The Ghana College of Nurses and Midwives (GCNM) has inducted about 552 critical health professionals into the College to promote academic excellence and improve healthcare delivery.
The inductees who formed the first batch and are fellows by examination include 11 Fellows, 1 Member, and the rest, comprising Associates in Paediatric Oncology, Neonatal and Palliative Care Nursing, Emergency and Oncology Nursing, Paediatric Nursing, Public Health, Child and Adolescent Mental Health, as well as Otorhinolaryngology Nursing.
The two-day event was on the theme, “Building the Future Health Workforce: A Call for Strategic Investments in Specialist Nursing and Midwifery Education.”
The Rector of the College, Dr Gloria Achempin, speaking at ceremony, bemoaned the lack of sponsorship packages for residency programmes at the College.
According to her, the bottleneck has become a major disincentive to several health professionals who would have sought admission to upgrade themselves in residency programs at the College.
Specialist education, Dr Achempin stated, was very expensive as many of the residents struggle despite their successes, while a greater number often abandon their programs abruptly midway and migrate to other countries.
“It was to counter these teething challenges that I am on behalf of the College advocating for better funding, increased study leaves with pay, and deliberate policies to encourage specialization,” she added.
The Rector appealed to the Minister of Health to lead efforts toward completing the permanent office complex on the 2-acre land at the University of Ghana as the current temporary space at the HTI building given to them by the Minister has become small for the fast-growing number of the college.
The Minister for Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, in a speech read on his behalf, said the strength of any health system lies not only in its infrastructure or technology, but in the people who deliver care every single day.
Nurses and midwives he stated remained the backbone of healthcare delivery in Ghana, particularly at the frontline where the majority of our citizens first encounter the health system.
Mr Akandor however noted that infectious diseases still remain part of the public health landscape as there is increasingly experiencing a rise in non-communicable diseases such as hypertension, diabetes, cancers, kidney diseases, and mental health conditions.
This he indicated demand specialized care in areas such as critical care, oncology nursing, neonatal care, emergency nursing, and advanced midwifery practice continues to grow.
“These realities require a health workforce that is not only sufficient in numbers but highly specialized in skills, explaining further that, generalist training alone cannot adequately respond to these complex healthcare demands hence specialist nursing and midwifery education remain a national priority,” he added.
The Chair of the GCNM Governing Council, Dr Thomas Winsum Anabah, said the induction process was an achievement and a responsibility because, nursing and midwifery were not simply professions, but vocations of service.
“You are the pioneers, future generations would look back at your cohort as those who helped shaped the intellectual and professional foundation of specialist nursing and midwifery in this country, so please carry the title of fellow not merely as an honour as such must pursue excellence relentlessly,” he added.
BY LAWRENCE VOMAFA-AKPALU&PERPETUAL MENSAH