Rotational nurses, midwives appeal for allowances, employment

A group of rotational nurses and midwives have entreated the government to ensure the “immediate release or issuance” of financial clearance for the payment of outstanding allowances to them.

They also called for the immediate employment of all qualified nurses and midwives -2020 to 2022 batches of graduates- to address shortfalls in the number of healthcare professionals in the country.

The leader of the group, Junior Kwame Amebley, also advocated for the establishment of mechanisms to address such challenges in the future.

He said if there was no response to their grievances within two weeks, they would make the Ministry of Health their new home and also advise their junior colleagues to withdraw their services in protest.

Mr Kwame Amebley was speaking at a news conference in Accra last Wednesday, dubbed: “A year of dedication, a year of neglect: 12 months’ unpaid allowances for rotation nurses and midwives”.

The group represent over 11,000 nurses and midwives who have completed their mandatory one-year national service from July 2023 to June 2024. They comprise registered general nurses, midwives, public health nurses and mental health nurses. 

Challenges

Mr Amebley said many of his colleagues struggle to afford transportation to their workplaces, thus, affecting punctuality and ability to deliver timely and effectively. He said other members were also facing eviction by their landlords due to unpaid rent, coupled with the rising cost of living and their inability to afford food and pay utility bills.

Mr Amebley also said that the 2024-2025 batch of over 20,000 junior colleagues who began their rotation in May, this year have also not received any allowances, raising concerns about the ongoing neglect of the nurses.

“Tragically, some members have lost their lives due to the inability to afford medical care. Others continue to battle various health conditions without financial support,” he added.

Efforts

Mr Amebley said the group had made some attempts to help resolve their issues, adding that “on April 16, 2024, we demonstrated and presented a petition to the Ministries of Finance and Health, receiving reassurances from officials that our concerns would be addressed”.

He, however, said that those promises had not materialised despite submitting follow-up letters. “We are deeply disappointed in the government and the relevant ministries for their inaction and lack of communication on this critical issue. Despite our efforts to engage with them and the reassurances we received, there has been no tangible progress,” the president said.