By Opesika Tetteh Puplampu
Odumase-Krobo, March 25, GNA-Dr Winfred Korletey Baah, the Chief Executive Officer of the Health Facilities Regulatory Agency (HeFRA), has initiated steps for the Odumase-Krobo Nursing and Midwifery Training College to be accredited to start offering diploma programmes in nursing, midwifery, and public health.
Dr Baah, who is also a consultant physician, appealed for the fast-tracking of the accreditation process to enable it to fulfil its mandate and the mission for its establishment.
At a meeting with Dr Awoonor Williams, Technical Adviser for the Minister of Health, and the Head of the Health Training Institutions at the Ministry of Health (MoH), Dr Baah noted that most nursing and midwifery training colleges were being accredited to run degree programmes,
Dr Baah said the Odumase Krobo Nursing and Midwifery College could not continue to train and award certificates in nursing assistant (preventive) programmes only
Established in 2015, the college has only been running a two-year health care/nursing assistants (preventive) programme.
According to Dr Baah, the college was established to train general nurses, midwives and public health nurses.
He noted, however, that because of the delay in securing the necessary accreditation, it has been operating below its capacity and mandate, necessitating the ongoing intervention for an immediate accreditation for the commencement of diploma programmes in line with the vision that fueled its establishment.
Dr Baah expressed optimism that with the ongoing efforts and collaboration between the MoH and HeFRA and other relevant institutions, actions and the accreditation processes would be expedited for the college to commence diploma programmes in general nursing, midwifery and public health this year.
“The diploma programmes will commence this year, hopefully, given the assurances I have received from the ministry,” he said.
The college, which operated in temporary facilities for five years at Odumase, relocated to its current permanent site south of the Odumase township in 2020.
It presently boasts a population of nearly 400 students made up of first- and second-year students reading the health care/nursing assistants (preventive) programme.
GNA
LS/BM