The West African Genetic Medicine Centre (WAGMC), a World Bank Africa Centre of Excellence at the College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, has successfully completed a 5-day intensive short course in Allied Health Genomics (AHG), in Ghana and Nigeria. The aim of the short course was to equip working allied health professionals and final year students with basic fundamental knowledge of genomics and its delivery in genetic health care.

The AHG short course was launched on the 4th to the 8th of March 2024, at the examination hall of the School of Biomedical and Allied Health Sciences (SBAHS) in Ghana. In a collaborative effort with ISN Medical, Nigeria, the event was offered in Lagos, Nigeria, from the 8th to the 12th of April, 2024.

On the first day of the AHG, the WAGMC Director, Prof. Ofori-Acquah gave an overview of the short course and an in-depth presentation on genomics and precision medicine and its importance in healthcare.During his remarks, the Director emphasized the pivotal role of allied health professionals in healthcare, “The curricula of allied health degree programmes in Ghana and West African lack genomics education content. As genomics becomes increasingly integrated into many areas of healthcare, allied health professionals, who are an intergral part of the healthcare team, need to be knowledgeable about genomics to participate fully in emerging areas of healthcare, such as precision medicine.”

The course was delivered by a team of expert national and international faculty, with specialties in molecular genetics, genomic ethics, genetic counseling, and a diversity of allied health specialties. The Course Director, Dr. Gloria Amegatcher, was supported by experienced faculty members from the University of Ghana, as well as WAGMC international faculty members, Dr. Kofi Anie from the UK and Ms. Kalinka Popel from South Africa.

Topics presented included large-scale genomics projects, genetic literacy, the role of genetic counseling in genetic testing, laws governing personalized medicine, and the ethical, legal, and social implications of genomic medicine with a focus on newborn screening. The course also focused on common genetic disorders encountered by allied health professionals, in the field of audiology, speech pathology, dietetics, and radiography.

The five-day program combined knowledge-based learning and practical skills training which included pre and post-tests, lectures, videos, and interactive panel discussions, packed into an intensive and interactive five-day program. To facilitate learning, participants were divided into four groups, where they engaged in discussions, participant-led group presentations, and role-playing activities. This approach helped to reinforce and demonstrate learning, making the program interactive and engaging for all attendees in both Ghana and Nigeria.

A total of 185 participants attended the course in Ghana. Similarly, 74 allied health professionals attended the short course in Nigeria.

AHG not only imparted knowledge but also fostered teamwork and networking opportunities among the participants as they worked jointly on assignments and shared knowledge and experiences. Michael Nana Kwame, President of the SBAHS University of Ghana Allied Health Students’ Association (UGAHSA) said “This course was abundantly insightful- having to learn the molecular basis of genetic disease conditions and the roles of the various allied health professions in intervention. The daily schedules were so well organized that it didn’t feel like it was the rollout of the course”.

Another participant, Eugene Kwame Abugre, said “The content of the course was able to reveal to participants how diverse Genomics is and how it cuts across all Allied Health Professions.  As scientific diagnosis and precision medicine have become evidence-based medicine, it will be appropriate to introduce the study of basic genomics in our educational curriculum”.

The short course concluded with a cocktail reception and an evening of networking. Dr. Gloria Amegatcher, who gave the closing remarks, expressed her excitement at the overwhelming participation of trainees throughout the course. She emphasized that the participants were exposed to a very promising area of science and medicine and encouraged them to apply their newly acquired knowledge to impact their future and current respective fields.