Political interferences undermining nurse deployment in Volta region

Interference by some powers that be in the deployment of nurses trained in the Volta Region is a major headache to nursing administration in the area.

The situation is therefore fueling nurse attrition from the region to the disadvantage of its deprived areas.

Ms Comfort Agbadza, Deputy Regional Director in charge of Nursing Services, made the point at the launch of the Nurses’ week celebration in Ho on Wednesday.

She expressed wonder at how some ministers she had never met personally before were able to come by her telephone number to make demands on behalf of their children, friends and relatives.

Ms Agbadza said at times the pressure could become so intense that she was tempted to stay away from the office.

She said the attitude of some new nurses to shun postings to where their services were most needed was contrary to their pledges to serve wherever they were posted when they were seeking admission in the Nurses’ Training College.

Ms Agbadza said all sorts of reasons bordering on marital, health, geographical and social limitations were brought up as grounds for rejecting postings.

She said her stand against such excuses has earned her some name calling.

Ms Agbadza reminded the new nurses that nursing was not a profession of comfort and convenience but of sacrifice to bring hope, comfort and healing to the sick and suffering.

She therefore asked them to constantly revise their notes on Florence Nightingale, the Mother of Nursing, and the Nurses pledge because they stood to make seemingly intangible but life-long professional and social gains through selfless service.**