Nurses, midwives threaten to strike over salary deductions, withdrawal of incentives

The Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA) has warned it will embark on labour unrest if government does not review its decision to withdraw some incentives due its members.

The Association is also kicking against a move by the Ghana Health Services to deduct one percent of the basic salary of members to establish a health insurance scheme.

“Government must, therefore, rethink its decision to withdraw many incentives due Nurses and Midwives or this time, face the consequences of confrontation from us that could lead to labour unrest,” President of GRNMA Dr Kwaku Asante-Krobea warned.

Speaking at the launch of the 2018 International Nurses Day in Kumasi, Dr Asante-Krobea argued that “it is not the prerogative of GHS to establish a health insurance scheme for us”.

He stated that the Ghana Health Service has unfulfilled obligation that fort their members with regards to payment of our health bills.

“With our condition of service, we are entitled to a waiver of 50% of healthcare cost that the NHIS does not cover”.

Meanwhile, he has blamed Ghana’s failure to meet the Millennium Development Goal target on health to inadequate resources.

“We are still encumbered with the ill effects of the poor state of the job ace that on daily basis impact negatively on care outcomes in an era where we have no obligation than chase the much expected Sustainable Development Goals.

“Fact is that we performed below expectation in meeting the MP’s and we cannot fail again this time with meeting the SDGs,” he said.

He tasked government to increase investment in health to enable the country meet the 2030 Sustainable Development Goal target.

“It is the responsibility of government to strengthen and invest in nursing and midwifery for the critical workforce to have a triple impact of promoting health, advancing gender equality and strengthening the local economy”.

Head of Nursing at KNUST, Dr Victoria Bam noted that low investment in health by the government is a contributing factor in high mortality rate and increase in non-communicable diseases in the country.

She called for a rights-based approach to healthcare delivery.

The 2018 International Nurses Day is on the theme ” Nurses and Midwives: Promoting Health as a Human Right”.

The Day is marked every year to recognise the significant role Nurses and Midwives play in promoting health.

Some nurses and midwives who excelled during the year under review were awarded to serve as motivation.

All the ten awardees received a citation and a brand new laptop.