The Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) College of Health Sciences has once again demonstrated its commitment to global health collaboration and international academic engagement through its participation in the Sakura Science Exchange Program held in Japan from November 30 to December 7, 2025.

Hosted by the College of Nursing, School of Medicine and Health Sciences at the University of Tsukuba, the programme was themed “Infectious Disease Control in the Post-COVID-19 Era” and brought together participants from Ghana and Japan to explore contemporary strategies for infectious disease prevention, surveillance, and response.

The KNUST delegation was led by Prof. Yeetey Akpe Kwesi Enuameh, Head of the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health. Other members of the team were Miss Abena Kyerew Abebrese (PhD Nursing), Mr. Emmanuel Adusei-Poku (MPhil Nursing), and Miss Vida Annan (MPhil Nursing), all from the School of Nursing and Midwifery.

The programme commenced with an orientation and institutional familiarisation session led by Professor Ryota Ochiai, Coordinator of the Sakura Science Exchange Program. Participants were introduced to the University of Tsukuba’s academic environment, toured key facilities, and visited the University of Tsukuba Hospital to observe infection control practices and the application of health technologies.

On the second day, the Ghanaian team delivered a presentation on immunisation and sexually transmitted infection (STI) prevention in Ghana, encouraging comparative discussions with Japanese public health approaches. The team also visited the National Institute of Infectious Diseases (NIID) and the National Center for Global Health and Medicine (NCGM) under the Japan Institute of Health Security, where they received briefings on infectious disease surveillance systems, antimicrobial resistance programmes, and national emergency preparedness mechanisms.
 

Further academic engagements included lectures on Japan’s national immunisation and STI prevention strategies, as well as a presentation by Prof. Nai-Yin Monica Ko of National Cheng Kung University, Taiwan, on HIV and other infectious diseases such as syphilis and hepatitis C. A visit to the Narita Quarantine Station exposed participants to Japan’s border health security systems and screening technologies designed to prevent cross-border disease transmission.

In addition to academic activities, participants undertook cultural immersion visits to Sensoji Temple in Asakusa and the Tokyo Skytree, gaining insight into Japan’s rich cultural heritage and modern technological society.

The programme concluded with collaborative group work involving mixed Ghana–Japan teams focusing on global health challenges, including HIV, tuberculosis, and human papillomavirus (HPV). Presentations from these groups highlighted shared lessons and proposed recommendations for strengthening infectious disease control. A closing ceremony and farewell dinner marked the formal end of the exchange, reinforcing the commitment to sustained international partnerships.

Participants reported that the programme provided valuable exposure to Japan’s advanced use of technology, robust surveillance systems, and coordinated emergency preparedness frameworks, while also highlighting the importance of cultural values and social cohesion in supporting public health compliance.

The College of Health Sciences views this engagement as a strategic step towards strengthening KNUST’s global footprint in health research, training, and policy-relevant scholarship, and recommends the expansion of such exchange programmes to other disciplines within the University to enhance technological and scholarly advancement.