By Samuel Ofori Boateng, GNA
Kumasi July 27, GNA – Government has been urged to consider establishing a herbal nursing training college to help produce qualified and expert nurses for herbal clinics in the country.
Dr Samuel Amagashi, the Chief Executive of Amagashi Herbal Hospital, who made the call, said the move would not only help strengthen Ghana’s herbal and traditional medicine, but would also offer employment opportunities for the youth.
Speaking to the Ghana News Agency in an interview at Kumasi, he said the increasing unemployment among trained nurses in the country, required innovative interventions that would expand career opportunities beyond conventional healthcare facilities.
Dr Amagashi said thousands of nurses graduated from training institutions every year with the expectation of securing employment in government and private orthodox health facilities, but the limited number of available vacancies had left many qualified professionals without jobs.
He explained that the establishment of a specialised herbal nursing college would equip graduates with the requisite knowledge and practical skills to work effectively in licensed herbal hospitals and traditional medicine facilities across the country.
Dr Amagashi noted that, the initiative would not only help address nurse unemployment but also improve the quality of healthcare delivery within the herbal medicine sector by producing professionals with specialised training in herbal nursing and traditional healthcare practices.
He added that many licensed herbal hospitals were expanding their operations but often faced challenges recruiting personnel with the appropriate knowledge and skills in herbal healthcare, making the creation of such an institution necessary and timely.
The herbal practitioner, therefore, called on the government, Ministry of Health and other relevant stakeholders to consider actively incorporating herbal nursing education into Ghana’s healthcare training system, to complement existing nursing programmes.
Dr Amagashi further appealed to the government to establish a framework that would encourage collaboration between orthodox and licensed herbal hospitals, to improve healthcare delivery in the country.
He proposed that orthodox hospitals should be allowed to refer patients to licensed herbal hospitals for treatment where appropriate, while herbal hospitals could also refer patients requiring conventional medical interventions to orthodox health facilities.
He said a structured referral structure between the two healthcare sectors would promote an integrated healthcare system, widen treatment options for patients, and ensure that individuals receive appropriate care based on their health needs.
Dr Amagashi stressed that stronger cooperation between orthodox and herbal healthcare providers would help improve public confidence in herbal medicine, enhance patient outcomes and contribute to the overall development of Ghana’s healthcare sector.
GNA
Edited by Kwabia Owusu-Mensah/ Christabel Addo