Nalerigu (N/R), Feb. 2, GNA - Mr. Thomas B. Senor, East Mamprusi District Director of Ghana Health Services (GHS) has denied rumours that government has abolished the nurses Additional Duty Hour Allowance (ADHA) in the East Mamprusi District at Nalerigu Baptist Hospital. He said a committee was set up by the government to find out how it could be paid to nurses. The committee findings were that, allowances of such nature were to be added to the individual salary. Mr Senor denied the rumour during the hospital performance review and awards day ceremony.

He said the GHS, in collaboration with the East Mamprusi District Assembly, a ten-year development plan has been drawn for community health planning services compounds for the district.

A number of these compounds are to be constructed in the Nalerigu Sub-District where nurses would be posted to stay and work. This would reduce the workload of the hospital.

Mr Senor noted that another strategy to reduce the workload for all in healthcare provision is to encourage the use of the gatekeeper system in the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).

The implementation of the scheme calls for commitment and diligence. Insured clients would expect a certain level of quality services from the hospital and clinics and they must deliver these services as expected.

Dr George Fail, Medical Superintendent of the hospital, commended the three workers of the hospital who received awards for their hard work.

He disclosed that last year Out-Patient Department (OPD) attendance was 73,500 as against 63,700 in 2004, admissions were 9,600 as against 8,300 in 2004.

He commended the workers and said even though they were understaffed, they were able to achieve the goal of the hospital. He appealed to the Regional Director of GHS through the District Director for more staff.

The award winners were in categories; seven workers who had worked for 10 years received half piece of wax print each; seven workers who had worked for 15 years received a standing fan each; 10 workers who had worked for 20 years received a bicycle each; seven workers who were to retire this year received smocks, full pieces of wax prints and a sewing machine each and 210 workers received wireless sets each as appreciation award.

The total number of 210 workers received awards estimated at 21.3 million cedis.