COVID-19 Pandemic on Clinical Placement of Nursing Students and

Clinicians.

 Midwives' experience of providing care during COVID-19 Pandemic in the Central

Region of Ghana.

 Psychotropic Medication adherence/Non-adherence among patients in Psychiatric

Hospitals in Ghana.

The Grants Award ceremony was chaired by Prof. Mrs. Rosemond Boohene of the School of

Business, UCC.

Present at the ceremony was the Provost, College of Health and Allied Sciences, Prof. Martins

Ekor, Deans, Deputy Directors of DRIC, Heads of Department, and faculty members.