About SSEM
Sport has a role to play in development and improving health. It is beneficial to physical activity and mental health and improves national public health. By fighting against sedentary lifestyles, physical activity also reduces the risk of chronic debilitating cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, cancer, diabetes etc., and the leading causes of death, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
WHO estimates that, except for sub-Saharan Africa, chronic diseases are now the leading causes of death in the world, and cites four non-communicable diseases that make the largest contribution to mortality in low-and-middle-income countries, namely: cardiovascular disease, cancer, chronic respiratory disease, and diabetes.
The health benefit of sport and physical activities cannot be overemphasised. Research interest in physical activity and healthful living can be traced to the 1950s; however, it was not until the 1980s and 1990s that scientific pieces of evidence on the potency of sports and physical activities on sustainable health promotion were confirmed. Engagement in programmed physical activities has been isolated as a factor in the prevention of several chronic diseases and health status, including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, cancer, hypertension, obesity, depression and osteoporosis.
Our Vision
The vision of the School of Sports and Exercise Medicine (SSEM) is to become a pre-eminent health research and practically oriented institution dedicated to providing timely and lasting sport injury solutions to the sports industry, to promote exercise as medicine, and to prevent other health-related challenges in communities in Ghana and globally.
Our Mission
The School of Sports and Exercise Medicine (SSEM) will provide:
- World-class scholarly publications
- Training of competent and committed sport and exercise medical scientists
- Quality education and advance knowledge through scholarship and research that improves health and quality of life
- Collaboration with external stakeholders and neighbouring communities to provide essential sport injuries solutions and serve exercise as medicine advocates for sport industry development and advancement in technology.
Aims
SSEM being a school within UHAS, shares the same institutional aims as that of the University:
- To provide higher education in Sports and Exercise medical sciences through teaching and research to persons suitably qualified and capable of benefiting from such education;
- To disseminate knowledge and the results of research and their applications to the needs and aspirations of the people of Ghana, particularly in the Sports and Exercise Medical Sciences profession but also in other related health professions
- To provide clinical and other skilled services to contribute positively to improving the health status and overall quality of life, and foster partnership with outside persons and bodies.
Core Values
The core values of the School fall within that of the University which are:
- Work with integrity and maintain an empowering environment based on mutual trust, respect and partnership among academic and non-academic staff, students and external units
- Apply innovative educational approaches and technologies (including distance learning) to enhance access to programmes with a focus to train high calibre Sports and Exercise medical professionals at all levels of education
- Use modern information and communications technology and other educational tools to drive its programmes wherever possible
- Seek, through research and clinical service, to be relevant to the health needs of Ghana and beyond; with future programmes relating to emerging challenges and trends in both the health and education sectors
Philosophy
In line with the current trends in the field of sports, the School seeks to provide competitive and attractive programmes that are relevant to the Sports and Exercise Medicine delivery needs of the country. The Bachelor of Sports and Exercise Medical Sciences programme is therefore designed to produce BSEMS practitioners who can apply the science and art in the field and laboratory research settings.