By Solomon Gumah, GNA
Tamale, Sept. 7, GNA – Mr Kwabena Akandoh Mintah, Minister for Health, has announced that government was rolling out a new initiative to support nursing tutors in the country to pursue PhD programmes as part of efforts to strengthen nursing education and improve healthcare delivery.
He disclosed that government would begin the initiative this year by sponsoring between 15 and 20 nursing tutors, stressing that the support would be sustained annually to build a critical mass of highly qualified tutors for the country’s training institutions.
The Minister made the announcement when he addressed the 5th Nursing and Midwifery Excellence and Hall of Fame Awards ceremony held in Tamale.
Mr Akandoh said, “Even if we are able to support 15 tutors every year, what that means is that at the end of our four years tenure, we should be able to support a minimum of 60 tutors to pursue PhD programmes, and that will play a critical role in training our nursing professionals for quality healthcare delivery in the country.”
The event, organised under the auspices of the Ministry of Health, brought together nurses, midwives, and other health professionals from across the country to deliberate on issues of holistic healthcare delivery, with the climax being the recognition of distinguished professionals for their outstanding service.
This year’s awards saw a total of 25 individuals being honoured across categories, including Clinical Practice, Leadership and Governance, Education and Research, Regulation and Ethics, and service in deprived communities, while three eminent personalities were inducted into the Nursing and Midwifery Hall of Fame.
Mr Akandoh, who was the Special Guest of Honour, reiterated government’s commitment to addressing challenges facing health professionals, including staff migration, through a Health Migration Strategy that would enable Ghana to benefit from global mobility while retaining critical staff at home.
Dr Chrysantus Kubio, Northern Regional Director of the Ghana Health Service, who chaired the ceremony, commended the awardees for their sacrifices and resilience, and urged them to let the recognition inspire greater professionalism and dedication.
He called on government and other stakeholders to prioritise providing conducive environment to enable health professionals to thrive.
Dr Barnabas Yeboah, Registrar of the Ghana College of Nurses and Midwives, said since the inception of the awards, 125 nurses and midwives had been honoured alongside 10 non-nursing professionals who had contributed to the growth of the profession.
The ceremony was attended by key stakeholders in the health sector across the country, including senior nursing and midwifery leaders.
GNA
Edited by Eric K. Amoh/Christian Akorlie