Kumasi, Ghana - The Bureau of Integrated Rural Development (BIRD) at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) has initiated discussions with the University of North Dakota's Indigenous Health Department and the School of Medicine and Health Sciences to explore potential research collaborations.
Dr. Grace Karikari, an Assistant Professor of Indigeneous Health from the University of North Dakota School of Medicine and Health Sciences in the United States, visited BIRD, KNUST on Wednesday, June 11, 2024 to familiarize herself with the Bureau's mission, resources, and capacity.
Dr. Grace Karikari expressed her enthusiasm for the potential partnership, stating, "I am impressed by BIRD's commitment to rural development and health. We are an interdisciplinary department and school. Our interests are quite diverse and wide-ranging, but I see great potential in collaborating on rural-focused research. At the moment, we are interested in the similarities and differences in Tribal communities in the United States and Ghana. Some specific topics include: understanding the complex social determinants of health in Ghana, understanding how Ghanaian cultural and traditional practices build resilience and improve health in local communities, and understanding effective educational efforts to improve health in local communities.”
According to Dr. (Mrs.) Monica Addison, Director of BIRD, "The mission of BIRD is to provide an interface between the University and rural communities. It aims at transferring innovations and other services available at the University needed to promote rural development to enhance quality of life in rural areas. Since its establishment in 1979, BIRD offers a comprehensive inter-disciplinary research, training, consultancy, and advisory service in rural development.” She added that “With a working experience in all the 16 Regions of Ghana, the Bureau has the capacity to conduct research in rural health, and we are confident in our team's expertise. Notably, Dr. Ebenezer Owusu-Addo, a Senior Research Fellow at BIRD, has an impressive research profile in health-related issues, including health systems and policy, health equity, and health promotion."
Dr. Isaac Bonuedi, who facilitated the visit and shared a fond connection with Dr. Karikari during their undergraduate studies in Economics at KNUST, emphasized the importance of reconnecting with alumni and fostering collaborations that benefit both institutions.
The two institutions share a common goal of improving rural health and wellbeing, with a focus on interdisciplinary research. Potential areas of collaboration include understanding social determinants of health, cultural and traditional practices, and effective educational efforts in Ghana and Tribal communities in the United States.
The partnership promises to yield valuable insights and contribute meaningfully to the body of knowledge in these areas. Student exchange is something that can be subsequently explored/discussed. However, the immediate focus now is collaborative research.
As a token of appreciation, Dr. Karikari presented a customized Daylight Therapy Lamp and Stanley Tumbler University of North Dakota School of Medicine and Health Sciences to the Director of BIRD, and Dr. Bonuedi, respectively.