Kumbuor urges heads of health institutions to establish linkages

Accra, Nov. 18, GNA - Dr. Benjamin Kumbour, Minister of Health-designate on Wednesday called on managements and boards of health institutions to endeavour to mobilise extra funds, assist in the maintenance of discipline and foster good relations with stakeholders.

"It is also the responsibility of the boards to assist the institutions to establish linkages with foreign health institutions to enhance learning and training," he added.

Dr Kumbuor made the call in an address read on his behalf at the inauguration of Governing Boards for eight health institutions in the Region.

They are Nurses and Midwifery Training College, Public Health Nurses' Training School, Peri Operative and Critical Care Nursing School, School of Hygiene and the Ophthalmic Nursing School all at Korle Bu Teaching Hospital in Accra.

The rest are Nurses Training College and Health Assistants' Training School at Pantang and Health Assistants' Training School at Teshie. Dr Kumbuor condemned the high level of brain drain among health personnel and pledged the Ministry's commitment to increase intake of applicants to address the issue.

"Admissions into health institutions are highly competitive and the annual intake of about 7,000 which is only 17 per cent of qualified candidates put so much stress on the institutions' infrastructure, tutors and affects academic performance," he said. He cited lack of clinical sites for practical training, accommodation for students during field trips, transportation from various clinical sites and lack of renovations in the health institutions as some of the problems affecting health institutions in the country.

Nii Ashietey urged members of the boards to collaborate with their managements and come out with pragmatic and feasible measures to eliminate the perennial problems associated with health institutions in the Region. Professor Enyonam Yao Kwawukume, member of the Public Health Nurses' Training School Board on behalf of his colleagues thanked government for the confidence reposed in them and pledged to work to improve activities of health institutions in the Region. Each of the boards would be in office for two years. 18 Nov. 09