Kyebi(E/R), April 27, GNA- Eighty one Health Aids engaged under the National Youth Employment Programme (NYEP) in the East Akim District have started a one month attachment course at he hospitals and health centres as part of their training.

The health aides' programme, which lasts for six months is being co-ordinated by the District Director of Health Services. Mr Emmanuel Victor Asihene East Akim District Chief Executive told newsmen after visiting the trainees at the health centres that they would be paid 400,000 cedis monthly by the Ministry of Manpower Youth and Employment for the six months that they would be in training. He said on completion the health aides would be posted to the hospitals and health centres in the district to work under the supervision of health professionals. Mr Asihene said most of those engaged under the programme were Senior Secondary School graduates some with very good passes and would be encouraged to improve upon their education to be able to enter the nursing training colleges to become professional health workers. He explained that, when the trainees' graduate, their presence in the health service would help reduce the pressure of work on the professional health workers, which had increased tremendously with the introduction of the Health Insurance Scheme.