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| Ghanaian Nurses |
Nurses have urged the government to improve
working conditions in the nation in order to stem the health-care brain drain.
Madam Perpetual Ofori Ampofo, President of the
Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA), has requested the
government to enhance health workers' allowances and wages in order to keep
them in the nation.
“The truth of the matter is that, migration is a
right, a person can move anywhere to go and work. So, let’s increase salaries,
improve conditions of work and let’s provide the requisite allowances people
need to be comfortable to work here” she said on the Sunrise how with Alfred
Ocansey.
Madam Ofori Ampofo expressed worry that some of
the unemployed nursing graduates have been waiting for two years for their
postings. “And even as we talked about financial clearance, we still have
a lot of qualified nurses and midwives who are waiting to be posted. There have
been a lot of agitations recently by the trained professionals who are yet to
be given employment”
“Meanwhile, Ghanaian nurses and midwives are well
sought after in western countries because of their quality. So, if I get up
tomorrow and I make an informed decision that I want to travel abroad and work,
nothing should stand in my way as an individual. But as a nation we should put
in the necessary plans to ensure that even if people are moving out to work
elsewhere, we should still have enough of the work force remain in Ghana to
provide nursing and midwifery services for the good people of Ghana,” she said.
Her remarks come as the Ghanaian government has
urged nurses and other health workers not to leave the country in search of
better pastures.
Dr. Anthony Nsiah-Asare, the Presidential Advisor
on Health, reminded the nurses that Ghanaians looked up to them to address
their health requirements, therefore they should remain.
Dr. Nsiah-remarks Asare's reflect worries
expressed by Dr. Titus Beyuo, General Secretary of the Ghana Medical
Association (GMA), that medical physicians and nurses are fleeing the nation in
droves.
Dr Beyuo said brain drain has returned to the
medical profession in Ghana.
Speaking on the New Day show on TV3 Wednesday May
11, Dr Beyuo said “…as we speak, doctors, nurses are leaving this country in
droves, brain drain has returned in full swing.
“I know that because I am the General Secretary of
the GMA, I won’t give you figures immediately,” he said when asked by host
Roland Walker to mention how many have so far left the country.
He added “But I can give you some examples, I will
give you a unit in one hospital I won’t name, a big hospital in Accra, from
January till now, five doctors have left that unit
“We need to do something about it deliberate in
this country.”
Source: ghananews.hrforum.uk
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