By Godfred Aaneamenga Polkuu
Pusu-Namongo (U/E), June 5, GNA – The Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA) has called for urgent action to address the welfare and working conditions of nurses and midwives.
It said a hungry and unhealthy workforce could not effectively safeguard the health of the nation.
Speaking at the launch of the Upper East Regional celebration of the International Nurses Day, Mr Emmanuel Tibil Panzin, the Regional Chairman of the GRNMA, said persistent systemic challenges within Ghana’s healthcare sector undermined the dedication and efforts of frontline health professionals.
The regional event followed the global observance of International Nurses Day on May 12, commemorating the birth anniversary of Florence Nightingale.
The launch, attended by nurses from diverse professional categories across the region, university deans, principals and tutors of health training institutions, retired nurses and midwives, trainee nurses, and representatives of sister labour unions, was held under the theme: “Our Nurses. Our Future. Empowered Nurses Save Lives.”
Mr Panzin stressed that nurses and midwives operated within a broader healthcare system and could only perform effectively if longstanding deficiencies within that system were addressed.
He cited emergency response challenges and the persistent “No Bed Syndrome” as critical issues requiring urgent attention.
According to him, unless the structural problems were properly diagnosed and resolved, the best efforts of healthcare professionals would continue to yield limited results.
He further linked healthcare delivery to national development, noting that environmental challenges, particularly the destruction and pollution caused by illegal mining activities, were placing additional strain on the health sector.
Amid ongoing discussions on the revalidation of nursing and midwifery licences to ensure professional competence and fitness to practise, Mr Panzin urged authorities to focus equal attention on government accountability in addressing challenges confronting healthcare workers.
“An unhealthy and hungry nursing and midwifery workforce will not be able to effectively handle the healthcare needs of the country,” he stated.
He, therefore, called on the government to immediately and fully implement the Conditions of Service agreed upon with the association.
While commending government plans to gradually phase out auxiliary and diploma-level nursing and midwifery training programmes in favour of higher professional qualifications, Mr Panzin cautioned against rushing the transition process.
He emphasized that there should be no shortcuts in the training of specialists and warned that compromised standards would ultimately affect the quality of patient care.
The GRNMA also appealed to the government to restore the traditional recruitment system for newly qualified nurses and midwives.
Mr Panzin argued that the practical and specialized nature of nursing and midwifery training required a dedicated deployment process to ensure that graduates’ skills were effectively utilized.
He reminded policymakers that strengthening the healthcare system was not only a social responsibility but also an economic necessity.
The Chairman further addressed critical infrastructure deficits and improved welfare of health workers, which would contribute significantly to building a stronger and more resilient Ghanaian economy.
GNA
Edited by Caesar Abagali/Kenneth Odeng Adade
Reporter: Godfred Aaneamenga Polkuu
Email: [email protected]