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| (Photo credit: Ghana News Agency) |
During the 2023 Military Nightingales' Week Celebration at the 37 Military Hospital in Accra, Madam Perpetual Ofori-Ampofo, President of the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA), made a passionate plea to the government. She called for a shift in the negative narrative surrounding nurses leaving the country in search of better opportunities abroad, instead encouraging the government to view this as a potential avenue for earning foreign exchange.
Madam Ofori-Ampofo stressed the importance of entering into bilateral agreements with countries that recruit Ghanaian nurses. By doing so, she argued that the government could harness the financial benefits that arise from such arrangements, rather than solely viewing nurse migration as a loss to the local labor force within the health sector.
Highlighting the example of the Philippines, she noted that the country earns approximately $54 billion annually from exporting nurses and midwives. Madam Ofori-Ampofo emphasized that Ghana could learn from this situation and work towards amending the training module for nurses and midwives.
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According to her, Ghana should consider shifting to a degree-level training model for nursing and midwifery. She explained that high-income earning countries prefer to recruit degree holders with added specialties and practical experience, rather than auxiliary nurses or community nurses with certificate-level qualifications. By upgrading the training and qualifications of Ghanaian nurses, the country could become a desirable source of highly skilled healthcare professionals for other nations, leading to financial gains and a positive impact on the labor force.
Supporting this perspective, Col. Rex Adzagba, the Director of Nursing at the Ghana Armed Forces Medical Service, emphasized the need for the government to implement measures that would retain health workers in the country. Retaining these skilled professionals would contribute to the stability and development of the healthcare sector.
The Nightingale's Week Celebration serves as a global commemoration of International Nurses' Week, paying tribute to Florence Nightingale, revered as the mother of modern nursing. This occasion provides nurses and midwives with an opportunity to reflect on past activities, evaluate their progress, and make necessary adjustments for the future. As part of the celebration, awards were presented to both senior and junior officers to honor their contributions.
It is crucial to recognize the importance of nurses and midwives in providing essential healthcare services. Their dedication, knowledge, and skills play a vital role in promoting the well-being and welfare of society. Therefore, it is incumbent upon all stakeholders, including the government and healthcare organizations, to prioritize the needs of these professionals and work together to create a conducive environment that values and supports their work.
SOURCES:
-GHANA NEWS AGENCY- "Regularize Migration Of Nurses Abroad To Earn Foreign Exchange - GRNMA"
-GRAPHIC ONLINE- "Regularize Migration Of Nurses Abroad To Earn Foreign Exchange - GRNMA To Gov't"
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