Doctors Appeals To Nurses� Husbands

Western Regional Director of Health Services, Dr. Linda Vanotoo has indicated that brain drain is no longer a major problem confronting the nursing profession but rather husbands who refuse to go with their wives on transfer. She said it was very pathetic to note that instead of men joining their wives who are on transfer, they almost always ask their wives (nurses) to rather apply for transfers to join them. Dr. Vanotoo made the observation at the inauguration of boards of governors for health training institutions in the region at Sekondi on Monday. Such situation, she emphasized, had deprived some communities particularly the rural ones of the services of these nurses. Making a passionate appeal to husbands whose wives are nurses, Dr. Vanotoo said for the sake of gender equality and the provision of health services to every part of the country, they should try and join their wives on transfer and not go in for other women. The inauguration of the boards was in fulfillment of the National Accreditation Board�s requirement and in pursuance of the Ministry of Health�s policy for good governance and smooth administration. It was also in conformity with regulations regarding tertiary institutions. The various boards will serve as advisory bodies to the administration of respective nursing training institutions by ensuring transparency and efficiency within management. She continued that it was about time the general public accorded nurses the respect and the credit they deserve in the discharge of their duties. She has also called on all health workers particularly nurses to do away with the alleged bad behavior and ill-treatment they meted out to patients and other members of the public who visit health facilities. She bemoaned the situation where some nurses received calls on their mobile phones while attending to patients and the manner some of them dressed to work stressing they must abide by the ethics of the profession. �The uniform for nurses nationwide is the green and white dress and not the tie and dye with Ghana Health Service logo which some nurses tend to put on to work,� she emphasized. Western Regional Minister, Paul Aidoo mentioned that government attached great importance to the nation�s health delivery system and would continue to offer the necessary support to health training institutions. The region has about seven health institutions including the Nursing and Midwifery Training School at Sekondi, Midwifery Training School at Tarkwa, and Community Health Nurses� Training School at Esiama. The rest are Health Assistants Training Schools at Asankragwa and Sefwi Wiawso and the Seventh Day Adventists� Health Assistant Training School at Asanta near Kikam in the Ellembele District.