Aflao (VR), The Ketu South District of the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA) has called for a health insurance package to be instituted for workers in the sector.
The association said such a package was important to maintain the health of caregivers, and to ensure building a resilient health system by protecting them against high medical costs in treating illnesses and accidents which might even result during the process of giving care to the public.
Mr Samuel K. Numana, Chairman, Ketu South GRNMA made the call in a welcome address at a grand durbar to climax this year’s Nurses and Midwives Week celebration held at Aflao under the theme: “Nurses and Midwives, a Voice to Lead – Invest in Nursing and Respect Nurses Right to Secure Global Health.”
He said the package would be one way of investing in the nurses and midwives workforce, who despite the many challenges including working under extremely difficult situations, continued to demonstrate commitment and sacrifice as seen in the COVID-19 era, requiring innovative ways to address their problems.
Mr Numana said: “We therefore wish to add our voice to the call by the Association (mother) to ask our employers; Ghana Health Service, Ministry of Health and the government for health insurance package for health workers in the country.
“It is an undeniable fact that our colleague nurses and midwives are dying from preventable diseases because they cannot afford the cost of care. It’s so pathetic and shameful for health workers soliciting funds on social media for medical care.”
Mr Moses Robertson Anyigba, Volta/Oti Regional Chairman, GRNMA described the theme for the celebration as apt saying, “the weakness and vulnerabilities we witnessed during the peak of COVID-19 were clearly a result of underinvestment in health systems around the world.”
He said the way forward was for governments to invest in nursing and midwifery education, address shortage of nurses, provide positive practice environment and adequate remuneration, and involve them in decision making in all aspects of health and healthcare in order to transform health systems to meet the needs of individuals and communities now and in future.
Madam Abla Dzifa Gomashie, Member of Parliament for Ketu South, in a speech read on her behalf, appreciated nurses and midwives, the bedrock of the health workforce for their efforts and asked all stakeholders to get together to invest in them for quality healthcare delivery in the country.
Dr Alphones Makafui Dzakpasu, Medical Superintendent, Ketu South Municipal Hospital who chaired the event underscored the need for all health workers to work together for a common cause as “access to healthcare is no longer the challenge but access to quality healthcare.”
He charged nurses and midwives to abide by their pledges and prayers to give off their best to clients.
International Nurses Day is observed globally every May 12 to honour Florence Nightingale, the founder of modern nursing, with the Nurses and Midwives Week Celebration being an event to celebrate contributions of nurses and midwives to healthcare delivery.
The durbar, which saw the award of some nurses and midwives, appreciation of some noble retired nurses and midwives and past District executives had Ms Georgina Vivian Yawli emerging as the Best Nurse/Midwife for 2021/2022.
Source: Ghana News Agency