The Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association, has called on the government to prioritise employment of Graduate Nurses and Midwives to bridge the Nurses/Patient ratio gap that currently stands at one is to 22.

An assessment by the association reveals that Ghana will need not less than 38,000 Nurses and Midwives to fill the nurses-patient ratio.

The Association has also called for all restoration of the allowances of trainee nurses and midwives as promised by government.

It explained that these trainees on clinical practice lend support to qualified practitioners, bringing 40 percent support to the total contribution of nursing and midwifery into health care delivery.

These calls were made by the President of the Association, Kwaku Asante–Krobea at the celebration of this year’s Nurses and Midwives’ Day by the Ashanti Regional branch of the Association at Ejisu.

The event coincided with the inauguration of the Association’s state- of-the-art Ashanti Regional Guest House situated at Ejisu-Krapa.

Mr. Asante-Krobea said bonding of trainee nurses and midwives should not be tied to employment of the graduates. According to him, in the light of the fact that fewer nurses and midwives are delivering care, graduate employment should be unconditional.

He called for restoration to the privilege of tax-waiver on imported cars to nurses and midwives as promised in the run up of the 2016 elections by Nana Akufo-Addo. The tax waiver was abolished by the previous government

Mr. Asante-Krobea also urged government to establish and retain the Directorate of Nursing and Midwifery at the Ministry of Health to enable the office to advise the sector Minister on policy issues affecting Nursing and Midwifery practice.

The Ashanti Regional Minister Simon Osei-Mensah reminded nurses and midwives to be guided by their code of ethics, which stipulates that their first loyalty is to the client or patient.

He said as health workers, nurses and midwives, should target efforts aimed at attaining the sustainable Development Goals, which include reducing child and maternal deaths and ensuring environmental sustainability.

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Source: The Finder