By Solomon Gumah, GNA
Tamale, Nov. 06, GNA – The Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA) has raised concerns over the increasing migration of experienced nurses and midwives from the country.
It said the trend was worsening staff shortages and pressure on healthcare delivery.
The Association emphasised that the continued departure of skilled health professionals, particularly specialists and experienced nurses, was creating significant gaps in health facilities and threatening the quality of healthcare services.
This came to light when the national executives of the Association, led by its National President, Mrs Perpetual Ofori Ampofo, paid courtesy calls on key stakeholders in the Northern Region as part of efforts to engage healthcare professionals and authorities on issues affecting the nursing and midwifery profession.
The delegation, accompanied by regional executives, visited the Northern Regional Coordinating Council (NRCC), Tamale Teaching Hospital, and the Northern Regional Hospital.
Other members of the delegation included Mr Samuel Akologo, First Vice-President, Mr David Atta Tuffour, Second Vice-President, Dr David Tenkorang-Twum, General Secretary, Mr Sopaal Anthony, Assistant General Secretary, Mr Moses Roberson, Treasurer, Mr Thomas Lambon, Assistant Treasurer, Mr Joseph Krampa, Public Relations Officer, and Mr Philemon Gyapong, Assistant Public Relations Officer.
During the visit to the NRCC, Mrs Ofori Ampofo said improving conditions of service, providing adequate accommodation and creating supportive working environments were essential to retaining experienced health professionals and discouraging migration.
She appealed to the Northern Regional Minister to use his political and administrative position to support calls for the recruitment of additional health professionals to address staffing gaps in health facilities.
Mrs Ampofo also urged members of the association to remain committed to duty while they continued to engage with relevant stakeholders to help improve on their working conditions.
Mr Ali Adolf John, Northern Regional Minister, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to improving healthcare delivery citing interventions such as the Free Primary Healthcare initiative and the Ghana Medical Trust Fund popularly known as MahamaCares.
He disclosed that President Mahama had directed Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) to construct at least two Community-based Health Planning and Services (CHPS) compounds annually with residential accommodation for health personnel to expand access to primary healthcare, particularly in rural communities.
Mr John assured the Association that the NRCC would collaborate with the various MMDAs to identify and address challenges affecting nurses and midwives, particularly those relating to accommodation, staff welfare and general working conditions.
At the Tamale Teaching Hospital, Madam Rebecca Matthew, Acting Director of Nursing and Midwifery Services, described the migration of experienced and specialist nurses as a major challenge confronting hospital management.
She said some specialised nurses had left the country without prior notice to management resulting in unexpected vacancies and placing additional responsibilities on the remaining workforce to sustain healthcare delivery.
Madam Matthew warned that replacing experienced nurses with newly recruited personnel, some of whom had remained unemployed for several years, could affect the quality of healthcare, particularly in specialised units requiring considerable professional experience.
She suggested that government could consider creating international employment opportunities for unemployed and newly qualified nurses to enable them to gain professional experience abroad, rather than losing experienced personnel already contributing to the country’s healthcare system.
Madam Matthew reaffirmed the hospital’s commitment to working with the GRNMA and other stakeholders to improve staff welfare and strengthen healthcare delivery.
GNA
Edited by Eric K. Amoh/Linda Asante Agyei
Reporter: Solomon Gumah
Email: [email protected]