Background to the COBES programme
The holistic training of medical and health professionals is of essence considering the varied determinants of health. The Community Based Experience and Service (COBES) programme of the University of Cape Coast School Medical Sciences (UCCSMS) was instituted with the goal of producing doctors who are relevant and sensitive to community needs. The programme is delivered following an innovative, community-based, problem solving, and student–centered approach. It gives the students a strong community orientation which serves to increase their awareness of the role of social, cultural and environmental factors in health and the relationship between health and development.
The programme is guided by the under listed objectives:
- To produce high calibre medical doctors, and other health professionals who have a broad- based education, are people-centered, community-oriented and research conscious. Our students are trained to use their acquired medical knowledge to provide appropriate solutions for the existing medical problems within the community.
- To train doctors to provide leadership and example in dealing with the ethical and moral problems confronting the community.
- To be a conduit for establishing a centre of excellence in medical research into diseases commonly found in Ghanaian communities
- To create and maintain strong collaborative links with local and international organizations and institutions involved in community health and education through exchange programs and collaboration in multicentre medical research and healthcare solutions.
There are three (3) key strategic elements for the implementation of the COBES programme of UCCSMS: 1) Community Experience, 2) Community-Based Research and, 3) Community Service. These are illustrated as follows:
- Chemical Pathology
- Surgery
- Community Medicine
- Clinical Nutrition & Dietetics
- Internal Medicine & Therapeutics
- Medical Biochemistry
- Micro-B & Immunology
- Paediatrics & Child Health
- Physiology
- Psycho & Mental Medicine
- Haematology
- Medical Education & IT
- Medical Imaging
- Obstetrics & Gynaecology
- Pharmacology
- Anaesthesia & Pain Management
- Problem-Based Learning Unit
- Community-Based Experience & Service
To read more about the report on COBES programme 2022/2023 Academic year