Give private nursing training colleges subsidies - Dr Awuku-Gyampoh to govt
The Chief Executive (CEO) of the Rans-Elliot School of Nursing, Dr Ransford Kwaku Awuku-Gyampoh, has appealed to the government to consider providing subsidies or acting as guarantor for loans for private educational institutions, particularly nursing training colleges, to enable them to stand on their feet.
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He said while the subsidies would enable the nursing training colleges not to spend so much in their operations, the government serving as guarantor for loans would make available additional source of funding from the banks.
Dr Awuku-Gyampoh, who is also the Director of the college, made the appeal at the maiden graduation of the school, which also coincided with its matriculation on the school's premises at Effiduase-Koforidua in the New Juaben North Municipality in the Eastern Region.
At the event with the theme: "Nursing education: Our past, present and future,” the graduands were awarded diplomas in nursing while the new students took the matriculation oath in the school which was established in 2021.
Guarantor
According to Dr Awuku-Gyampoh, apart from the government serving as guarantor for bank loans and providing subsidies, there was the need for private nursing colleges to collaborate with other public institutions for more financial support.
The Graduates
He said private nursing colleges in Ghana were facing significant challenges, particularly accessing loans, as a result of which they struggled to provide quality nursing education for their students.
Dr Awuku-Gyampoh stated that limited financial resources of private nursing colleges had led to hikes in tuition for the students, placing a financial burden on most students and preventing them from accessing nursing education.
With regard to challenges facing nurses in their workplaces, he indicated that most of the hospitals which had limited resources were overcrowded, thus putting a heavy workload on the nurses.
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Apart from that, the CEO of the college said salaries and benefits were not appreciable and they lacked career advancement opportunities.
Licensure examination
He emphasised that the most unfortunate situation was that nurses had to wait for a long period after passing licensure examination before being posted, adding that the long delay often led to loss of skills.
Such nurses, apart from that, remained unemployed with financial difficulties, leading to frustration and potential loss of interest in the profession, Dr Awuku-Gyampoh said.
He therefore, suggested to the government to streamline the posting processes of the nurses as soon as they passed the licensure examination.
Dr Awuku-Gyampoh was of the view that if all the challenges nurses in Ghana faced were addressed, that would curtail the migration of nurses to other countries, which stood at 4,000 in 2022, for higher salaries with better conditions of service.
He advised the fresh students to take their training serious while the graduands must play the role for which they had been trained at their workplaces.
Excellent teaching
The Principal of the college, Doreen Osae-Ayensu, said the graduands were taken through excellent teaching including clinical training.
She stated that since the graduands had acquired the requisite knowledge and skills, they would be able to perform creditably at their workplaces. She thanked the tutors, parents and all those who supported them in their training.
The Queenmother of Adweso, Nana Boaduwa, who is also a retired midwife, cautioned nurses about spending so much time on their mobile phones while on duty instead of taking care of patients.
Such a situation, she indicated, normally resulted in the death of patients.
Writer's email haruna.wunpini@graphic.com.gh