Pusu-namongo: Dr Michael Wombeogo, the Dean of the Faculty of Health and Allied Sciences at Regentropfen University College, has emphasized the critical need for increased investment in nurses and midwives across Ghana. Addressing members of the Upper East Regional branch of the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA) at the launch of the International Nurses Day celebration in Pusu-Namongo, Dr Wombeogo underscored the importance of improving working conditions, offering leadership opportunities, and strengthening professional development to enhance healthcare delivery.
According to Ghana News Agency, the event, which was themed 'Our Nurses, Our Future. Empowered Nurses Save Lives,' brought together a wide range of participants, including nurses, midwives, deans, principals, tutors of health training institutions, and other officials in the region. Dr Wombeogo described the theme as an urgent call to action, stating that it reflects a vision for the future by the nurses and midwives of Ghana.
Dr Wombeogo highlighted the essential role of nurses and midwives in Ghana's health system, noting that they comprise over 60 percent of the health workforce and frequently serve as the sole healthcare providers in rural and underserved communities. He emphasized, 'Our nurses are our future. Empowered nurses do not just save lives; they transform societies.' He further noted the significant contributions of nurses and midwives to education, social development, politics, and the economy, emphasizing their role as the backbone of maternal and child healthcare services nationwide.
Referencing the International Council of Nurses (ICN), Dr Wombeogo outlined seven powers of nursing, including trust, care, proximity, professionalism, practice, numbers, and peace, which position nurses as key drivers of health equity and community resilience. He stressed that empowerment must be practical, involving investments in safe and fair working conditions, enabling nurse leadership, and ensuring decision-making power.
Dr Wombeogo also addressed challenges facing nurses and midwives, such as workforce shortages, burnout, delayed incentives, inadequate leadership representation, and limited infrastructure, particularly in northern Ghana. He called on the government, development partners, and health stakeholders to invest in nursing education and leadership, protect healthcare workers, and recognize nurses as equal partners in health policy formulation.
Echoing Dr Wombeogo's sentiments, Mr Emmanuel Tibil Panzin, Upper East Regional Chairman of the GRNMA, highlighted the urgent need to improve the welfare and working conditions of nurses and midwives. He warned that a hungry and unhealthy workforce cannot effectively safeguard national health, pointing out that persistent systemic challenges continue to undermine the dedication of frontline health professionals.