The President of the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA), Mrs Perpetual Ofori-Ampofo, has called for comprehensive medical and motor insurance packages for nurses and midwives to protect them against the financial burden of illness and road accidents.
She expressed concern about the number of motorcycle accidents involving nurses and midwives, many of whom rely on motorbikes for their daily transportation, and urged stakeholders to introduce insurance arrangements that would guarantee their financial protection.
Mrs Ofori-Ampofo made the appeal during a courtesy call by the national and regional leadership of the Association on the Upper East Regional Coordinating Council.
She argued that healthcare professionals who dedicate their lives to caring for others should not struggle to access quality healthcare themselves.
According to her, nurses and midwives often lack comprehensive medical insurance benefits for themselves and their families, unlike employees of some corporate organisations.
She also lamented situations where health professionals struggle to receive full medical care in the very facilities where they work.
Mrs Ofori-Ampofo, however, commended the Upper West Regional Hospital for providing nurses with 100 per cent medical care, describing the arrangement as a model that should be replicated across other health facilities.
On industrial relations, she said the Association had no appetite for strikes, explaining that industrial action usually became necessary only when dialogue and negotiations failed.
She also reaffirmed the Association’s apolitical stance, lamenting what she described as the longstanding relegation of nursing to the background despite its critical contribution to healthcare delivery.
She maintained that improving the conditions of service of nurses and midwives was not merely a professional concern but a national priority, as the entire population ultimately benefited from a motivated and adequately supported health workforce.
The GRNMA President further called for increased investment in healthcare infrastructure and personnel in the Upper East Region to match its growing population and development needs.
RCC promises improved conditions for health workers
Responding to the concerns, the Chief Director of the Upper East Regional Coordinating Council, Mr Bless Kwame Darkey, assured the Association of efforts to improve the working and living conditions of health professionals in the region.
He acknowledged the human resource challenges confronting healthcare delivery in northern Ghana but urged nurses, particularly newly posted personnel, not to be discouraged by negative perceptions about the region.
Mr Darkey, who said he had recently relocated to the north after 32 years of working in southern Ghana, noted that his experience had challenged some of the stereotypes he previously held about the area.
Having visited all 15 districts during his familiarisation tour, he described the Upper East Region as safe, secure and endowed with considerable development potential.
He further disclosed that Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies had been directed to allocate 20 per cent of funds under the additional assembly programmes towards health infrastructure, including Community-based Health Planning and Services (CHPS) compounds and residential accommodation for health workers.
He said the Regional Coordinating Council was monitoring the assemblies to ensure the provision of the necessary facilities to improve working conditions and encourage health professionals to accept postings to the region.
Source: www.kumasimail.com
