Dean of Students’ Affairs of the University of Cape Coast (UCC), Professor Eugene Kufuor Maafo Darteh says he has never regretted choosing Academia as his career path.
He explained that his career path which made it mandatory for him to venture into research gave light to his understanding of issues of Population and Life.
Professor Eugene Kufuor Maafo Darteh celebrated his attainment of full professorship on Wednesday, June 7, 2023, at a professorial inaugural lecture held at the University of Cape Coast.
His topic “Eaten/Eating the ‘Forbidden’ Fruits: Reflections on Risky Sexual Behaviours Among Young Women in Ghana Over the Last Three Decades caught the sight of many prior to the lecture which led to the masses thronging into the lecture grounds to have first-hand information on his research work.
Recounting how far he has come in his academic journey, he narrated how his birth situation has served as a motivation for his research.
According to him, his premature birth to a young woman generated interest in him in understanding the risks such babies born to young women have.
“When I started doing Population and Life and I started reading, I realized that children or babies born to young women having low birth weight, these children were at higher risk of dying. So, through my readings, when I came across that I asked myself can I do anything that will make these young women delay having children early or to see if the children can survive it.”
Prof Maafo Darteh further indicated that in order to contribute to global development, he has aligned his work to some Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
“In a bit to also contribute to making the world a better place, I’ve aligned my work to MDGs 1, 4, and 5 and SDGs 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. Because 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 look at no hunger, no poverty, and good health. It also looks at gender equality and education.”
He believes if the country has health and well-being, these SDGs will be achieved.
Professor Eugene Kufuor Maafo Darteh is a Professor of Social Dimensions of Sexual and Reproductive Health at the University of Cape Coast.
He is a career academic and researcher with almost two decades of working experience.
His research interests also include Women’s Health, Adolescents’ Sexual Behaviour, and Sexual and Gender-Based Violence.
He was promoted to the rank of professor on February 1, 2021.
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Source: Rosemond Asmah/ATLFMNEWS
