Upper West Regional Minister Charles Lwanga Puozuing has pledged to engage the Health Minister on special recruitment for nurses and midwives as the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA) presses for urgent action on staffing shortages and poor working conditions in the region.
The pledge followed a courtesy call on the Minister by the GRNMA National Executive Committee, led by its President, Mrs Perpetual Ofori-Ampofo, at the Regional Coordinating Council in Wa.
The delegation raised concerns over inadequate staffing in rural health facilities, poor infrastructure and logistics, and welfare challenges confronting nurses and midwives, including accommodation, workplace security and the rural allowance.
Mr Puozuing assured the delegation that the Regional Coordinating Council would work with the Regional Health Directorate and Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) to address accommodation, infrastructure and security challenges affecting health workers.
He also called for dialogue on measures to retain nurses and midwives in the region, where staffing gaps threaten the delivery of quality healthcare, particularly in rural communities.
The engagement follows the GRNMA leadership’s meeting with management and staff of the Upper West Regional Hospital on Monday, October 19, where Mrs Ofori-Ampofo called for increased recruitment, improved rural incentives and better welfare arrangements for nurses and midwives.
At that meeting, she also demanded clarity on the payment of the 13th-month allowance, an increase in study leave quotas and comprehensive medical insurance for members.
She expressed concern about nurses and midwives using their personal motorbikes to perform official duties, highlighting the need for adequate logistical support.
The GRNMA’s three-day working visit to the Upper West Region, which ran from October 19 to 21, was aimed at engaging members and key stakeholders on issues affecting their working conditions and professional practice.
The Regional Minister’s pledge now places the spotlight on the government’s response to the association’s concerns, particularly whether the proposed engagement with the sector minister will translate into additional staff and improved conditions for health workers in the region.
Source: www.kumasimail.com
